Critical success factors for commissioning and start-up of capital projects

Commissioning and start-up (CSU) must be accomplished before a facility can initiate initial operations and begin meeting commercial objectives. Actions necessary for successful CSU are often not well planned or executed, resulting in poor CSU performance. Recognizing this significant shortfall, the purpose of this study is to determine critical activities necessary to increase the likelihood of successful CSU performance on capital projects. Utilizing input from CSU experts, objective data collection, and subsequent data analysis, 16 critical success factors (CSFs) were identified through this research. Further elements developed include CSF's timing of CSF implementation, support of safety and quality, and current frequency of CSF achievement. The researchers recommend the industry to pay particular attention to these six laggard CSFs: CSU value recognition, adequate funding for CSU, CSU leadership continuity, system milestone acceptance criteria and deliverables, CSU systems engineering during front-end engineering design (FEED), and systems-focus in detailed design. Capital project team members (representing both owners and contractors) and researchers involved in the planning and implementation of facility CSU will benefit from the results.