I recently got to talk with Ric Jackson, Director of FIATECH, about a new project that should improve preconstruction management for capital projects in process industries. The new Global Valve Cross-Reference eCatalog (GVCC) will apply existing Process Industry Practices (PIP) standards to describe valves in a universal language.

Consider typical preconstruction processes for a chemicals plant. An engineer looks at a plan and generates a takeoff of needed materials. He turns to a catalog of valves, pumps, fittings, and other components to identify those that meet his requirements. He then creates a spreadsheet with detailed specifications, sends an RFQ to manufacturers, and makes his purchase.

When another plant is being built down the road, a different engineer and several more manufacturers have to start this same process over. This is where FIATECH is helping make life easier for both sides.

FIATECH is working with companies such as BE&K and S&B Engineers to make this happen. It all starts by Engineers take their design specifications and match them to PIP standards. Meanwhile, manufacturers have associated their valve offerings with PIP standards as well. FIATECH ties all of this together by offering a catalog (the GVCC) that allows engineers to quickly match design specifications with corresponding manufacturers’ parts, drastically reducing the RFQ and selection processes.

The eventual goal is to extend PIP standards beyond valves to pumps, fittings, and other commonly used construction components. The catalog would then be presented online through XML, allowing engineers and manufacturers across the country to access it. This simple application of existing industry standards and online collaboration would make life much easier for both sides. It is easy to see how a large-scale application of this project could have a profound impact on the way preconstruction selections and purchases are made.

Preliminary estimates put the overall labor savings at 95%, due to a number of factors including eliminated back-and-forth behavior between engineers and manufacturer representatives. Completion is slated for early 2008, and we’ll be keeping an eye on the buzz it generates in the industry.

July 27, 2007

This is a very good start in saving both time and money in searching thru what is specified, waht is available and where it is available or manifactured?

How about doing similar stuff for general building construction?

I have found documents with materials specified from time in past. These materials are not in manufacturing in present time. Then there are examples of proprietory materials being specified without any alternates.

We in general construction industry must start our own catalog and listing.

Thanks.

Vinod Mehta
Skanska USA