AIM HIGHER. AIM SMARTER. Capital Projects Knowledge Base ARTICLE 7 Unlocking Capital Project Value in Heavy Industry with Oryx Capital projects are the foundation of heavy industry. From petrochemical expansions to manufacturing upgrades, these investments determine whether companies thrive or struggle. Yet most organizations manage these projects in isolation, missing opportunities to optimize their entire portfolio despite the efforts at digital transformation. Read Full Article An AP-Networks Case Study Advanced Benchmarking Methodology Applied to a Gas Processing Facility: A Case Study When a major energy company needed to validate their cost and schedule targets for a new billion-dollar+ gas processing facility, they turned to AP-Networks’ Advanced Benchmarking Methodology (ABM) to cut through uncertainty and provide data-driven answers. The facility, designed to process over a billion cubic meters of gas annually containing H₂S and condensate for domestic market supply, represented a significant capital investment requiring rigorous validation. Read Full Case Study ARTICLE 6 Data-Driven Portfolio Management: Revolutionizing Capital Projects Effective portfolio management is crucial for organizations managing large capital projects in today’s fast-paced business environment. However, many companies struggle to align their ambitions with their organizational capabilities and processes, leading to suboptimal returns on investment and missed opportunities. Capital project leaders face significant challenges, including underperforming projects, masked poor performance, dynamic portfolio changes, and resource constraints. These challenges highlight the need for a more data-driven approach to portfolio management that can provide real-time insights and drive meaningful improvements in project outcomes. Read Full Article ARTICLE 5 Driving Project Excellence: The Power of Fit-for-Purpose Work Processes in Capital Projects Fit-for-purpose work processes are tailored to optimize efficiency, minimize waste, and ensure that all activities align with each capital project’s specific goals and constraints. This approach requires a deep understanding of the facility’s assets, maintenance history, and operational requirements, coupled with a willingness to challenge traditional methods and embrace innovative solutions. Read Full Article ARTICLE 4 Navigating the Staffing Challenge in an Evolving Project Portfolio The project landscape has transformed dramatically. We’re seeing an increase in the number of projects and their total installed costs. This growth has created an unprecedented demand for skilled professionals across various project functional groups. However, meeting this demand is proving to be a significant challenge. The workforce itself has undergone fundamental changes. The traditional pool of experienced project professionals is shrinking as many reach retirement age, while the influx of new talent has yet to keep pace with the industry’s needs. This demographic shift has created a skills gap that many organizations need help bridging. Read Full Article ARTICLE 3 Mastering Portfolio Management: A Strategic Approach to Project Success One of the cornerstones of successful portfolio management is effective capital expenditure management. Many organizations still need help accurately understanding and forecasting their current spending. The common practice of stopping and starting projects can significantly impact cash flow management and the allocation of human resources needed to deliver a capital project portfolio. Developing a robust system to track and predict expenditures is crucial for maintaining portfolio health. Read Full Article ARTICLE 2 Maximizing Portfolio Value: The Critical Role of Project Selection and Prioritization Our data reveals that project selection criteria often misaligned with the company’s vision, mission, and current market conditions. This misalignment can lead to approving projects that don’t truly serve the organization’s best interests. Moreover, we’ve noticed that selection criteria are not always fit for purpose across different types of projects, leading to a one-size-fits-all approach that fails to account for project-specific nuances. Another challenge we’ve identified is the phenomenon of “pet projects.” Once selection criteria are established, stakeholders may attempt to adapt their favored projects to fit these criteria, even when they wouldn’t stand up to objective scrutiny. This practice can lead to the approval of projects that don’t align with the organization’s strategic goals. Read Full Article ARTICLE 1 Aligning Project Objectives with Business Goals: A Key to Project Success In the complex world of capital projects, one of the most critical factors for success is the alignment between project objectives and business goals. As the Director of Capital Projects at AP-Networks, I’ve seen firsthand how this alignment can make or break a project’s outcome. Developing project objectives that effectively guide the organization toward successful delivery is a daunting task. It is even more complex because both business and project objectives can evolve over a project’s lifecycle. If not managed properly, these changes can significantly reduce the value derived from a project. Read Full Article Services We’re committed to providing customers with the services necessary to achieve competitive outcomes. Our comprehensive suite of services ranges from our Advanced Benchmarking Methodology and Cost Estimate Risk Analysis to Facilitated Capital Project Risk Workshop and so much more. At AP-Networks, we work alongside our clients to deliver data-driven strategies that will bring your project to successful completion. Advanced Benchmarking Methodology (ABM) Advanced Benchmarking Methodology (ABM) is a scope-based methodology that delivers a reliable, accurate approach to project benchmarking and provides clients with a better understanding of their project estimates and targets. LEARN MORE Project Excellence and Assurance Consulting (PEAC) PEAC provides project teams with the tools and insights to plan and execute safe, event-free, predictable and competitive projects. These targeted workshops strengthen team integration and optimize project preparation. LEARN MORE Value & Competitiveness Assessment of Plant-Based Projects (VCAP) The VCAP service uses structured tools and analytics to evaluate your project system and chart a roadmap to consistently obtain measurable value from projects, establish performance baselines and enable performance monitoring. LEARN MORE Capital Project Experience Augmentation Our Capital Project Experience Augmentation service complements your staff with the expertise of AP-Networks’ senior consultants—a team of project experts which includes senior project directors and project managers. LEARN MORE Capital Project Work Process Development and Implementation We use our extensive collection of capital project best practice data bolstered by our experience to craft a capital project work process that works. We help organizations learn from the success of others and avoid common pitfalls. LEARN MORE Cost Estimate Risk Analysis (CERA) Cost Estimate Risk Analysis (CERA) is an industry-leading analysis service that includes an in-depth review of all project risks plus a follow-up assessment to give you insight into contingencies, accuracy and resource needs. LEARN MORE Enterprise Risk Management Program Development Our expertise allows us to develop and implement an Enterprise Risk Management Program for organizations using cutting-edge technology combined with best practices and professional services to guarantee results. LEARN MORE Facilitated Capital Project Risk Workshop AP-Networks’ Facilitated Capital Project Risk Workshop provides a ready-made structure for project teams to identify and manage the major risks that could threaten your team’s goals and objectives. LEARN MORE Risk Process Development Utilizing our proven methodology and extensive experience, we develop a risk management process customized to the needs of your organization. Our experts help you take risk management from theory to practice. LEARN MORE Schedule Estimate Risk Analysis (SERA) SERA is an industry-leading schedule risk analysis service that includes in-depth review of the risks and uncertainties that influence schedule outcomes. This service has been proven to improve schedule predictability. LEARN MORE If you’re ready to achieve predictable, competitive outcomes with our robust set of capital project services, connect with an AP-Networks Expert now. CONTACT AP-NETWORKS