From planning to performance: The strategic value of commissioning

Commissioning is more than just starting up a project. It acts as a “compass” that guides projects and operational teams toward common goals.

Commissioning is more than just starting up a project—it’s a guiding force that aligns teams and objectives. While it’s often associated with the moment machinery powers on and operations begin, commissioning encompasses far more. It’s a comprehensive process that, alongside operational readiness and ramp-up activities, ensures every element of a project is designed, built, tested, and maintained to meet performance expectations. In this way, commissioning acts as a “compass,” steering projects toward successful execution and long-term reliability.

Commissioning: The compass keeping projects on course 

The compass analogy is a fitting one because commissioning occurs during one of the most critical and confusing phases of the project life cycle: the transition between the project delivery team and the operational team. Well-planned, communicated, and executed commissioning activities can provide direction and clarity to ensure that all project stakeholders are aligned and working toward the same outcomes. This alignment is necessary for the seamless transition from construction through to operation, as well as for minimizing risks and maximizing efficiencies. 

Risk-proofing operations before flipping the switch 

Operational risks can often carry significant financial and safety implications. Commissioning mitigates such risks by testing systems, and the people who operate them, under various conditions before they are put into production. This proactive approach allows for the early identification and rectification of potential issues, helping ensure a smoother and safer transition to the operational phase. Commissioning plans can provide purpose and clarity for operational readiness programs, by determining “what” and “who” needs to be ready by “when”.   

Built to last: Quality and regulatory confidence 

Quality assurance and compliance are vital aspects of the commissioning process, and these are ensured through a “completions” process. Through thorough testing, validation and documenting, commissioning ensures that all systems and components meet necessary design intent and levels of readiness. This optimizes the safety and reliability of a project while enhancing its overall performance and longevity. 

Protecting your capital  

Commissioning’s most outstanding benefit is that it ultimately maximizes the return on investment for project owners. By ensuring that systems are fully functional and optimized from the outset, it can reduce unanticipated downtime, maintenance costs, and energy consumption. This leads to greater operational efficiency and cost savings over the project’s life. 

Commissioning as a catalyst for collaboration  

Commissioning promotes enhanced communication and collaboration among project teams. Involving all stakeholders, including designers, operators, constructors, and owners early in the commissioning planning process helps ensure that everyone is on the same page. It also helps identify potential issues early and reduces the likelihood of delays and additional costs associated with poor start-ups. Engaging commissioning providers early in a project’s life cycle reduces ambiguity around roles and responsibilities through well-defined documentation that identifies individual and team accountabilities.  

Guiding a project through the commissioning process

Guiding a project through the commissioning process requires more than technical execution. Commissioning is a crucial process that ensures the success and sustainability of a project. As a “compass,” it directs project and operational teams toward common goals, process alignment, quality, and efficiency. By taking a highly disciplined approach, Hatch’s expert team of commissioning professionals has helped maximize project success and stakeholder satisfaction in various mining, energy, and infrastructure projects around the world. Contact Hatch to learn how its commissioning practices can benefit your project.