Development of the Project Definition Rating Index for Small Industrial Projects
The Project Definition Rating Index (PDRI) for Small Industrial Projects is a powerful and easy-to-use tool that offers a method to measure project scope definition for completeness, by providing descriptions of critical elements to allow the project team to quickly identify project risk factors related to the desired outcomes for cost, schedule, and operating performance. The PDRI is designed for use during front end planning, which includes feasibility, concept, and detailed scope definition.
A significant feature of the PDRI–Small Industrial Projects is that one can quickly go through an assessment and evaluate scope definition on both process and non-process types of industrial projects. The PDRI–Small Industrial Projects functions as:
- A checklist that a project team can use for determining the necessary steps to follow in defining the project scope
- A listing of standardized scope definition terminology for small industrial projects
- An industry standard for rating the completeness of project scope definition to facilitate risk assessment and prediction of escalation potential for disputes
- A means to monitor progress—when used successively—at various stages of the front end planning effort
- A partial forensic assessment tool for evaluating design and construction readiness a tool that promotes communication and alignment between owners, designers/engineers, and construction contractors by highlighting poorly defined scope
Proper scope definition during front end planning will improve both the cost and cycle time needed to design and construct capital facilities.
