Conformity Assessment as a Tool for Organizational Learning in Large Engineering and Construction Projects

Luciano Assalim; Maria Fatima Ludovico Almeida

doi:10.4067/S0718-27242013000300059

Authors

Luciano Assalim Bureau Veritas Brasil
Maria Fatima Ludovico Almeida Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-27242013000300059

Keywords:

conformity assessment, project management, organizational learning, engineering projects, EPC contracts

Abstract

For the successful realization of large engineering and construction projects (LECPs), a systemic organizational learning framework for institutional cooperation is critical. Due to the long project life-cycle of LECPs, this is particularly important for this kind of project. The objective of this paper is to analyze to what extent the conformity assessment of LECPs, carried out under Engineering, Procurement and Construction management (EPCm) services, can be used as a tool for organizational learning and cooperation between typical stakeholders (project owners, engineering contractors, EPC contractors; subcontractors and certification bodies). The research, from which this paper emanates, was based on a case study concerning LECPs in an oil and gas company in Brazil. Based on its results, we suggest that the proposed organizational learning framework, supported by the conformity assessment rationale, constitutes an important management tool that can be disseminated in other organizational contexts where conformity assessments of LECPs take place.

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Author Biographies

Luciano Assalim, Bureau Veritas Brasil

Project certification analyst at Bureau Veritas Brasil, in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). He has a M.Sc. degree in Metrology for Quality and Innovation at Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) and a Bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering at Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). Since 2010, he has been working for Bureau Veritas Brasil in conformity assessment of large engineering projects conducted according EPC regime.

Maria Fatima Ludovico Almeida, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro

Assistant Professor of the Master Program in Metrology for Quality and Innovation at Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio). She has a PhD degree in Industrial Engineering at PUC-Rio, a M.Sc. degree in Innovation and Technology Management at University of Manchester (England) and a Diploma of Advanced Studies (DEA) in Information Science and Competitive Intelligence from Université Aix-Marseille III (France). Since 2005, Dr. Almeida has been working as a consultant for industrial and government projects focusing on technological forecasting and prospective scenarios building.

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