Project Spotlights

Expanse Delivers Integrated Solution

Need
An independent oil and natural gas company needed 20-25’ panel rack skids fabricated, assembled, wired, and tested to provide a turnkey solution for their central control and power distribution equipment supplying Tank Battery facilities.

Challenge
The company was looking for a partner that could manage the engineering and construction of the skid, as internal resources were limited. Additionally, the vendor originally selected to perform the job delivered a product that lacked in skid fabrication, finish, and craftsmanship quality. This in part due to best practices not being followed, limited attention to detail and incomplete work. The customer was also frustrated by the vendor’s inability to plan according to a schedule and effectively manage changes in the project and supply chain. They sought out a new partner to continue the project.

Solution
The operator reached out to Expanse due to its single source capabilities and integrated services. Assembly was relocated to an Expanse location with more equipment, dedicated crews, and local oversight to facilitate the tools needed to exceed customer expectations. Key roles and points of contact were developed to ensure continuity of information between branches and team members.

Additionally, the Expanse team developed a standard design layout with legends detailing conduit schedule/fittings, customer provided material vs. Expanse provided materials. This provided a concise document that could be used for developing material lists, communicating change orders, and building the assembly all while improving efficiency and accuracy. A Gantt chart was also developed and maintained dedicated to each skid, specifying project stakeholders and their respective milestones needed to meet deadlines within the overall project. This schedule was discussed upfront with team members to ensure the team was in the best position possible to succeed. It also pinpointed the time each stage of development needed to complete their task.

The team also set up project tracking in IFS to better understand performance metrics and manage the allocation of inventory. This led to numerous conversations on how to improve time management, which eventually led to a significant drop in labor hours.

Outcome
Expanse built and delivered nine skids within 13 months of the original order. Three more skids are currently in production with two more on order. The team’s resilience and drive to do better ultimately led to preferred vendor status with the customer. The trust built throughout the project prompted the customer to give Expanse more influence over lead-times due to the team’s ability to effectively create and articulate a practical schedule.