SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Key features of Black & Veatch’s
project management capability
include:
Q
Planning projects with the end user in
mind
Q
Use of innovative tools, processes and
team work create a culture of project
success
Q
Seamless integration of project controls,
project management, engineering
management and construction
management from project initiation
through final acceptance
For nuclear power plant owners,
Black & Veatch emphasizes the
importance of managing the risks
inherent to any project. Developing a
fully defined project scope is critical
to identifying risks that can ultimately
derail a budget and timeline. Based
on decades of global experience,
Black & Veatch has developed a
planning contingency model that
considers project specific and
systemic risk factors to quantify the
uncertainties that remain.
“Calibrated with information gathered
across our global footprint, final
observed risk factors are often within
2 percent of the projections the
model generates for contingency,”
states Jon Gribble, Nuclear Director.
“These same tools can also be
applied for utilities that want us to
manage projects, thereby creating
opportunity for knowledge transfer to
their personnel.”
In addition to its experienced project
professionals, Black & Veatch
deploys a robust and rigorous project
management approach necessary for
success, including:
Q
Budgets tracked by individual
procurements, as well as by category of
work activities and labor type
Q
Skilled project cost controls
professionals that accumulate cost
updates on a weekly or hourly basis
and provide feedback to track progress
against the plan
Q
Advanced project software programs
to develop intricate, resource loaded
schedules
Q
Sophisticated reports and tools to
anticipate adverse trends and analyze
emerging events associated with a
variety of solutions
“Black & Veatch prides itself on the
skills and focus that our professionals
bring to each and every clients’
project,” said Dean Oskvig, President
of Black & Veatch’s energy business.
“Whether as a consultant, an owner’s
representative or contractor, we will
help better position utilities with
nuclear assets to succeed in this
challenging market by reducing or
eliminating their project risk.”
“
Whether as a consultant,
owner’s representative or
contractor, we will help
position utilities with
nuclear assets to succeed
in this challenging
market by reducing or
eliminating their project
risk.
— DEAN OSKVIG, PRESIDENT,
BLACK & VEATCH’S ENERGY
BUSINESS
Pathway to Success:
How Project Management Can
Help Nuclear Power Facilities Succeed
”
Across the United States nuclear utilities face fierce competition from low
cost natural gas and subsidized renewable energy resources. In addition, flat
demand growth and marginal electricity prices finds many nuclear utilities with
limited capital to address increasing regulatory hurdles and growing project
backlogs. The challenges facing the nuclear sector are further compounded by
the loss of utility project management expertise due to aging workforces and
retirements.
Viewed holistically, the negative impacts caused by the inability to properly
manage capital project execution are now challenging the economic viability of
some nuclear plants. A robust and rigorous project management process can
significantly mitigate these negative impacts, freeing up resources to focus on
operations and power generation.
Black & Veatch possesses the experience and required balance of economic
and technical understanding to successfully manage large capital projects. With
nearly 100 years of managing projects on-schedule and on-budget, our teams
of seasoned professionals serve as strategic advisors to utilities while providing
a full range of EPC capabilities.
