McLeod, J S (2000) Planning for startup: An evaluation of factors affecting the startup of process industry facilities. PhD thesis, University of Texas at Austin, USA.
Abstract
This research investigated the nature and timing of startup planning for major capital projects and assessed its relationship to startup success. The major objectives were to: (1) Validate the Construction Industry Institute (CII) model Planning for Startup; (2) Identify specific model activities that significantly contribute to startup success; and (3) Identify project management activities that contribute to model implementation. Twenty-six recently completed plant startups projects with an average cost of $220 million were analyzed. A Startup Success Index (SSI) was developed and shown to be a reliable measure of startup success. The success of a startup was shown to be significantly related to three project variables including: (1) the level of startup planning (i. e. the level of model implementation); (2) the maturity of manufacturing process technology; and (3) the presence of regulatory externalities. The research also showed that startup success is not statistically related to: (1) the total installed cost of the project and (2) the characteristics of the construction site. The research demonstrated that, at 0. 05 significance level, a startup planning effort based on the activities in the CH Planning for Startup model was positively correlated with startup success. Furthermore, the research determined that the success of a startup is significantly correlated with eighteen activities in the CII model. Conclusions from the project data are presented to assist others in implementing the CH Planning for Startup model. Areas addressed include scheduling, startup budgeting, assignment of the project manger, startup training, startup incentives and identification of startup systems.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | O'Connor, J T |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | budgeting; construction site; manufacturing; scheduling; training |
| Index terms: | manufacturing process, Construction Industry Institute, capital project, startup, presence, implementation, project management, scheduling, project data, construction site, budgeting |
| Subjects: | financial management, project management theory and practice, business, data collection methods, work location, manufacturing engineering, research organizations, operations research, strategic project management, environmental science, contractual arrangements |
| Topics: | Time Control, Site Management, Research Practice, Business Strategy, Project Management, Engineering Principles, Procurement, Sustainability |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCE |
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