Will a ticking time bomb wreak havoc and scuttle your project success? Capital projects procure equipment and materials from suppliers that must provide data to support engineering, procurement, installation, operation, maintenance, and more. These requirements are listed in a Purchase Order (PO) form such as the Supplier Drawing and Document Requirements (SDDR), also called the…
Why Knowledge Transfer Determines Project Success Energy and infrastructure projects are getting larger, more complex, and more expensive. Yet project success rates have barely improved in decades. Why? Because project strategies are often treated as plug-and-play. The same governance structures, management frameworks, and procedures are applied regardless of scale. But scale changes everything: Lessons from…
Why capital projects continue to fail without the right resources (tools) on hand. Capital projects (projects) too often lack the full toolbox required for delivery as planned. The UNEZA report recommendations – long-term planning, programmatic approaches, and skills development – are necessary but leave gaps in communication, knowledge transfer, and supplier quality surveillance (SQS). KT…
By Roy O. Christensen, RET, Integrity Specialist at Christensen Qualityworks Inc. This article appears in the March/April 2025 issue of Inspectioneering Journal. Introduction Supplier Quality Surveillance (SQS), also known as source inspection or vendor surveillance, is a critical process in project and supply chain management that ensures equipment and materials (i.e., deliverables) meet specified requirements,…
This article describes how to share your LinkedIn QR code in seconds. The return of in-person events has been a breath of fresh air after the extended pandemic with a long road back to normalcy. These gatherings offer excellent opportunities to learn something new, foster meaningful conversations, and expand networks. For me, making even one…
Related: The Ultimate Skills Challenge – Pipe vs. Plate Welder Notes About the Author Roy O. Christensen is a Welding Engineering Technologist who has over 40 years’ experience with O&G, pipeline, and other projects. He has authored countless instructions, manuals, plans, proposals, reports, specifications, and other documents that continue to drive success for many projects….
Volunteering isn’t just about giving back—it’s also about what you gain in return, both for your personal enjoyment and your professional development. In this article, we’ll explore how volunteering can be a fun way to make a difference while offering a range of benefits you might not even expect. 1 Introduction Growing up, I watched…
How should final documentation for a project’s equipment and materials be reviewed, and by whom? Unless instructed otherwise, personnel may follow previous project methods. However, will those methods suit project needs? That is the question. 1 Introduction Final documentation for project equipment and materials, typically submitted as a Manufacturing Record Book (MRB) or Turnover Package…
How to avoid gambling with project success. 1. Introduction Craps is a game of chance played with two dice, where the outcome is unpredictable, much like a risky business venture—hence the term crapshoot. (Source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary). In project management, Quality Assurance (QA) is crucial to ensuring that a contractor’s or supplier’s deliverables (equipment and materials)…
Introduction This article provides an overview of Quality Surveillance (QS) Assignments (QSAs) for capital projects, focusing on how inspection roles, QS levels, and QS activities differ based on work location at a: What is a QS Assignment? A QSA involves detailed production oversight in disciplines such as coating, concrete, electrical, mechanical, and welding. It is…
