Engineering Solutions for Energy | Saving Time & Money With Smart Ops & Maintenance Design
Hidden friction in your workflow, could have hidden costs…I smooth the friction to save $$$. On a pipeline project, I saw a client burn through 4 days of shutdown time because mechanics were waiting. Not waiting for work. They were waiting for tools and parts. Or walking to get the parts from supply. Then we tried something simple. We assigned a "runner" to deliver what they needed …when they needed it. The mechanics stayed focused on their core work. No more walking back and forth or waiting for parts. Small process changes like this turned the 4-day shutdown into a 1-day shutdown and saved big $$$. This is lean construction in action. On some projects, I’ve used these methods to cut project costs by 56% and schedules by 58%. Without sacrificing safety or compliance. The key? Look for the waiting. Waiting for approvals. Waiting for materials. Waiting for information. Every minute of waiting is friction you can eliminate. How can you limit friction? First, talk to operations personnel from day one. These hands-on experts know where the friction is. They see it every day. Second, look for the signs of friction: - Drawings that don't match reality - Teams unaware of required checks - Constant design changes without updating drawings When you learn to spot friction, you can eliminate it …and the costs and headaches it creates. What friction is hiding in your projects right now? #EngineeringDesign #FacilityEngineering #OilAndGasIndustry
Most projects don’t fail because of bad engineering, they fail because of hidden friction: approvals, missing parts, outdated drawings. When leaders actually listen to the field and remove those barriers, the cost savings are massive.
Small changes compound into huge schedule and cost wins, without cutting corners on safety.
Danielle Baughman, what hidden waiting would vanish first if every project empowered a dedicated runner from day one? #DanielleBaughman #LeanConstruction #OilAndGasIndustry
Engineering Solutions for Energy | Saving Time & Money With Smart Ops & Maintenance Design
6dSuch a simple but powerful example of lean in action. 👏 The “runner” role is often overlooked, yet it eliminates one of the biggest hidden drains—waiting. I’ve seen the same thing: once mechanics can focus on their craft instead of logistics, efficiency skyrockets.