Improving Project Management in ESB Power Generation
Power Generation's Commercial Group are now managing a significant number of large plant overhauls for the business. Building on the group's extensive project management capability for new builds and major refurbishment projects, the Overhaul Programme Group (Manager, David Dwyer) is implementing a project office (Project Support Office) to support the business in improving project management for overhauls.
This initiative will transition Power Generation from an overhaul management approach that had mixed results and deliverables to an new best practice approach that will deliver appropriate governance, consistency, and effectively enable a more successful overhaul programme.
PSO
What is Project Support Office?
PSO implements and supports project management best practice to enable Power Generation deliver overhaul projects safer, faster and more cost effectively, and to the correct quality standards. Specifically, the Project Support Office (PSO) is an infrastructure to support the PG Overhaul programme, through the development of a project methodology, project management tools and templates and through structure learning and development.
Deployment of the PSO will provide support to our project managers and visibility to management of our overhaul portfolio program in real-time.
PSO Benefits for the project manager by supporting; Effective & Efficient
- Project Roles and responsibilities.
- Developing a project management skill set.
- Single environment for critical information.
- Quicker report production.
- Standard approach.
- More time to manage the priorities of the project.
Project Management Processes developed
The PSO developed a series of processes covering the five phases of an overhaul project. The processes cover areas such as Scope, Cost, Time, Risk and Quality management. As well as introducing a comprehensive change management process for handling all project changes. Safety is ESB Power Generation's highest priority.
People
Structured Project Management Development for Project Teams, Support Staff and Management
Definition by staff at workshops earlier in the development of PSO services and function clearly identified the need to improve the capability of staff in the area of managing projects. As part of PSO roll out a structure 6 day Project Management Development Programme has been designed by The University Of Limerick – Centre for Project Management.
Additionally a 1 Day programme is being developed for overhaul support staff in stations and Head Office as well as a 2 Day course for project managers
PSO Benefits the business by supporting;
- Transparency across all projects
- Consistency and best practice
- Timely and comprehensive project and programme reporting
- Decision support ( Client / Sponsor/Project)
- Lessons learned and continuous improvement
- Plant performance
Powerful Tools and TemplatesThe PSO includes a purpose built web-based toolset and a series of templates to manage project information and provide real time progress and governance reporting.
In 2009 Project support office will conclude all the Project Management Development Programme planned for project teams, project support staff and other staff involved in this extensive programme. By March 2009 all Overhauls in the programme will be supported by the PSO processes and toolset. The project teams will spend time bedding in this new approach and improving upon the good start achieved in 2008.
"PSO will improve upon existing project management capabilities to support an extensive overhaul programme" Donal Crean, Commercial Manager, Power Generation.
"PSO is an important stepping stone to support the business achieve better plant performance" Michael O'Mahony, Asset Manager, Power Generation and Chairman of the Overhaul Governance Board
For more information on the Power Generation Overhaul Programme or the Project Support Office please contact: Adrian Bannister: Tel (70) 26853 or email adriian.bannister@esb.ie
