The Case for Engaging
a Commissioning
Agent in the Modern
Industrial Sector
Patrick Kyne
LEED AP
An effective strategy to
commissioning agents (CxA) to
maximize production uptime
work collaboratively with design
in the operations of modern
and construction teams on new
production facilities is to subject
build projects as independent
the systems & equipment to a
representatives to ensure unbiased
commissioning process executed
adjudication and execution of the
by an experienced and qualified
commissioning process.
Commissioning Agent (CxA).
With budgets and the bottom
There is a significant shift in the
line being monitored more than
way commissioning of new
ever, the design process
facilities is now being viewed.
is often fast tracked and
In the past, many
expedited to meet
owners and facility
production schedules,
There is a
managers expected
increasing the risk
significant
installation &
of costly design gaps
testing of equipment
shift in the way and consequently
and systems
construction delays
commissioning
managed by the
which by their
general contractor
of new facilities nature tend to eat
to be sufficient.
into the prescribed
is now being
Today, owners
time allowed for
viewed
are now engaging
commissioning.
“
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Thus, the need
challenge that must
for an embedded
be conquered to stay
commissioning
competitive.
approach in the
The role of the
design packages
commissioning agent
prior to issue
is now an integral
for construction
part of it. Executing
is becoming
the process on large
increasingly adopted
scale projects in the
and is backed up
advanced Micro &
by LEED with the
Nano Technology,
LotusWorks’
requirements set out
Bio Medical and
broad
knowledge
in their Enhanced
Pharmaceutical
Commissioning credit
and experience sectors has further
(EAc3).
enhanced LotusWorks
allows
us
to
Reliability and
knowledge of a wide
energy efficiency
quickly identify range of building
has always been
designs and facilitated
obstacles
before
of paramount
a high proficiency
they
become
concern for facility
in commissioning
managers especially
major issues in techniques. More
in high volume
importantly for our
the
construction
manufacturing, the
clients, that broad
increasing complexity
knowledge and
phase
of building systems
experience allows us
and the pace of technology change
to fully assess and quickly identify
means achieving a high score in the
obstacles before they become major
overall equipment effectiveness is a
issues in the construction phase.
“
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A thorough, comprehensive and
holistic commissioning approach
is required within these industries
because they now more than ever
operate with leading edge production
technology that offers greater
reward but also offers greater risk;
unplanned interruptions, therefore,
are more costly.
While there is
always a case for
commissioning
being an added
expense to the
overall new build
project, clients
are now reflecting
lower overall costs
after engaging the
experience of a
Clients
qualified CxA.
u Maximized efficiency in
equipment operations and
consequential long haul energy
savings.
u Long term increased production
uptime
Patrick Kyne
LEED AP
Successful commissioning agents
convey excellent communication
skills and add value by leading
positive working relationships
with all parties
involved in the
project, engaging
attentively
and coupling
constructive
criticism with
proven solutions
when required.
The
commissioning
are now
agent as always has
reflecting lower
a primary objective
Factors that
overall costs after of verifying the
backup this
Owners’ Project
engaging the
statement are:
Requirements and
experience of a
Basis of Design
u Mitigated
are delivered and
qualified CxA
construction delays
more. More is
due to commissioning input in the
leveraging experience and lessons
design phase
learned from previous projects
and how successful execution
u Commissioning engagement with
was managed where challenges
project controls teams to ensure
presented themselves.
contract language conveys deep into
The case for commissioning
the contract general requirements
agents is now stronger than ever
and thereby ensures the process can
and the LotusWorks
run with all the bases covered to
commissioning approach is
support the process and the players
proving the point successfully at an
without objection
international level.
“
LotusWorks, Building 3, Finisklin Business Park, Sligo, F91 KAP2, Ireland
Phone + 353 (0) 71 9169 783
Email [email protected]
Fax + 353 (0)71 9169 895
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