Commissioning Field Lessons - Visual Communication
Written and experienced by me, not an algorithm
On any project, you have a wide variety of professionals with different expertise, experience and even language. This can make communicating in a way that is universally understood quite difficult.
A simple yet effective way of communicating interrelated activities is in simple diagrams such as the block flow in this picture. Effectively, this turns abstract, text based information such as procedures and P6 schedules into a visual format that can be more easily understood, particularly in the field.
In my experience, this simple approach has a multitude of benefits;
✅ better awareness of the activities between the disciplines/teams, improving SIMOPs planning and resource allocation
✅ the permit office understand the simultaneous activities, and can more easily identify permits that can be safely issued together
✅ opportunities for synergy between disciplines can be more easily identified
✅ the team becomes more ‘integrated’ and senses their role in a bigger picture
✅ a ‘one pager’ can be printed and used in the field to discuss with teams at toolbox talks etc. – generating interest, discussion, awareness
When communication is poor or not clear it can lead to some common inefficiencies anyone who has worked on big sites will be very familiar with:
👎 disciplines blocking each other out with clashing permits/isolations on the same equipment: inefficient, can lead to idle crews
👎 field personnel don’t know why they can’t proceed with their work or where their work fits in to project objectives: leads to frustration, poor morale, poor performance
Diagrams such as this can be invaluable tools for project teams looking to execute multi-discipline work effectively, or project managers looking to communicate a complex plan in an understandable way.
At RFC Consultants we know how effective field communication can achieve real positive change in team performance – reach out today to find out ways we could help your project.
