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Once the final engineering design has been agreed, the approved assets are purchased and installation commences according to the engineering plan. From this point onwards there should be no need to make design changes if the planning has been effective and all stake holders have had appropriate input to the decision process. Any requests for changes during the build and install phase should be subject to rigorous examination and only if it can be clearly demonstrated that it is to the organisations advantage, or that the change is unavoidable, should it be undertaken.
It is during the build and install phase that any shortcomings in the project planning will become obvious and inevitably lead to cost and time overrun. Changes at this stage (variations) are a common problem in some organisations and need well designed systems and discipline in implementing these systems if costs and time lines are to remain under control.
Valid requests for changes during the build and install phase are an indication of poor or incomplete planning (not always avoidable) and should be documented for post project review and analysis. Changes made during the implementation of the project are inevitably expensive as they are by definition, alterations to what should have been a carefully considered plan and therefore, sub-optimal. The need to manage the project build and install phase is paramount if the project is to come in on time and within budget.
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