Project Management

Sharpe can manage an entire project from conception through installation. We will help define the project, specify equipment and manage budgets and schedules to get the project completed properly. We work strictly in the food processing industries and understand the intricacies of working with food products and plants.

We have done small line modifications and enhancements (where the PM process is very fast and simple) and also managed complete plant additions or construction. We can take as much of the responsibility for a project as you may need us to. Depending on the project we can offer project management/engineering support or can propose a complete turnkey project. We have the resources and experiences to help bring a successful project through completion.

Project Planning

Some projects that we work on have a clear definition with budgets and schedule. Other projects are a vision of plant growth, improvement or addition that need further definition. We pride ourselves on being able to discuss your project goals candidly and efficiently and helping to "frame out" the project without bureaucracy to see if/how to proceed. Should the project proceed, we can help define the project further. Some aspects of that definition are listed below.

We would be glad to meet and further discuss any project and offer some input into how it might proceed. Again, depending on the project and wishes of the plant, we can offer resources to support a project or can propose a complete turnkey project.

Layouts

Layouts generally involve with a project starting with concept of operation and required floorspace and evolving to detailed drawings with hard equipment specifications and plan-view and elevation drawings. The final drawings will serve as a road map for the project and documentation for meetings, contractors, regulatory requirements and all aspects of the project.

Equipment Specifications/Bid Packages

Part of the project engineering process is finding the right piece of equipment for the application. Process speeds, equipment capabilities, equipment reliability, equipment sanitation, packaging, and many other factors are involved in the equipment decisions.

Depending on the project, we may create bid packages for vendors to review and propose their equipment/services. These are reviewed with the project owner to their satisfaction and decisions made accordingly. Bid packages will help define all final specifications and also provide hard project costs before making fiscal commitments. Getting quality bids for all aspects of the project (including the electrical/field/utility installations) will help keep the project on track.

Sharpe Engineering has over 125 years of experience in food plant and process engineering in a diverse array of food applications. This has built a large contact base with equipment manufacturers of all types.

Scheduling

Sharpe Engineering will develop a project schedule that will be distributed to all members of the project team both internal and external. This schedule is followed very carefully throughout the project and is updated on a regular basis as needed.

By adhering to this schedule, and by publishing it for all team members, each is aware of the importance of completing the assigned tasks in a timely fashion and its importance on other aspects of the project. It also provides an immediate point of reference for all involved as to the current status of the project.

Budget

The budget is always an extremely important aspect of the project, and its successful completion. As the project manager, Sharpe Engineering pays particular attention to this document. This provides a point of reference that team members as well as upper management can make decisions about the project on.

The accurate tracking of the budget of the project will also determine what aspects of a project can be included initially and what aspects may need to be a part of future phases of the project. This is also an excellent way to equate the impact of the project costs with the payback anticipated and determine justification of each aspect of the project. Without the tracking of a project budget, serious overruns in cost can occur, as well as conversely benefits of the project may be missed because it is anticipated that they will be over the project budget.

Included in managing the budget is managing the time and material work completed by contractors and the impact of this work on the project budget, as well as working with vendors when the need arises to approve change orders and adders to work being completed.

Installation/Start-up Support

As project manager, we will be on-site for the installation and manage that effort. That includes working with all vendors/contractors and handle any issues that arise during installation. We will also work through the start-up of the line and work through any testing/debugging issues associated with the start up. The project owner will be as closely involved in this aspect of the project as they wish.

Once the line is functional, we will work with the plant to ensure their satisfaction. We may work with the project owner and develop a punch list of items to address as part of this project or at a further date. We can also follow up on the project a few months down the road to ensure that the satisfaction of the plant is met.

The bottom line is that we can provide as much (or as little) of this as you would like us to. We understand how to successfully complete projects and can offer our resources to best suit your project. We would be glad to further discuss any of this with you at your convenience.

Remember, as project manager we work in the best interests of your project, representing you and your project from concept through functionality.