Sureshrao S, Principal Engineer - Project Controls & Planning at Engineering

Procurement Construction (2000-present)

Answered Feb 5, 2018

The role of Planning Engineer in Construction Projects at site varies depending upon
which type of company you are working, Means the roles will be different when you
work with

1. PMC - Project Management consultant

2. EPCM - Engineering Procurement Construction Management
3. Construction contractors
4. Subcontractors to Construction contractors
5. Construction Manpower supply contractors
Secondly it depends on the type of project you work with(listing some major areas),

1. High rise Buildings,

2. Industries - Chemical, Petrochemical, Oil and Gas etc.
3. Infrastructure projects
4. Offshore projects,
5. Refurbish and Revamp construction projects.
6. etc.
There are minimum prerequisite for the construction planner to start his work at site.
what are they??

1. Scope of work - SOW mainly construction,

2. EPC Schedule
3. Construction Schedule - normally Level-2 or Level-3 schedule - given by
his counter part in Head office or Regional offices.
4. Engineering schedule - to know when all the drawings will be delivered
5. Procurement schedule - to know when all the equipment, material of
different discipline will arrive at site, also the prefabricated material if any
like piping spools,
6. Major estimated quantities of different works from Engineering nowadays
in major EPC companies
First we can see the basic roles of the planning engineer in construction project-in
EPC companies.

Initial stages of the project:

1. Collect all the FEED documents, Estimation files, of course all planning
related documents (for reference read only) get hand over from HO or
Regional office planner to site or to have all planning related files in
separate share folder between HO and site planning team.
2. Prepare, submit and get approval of Level-4 Construction schedule from
PMC: or desired levels below depending upon the client requirement at site
in Primavera or any software mentioned in the contract. Normally
 construction planner have no freedom and have to use Construction WBS
from Level-1 EPC schedule. The resource loading will be done to the
schedule after completing the below two steps.
Example of Level-4

Project Name - Construction of Refinery

Level-1 - Unit names - CDU/VDU/CHD/MTBE/HPU/ARU/SRU Etc.

Level-2 - Discipline - Civil, Structural, Mechanical, E&I, Telecom etc.

Level -3 - Expansion of each Discipline Eg. Civil - Building, Pipe rack, Equipment
foundation, Control room etc.

Level-4 - Activities of Each category. Eg. Equipment foundation - Excavation, Base

concreting, Pedestal concreting, Backfilling

Level-5/6/7 - Adding more activities example. FDT- Base, laying vapor barrier, Base
Rebar works, shuttering base, RCC for base, De-shuttering base, pedestal Rebar
works, fixing anchor bolts, Shuttering pedestal, RCC for pedestal, deshuttering,
Bitumen coating, Backfilling, FDT - layers, Handing over to Mechanical for equipment
erection.

2. Re-estimate and revise the Scope: There may be scope changes normally addition
to that of Initial scope. At site for working contingency we can add some% more to
the estimated quantities from Engineering to avoid over reporting. Normally these
quantities are verified by the Quantity surveyors at site.

3. Manpower and resource estimation. Normally in a project standard man hours for
each work will be given to estimate the man hours for the project. From that
Manpower requirement shall be calculated. Other resources viz. Lifting equipment,
Scaffolding material, welding machines etc. also to be estimated Discipline wise.

Resources required example:

4. Weightages to the activities shall be calculated based on the Man-hours.
Generate Progress S-curve, Manpower Histogram etc. for Progress monitoring
purpose.

5. PMS :Establish Progress measurement system for construction once the schedule
and weight ages are approved by client. Invoice PMS also made according to cost
and weightages against the activities.

5. Generate Template for Daily, weekly and Monthly reporting purpose according to
agreed format in the Contract with the PMC.

6. Once all the above are approved by Client/PMC, Progress Reporting, Progress
monitoring etc. shall begin.

7. Get the construction schedules from the sub-contractors, review and approve
procedures etc.

During the project execution but not limited to

1. Reporting - DPR, WPR, MPR, Other any customized reports for

Project/construction managers. Recording the Delay factors and duration if
any against the schedule with reason viz. Weather -Rainy, too cold, too hot
etc.
2. Circulate targets to achieve by circulating three week / Three months
schedules and get informed the status
3. Give inputs to Risk register which will be maintained by Planning manager
in HO or RO
 4. Followup with the subcontractors against scheduled activities
5. Change order management
6. Invoice certification from client/PMC and to subcontractors
7. Highlight issues related to construction which cause time delays with and
without cost effect.
8. Coordinate Progress review meetings with Client and subcontractors.
9. Prepare presentations for different meetings viz. Monthly progress review
meetings, Weekly progress review meetings, Planning and coordination
meetings etc.
10. When project is delayed and The contractor have to apply of EOT. Help
Planning Manager at HO or RO in preparing supporting documents for
Extension of Time for the project. The extension of time may be approved
without cost or with cost depending on the valid reasons and supporting
documents to client/PMC.
11. Preparation of mitigation plan, remaining works schedule other detailed
micro schedule depending on the PMC/Client requirement.
During the project close out

1. On completion of the construction phase, Pre-commissioning works shall

start accordingly before commissioning of the plant.
2. Prepare commissioning schedule, PMS and reporting system and get
approval from client/PMC
3. The work responsibilities of the PMC/Client, Contractor, sub-contractors
shall be mentioned in the contract itself. And to be followed and monitored
properly.
4. Start Reporting and Monitor the Turnover management till the project is
handed over the PMC/Client.
5. Handing over of the project will be based on the initial agreement
between PMC/Client/EPCM and subcontractors.
6. LD-liquidity damages will be applied by PMC/Client if applicable (when
project is delayed) and agreed between both the parties(proved on
evidences by PMC as EPCM holds sole responsibility of the delay or other
conditions of guarantees etc. ) . Same applies to EPCM to contractor and to
Sub-contractors level as well.
7. Help Project control manager at HO or RO in project close out procedures.