Now, before going ahead with the review of this title let us first cover all the bases and understand that in which reference has the author talked about the concept of ‘Commissioning’ over here. Well, the term Commissioning concerning the subject matter of this book indicates the process of planning, documenting, scheduling, testing, adjusting, verifying, and training, to provide a facility that operates as a fully functional system per the Owner’s Project Requirements. The goal of the Commissioning Process is to enhance the quality of the delivered project by focusing the design and construction team on the Owner’s goals for a functional and energy efficient building!
It must be noted here that this title “Concept To Commissioning: With A Special Focus On Steel Plant Project Management” is basically a note of the professional experience of the author. The book is designed in such a manner that it could provide some factual & ground level realities to the ones, who are seeking to find more about the ‘Commissioning Process’ in a large scale industry. Moreover, the author firmly believes that if the readers would sincerely go thoroughly with the content provided in this book then they will definitely gather a complete sense of the subject matter.
Author D. Ravichandar is a doctorate in Mechanical engineering from Anna University. He also got qualified in electrical engineering and Diploma in Business Finance. He has started his career in project stage of Salem Steel Plant under Steel Authority of India Limited. After 8 years of service, he has moved to Bharat Strips Limited, Hyderabad, where he has commissioned the Copper and alloy steel plant. He has served the JSW group for 33 years growing with the group from Rs. 20 Crore turnover cold rolling unit to one lakh crore, multi vertical conglomerate with 26 MTPA integrated steel plant capacity, in key roles of project execution, corporate strategy and heading of units with challenge of turnarounds!
He has played a key role as head of projects at the group’s steel plant at Vijayanagar, Bellary, Karnataka, increasing the capacity of the plant from 1.6 MT to 10 MT in four phases, all of which were done in record minimum time and very low budgets compared to the prevailing norms, without sacrifice in quality. On completion, the Plants have ramped up in short time and exceeded guaranteed production levels over a period.
He has played a pivotal role in turning around of company’s one million tonne steel production plant by changing over the product mix from commodity to special steel and achieving the position of largest long product special steel plant of India preferred by the customers. The company has won series of awards during the journey to total quality management and bagging of Deming Award under his leadership. He is currently working as visiting professor in Engineering and MBA colleges. He has published his first book on “Maintenance for Profitability” in June this year!
In this particular book, ‘Concept To Commissioning: With A Special Focus On Steel Plant Project Management’ the author has shared his life time experience in executing steel plant projects, blending it with the theories which are required for students of management colleges and the young engineers who are taking up project management in their career at various levels. The book is divided in to three parts, the project planning and approval, Project Implementation and Annexures of Case studies and compelling latest technological developments!
The planning section deals with ideation of projects, market study including PESTEL and PORTER’s Five Force Analysis, Organization SWOT analysis and action plans. It discusses on Product, Market and Demand, provides detailed Technical and Financial appraisals including budgeting, cost of production, various profit terminologies, pay back periods and internal rate of returns and other requirements of investors. The environmental requirements are also addressed.
The implementation section, project-planning deals with systems and procedures, policies and guidelines, Risk Management, safety and Quality. Sections on Organizing, scheduling, procuring, execution, monitoring and control provide practical examples from large steel plant project executions. Critical path analysis and critical path crashing are discussed using examples of executed projects. The budgets, bar charts, critical path analysis & crashing, progress review graphs etc. all are given with real steel plant figures as examples. The focus on environment in large red category projects are cited throughout the book, the key aspects of public hearing are also addressed. While, the third section deals with two case studies with highly challenging budgets and time frame, citing the actual experience in executing of those projects. The book has also touched upon the latest technological development of Hydrogen usage in steel making in efforts to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions!
Now, while coming to the final part of this review, i.e. the Book’s Verdict it becomes necessary to mention the after studying the complete subject matter presented by the Author in this book, we can easily conclude that the Book Title is very apt and suitable. The Author had very well justified the book title, as the subject matter present in this book truly gives a very deep and layer by layer information of the subject matter.
Moreover, a book like “Concept To Commissioning: With A Special Focus On Steel Plant Project Management” certainly deserves a chance by all the readers who are looking to gain some deep insights about the ‘Commissioning Process’ concerning the working of a large scale industry. Well, the general readers can also pick up the book since as readers; most of us do not even have the very basic knowledge about the functioning & management of the large industries. Therefore, for the sake of knowledge and awareness, this book is a MUST PICK one, and Author D. Ravichandar indeed deserves all the appreciation & praises for presenting such beneficial knowledge of the subject matter through this book of his!
Book Title: https://www.amazon.in/dp/9356731438/
Book: Concept To Commissioning: With A Special Focus On Steel Plant Project Management
Author: D. Ravichandar
Publisher: Evincepub Publishing (2023)
Total Pages: 172
Reviewed By: Neel Preet
