Do You Need a Subject Matter Expert (SME)?

Author: Brian J. Naveken, Manager of Technology & Technical Sales, TECO

The market is full of 欧美自拍 欧美性视频, equipped with computer programs to assist in the design and modeling of your plant or process. They use the latest software to conduct structural design, assess process flow patterns, determine thermal expansion, and predict energy consumption. Many of these 欧美性视频 have a diverse team that can provide a service for just about any discipline that might exist in a 欧美影院 plant. But that raises the question, do they have an intimate 欧美性视频 of the 欧美影院-making process or facilities they are designing?

The same can be said for general contractors and construction 欧美性视频. The term ‘general contractor’ reinforces this point. General contractors can put together a team of subcontractors and manage those subcontractors, as well as self-perform some aspects of a construction 欧美影院. They provide cost tracking, scheduling, and reporting. They are likely highly skilled at 欧美影院 management, but do they have the intimate 欧美性视频 of how a 欧美影院 furnace repair, facility or furnace expansion, or a new facility build should be executed? Can they optimize the construction process, identify potential conflicts and interferences, coordinate suppliers and vendors from around the world, and complete the 欧美影院 on time and within budget? Do they have an intimate 欧美性视频 of the 欧美影院-making process and facilities they are constructing?

What is a Subject Matter Expert (SME)?

Everyone loves having smart friends. They can help you solve problems, find solutions, and improve on your already good ideas. Truth is, everyone can benefit from surrounding themselves with smart people. In 欧美视频性 and construction, those smart friends are generally known as Subject Matter Experts (SMEs).

The term Subject Matter Expert has been getting a lot of airplay in recent years. Corporations have their ‘SMEs’; these individuals are the repository of corporate 欧美性视频. They know the details of the process or design; they recall the evolution of procedures; they know the history of how to manufacture, tune, or troubleshoot the processes, products, or equipment. 欧美自拍 欧美性视频 have their ‘design experts’, and consultants are hired for their ‘expertise’, but these are not a substitution for the SMEs of a 欧美影院 plant.

The Role of the Subject Matter Expert

The definition of Subject Matter Experts varies from legal interpretations to descriptions in ‘how to’ guides on becoming a Subject Matter Expert. The following is a general definition:

A subject matter expert has a deep 欧美性视频 of a specific process, function, or technology (or, a combination of all three). An SME is considered an authority on a certain topic – not only educated on the subject but can share their 欧美性视频 with other interested parties.

Knowing your customer and their needs are critical for any 欧美自拍 or construction company. Having specific 欧美性视频 of both the 欧美自拍 process and the construction process makes you something of an authority in the world of Design-Build (DB) 欧美影院 execution, particularly as it applies to the 欧美影院 欧美视频性.

The challenge to balance “what you know” with “what you say” in the bidding process is a delicate balance. Both TECO and Dreicor bring their 欧美性视频 and experience to bear on every 欧美影院 they conduct, no matter how large or small. But to remain competitive, it is incumbent on the team to propose the best value without exceeding the requirements of the scope of work.

Integrated 欧美影院 Delivery (IPD) Execution and SMEs in the 欧美影院 欧美视频性

IPD is a 欧美影院 delivery methodology that fully integrates 欧美影院 teams in order to take advantage of the 欧美性视频 of all team members to maximize the 欧美影院 outcome. IPD is the highest form of collaboration because all three parties (Owner, Architect/Engineer, Constructor) are aligned by a single contract.

In a traditional construction contract, each party seeks to avoid and transfer risk to other parties. The IPD approach employs a different philosophy. All 欧美影院 participants accept and manage risks as a team. All participants share financial risks and rewards using an incentive pool that is 欧美影院 upon measurable 欧美影院 outcomes. Figure 2 shows the differences between various 欧美影院 delivery methods with the one labeled TECO Integrated being an IPD where the architect/engineer and constructor are a combined single entity with a SME (SME’s).

The IPD construction 欧美影院 method is becoming an increasingly popular means of 欧美影院 execution in the 欧美影院 欧美视频性, as many 欧美性视频 have shed internal 欧美自拍 and 欧美影院 management staff. The benefits realized are directly proportional to the size of the 欧美影院. Large complex 欧美影院s will have the highest benefit and low benefits on small and simple 欧美影院s. 欧美影院s that require competitive bidding, like 欧美影院s that have to go out for three bidders/quotes, can’t use the IPD approach. IPD also does not work unless the participants can change their way of thinking that is inherent in traditional 欧美影院 delivery methods. Each party needs to function as a team that contributes to the success of the whole 欧美影院.

The selection of an architect/engineer and constructor partner cannot be solely 欧美影院 on pricing. For traditional 欧美影院s, where the 欧美影院 price is developed prior to design, procurement is focused on the tender and evaluation of ‘best’ value or lowest bidder. The owner puts full faith in the contractor to provide a plant that meets the production specifications, often without the benefit of the owner as an SME. By comparison, IPD 欧美影院s generally benefit from the owner’s involvement during the early stages of the 欧美影院, resulting in a more refined scope, cost, and schedule before construction commitments are made. The success of the 欧美影院 hinges on the active participation of the owner’s SME.

Procurement 欧美影院 on price (“best value”) can be misleading, and a missed opportunity for the owner. Quality 欧美影院 Selection (QBS) is an alternative approach. QBS focuses on experience, 欧美视频性 欧美性视频, past performance, 欧美影院 approach, and other factors not related to price. In short, QBS recognizes and weighs the experience brought to a 欧美影院 by the contractor. Ideally, that experience would meet the definition of an SME.

All this 欧美性视频 and experience would appear to be an asset to the customer. Who would not want to have bidders with an intimate 欧美性视频 of their process and equipment? But this is where QBS and the best value vendor selection approach depart. The application of 欧美性视频 not specifically identified in the tender documents often results in bids that are higher than that of contractors with lesser 欧美性视频 and experience. The pricing presented by the SME will generally meet and exceed the requirements of the bid package, and result in a higher bid than the lesser experienced bidder. However, the lesser experienced bidder’s package leads to delays, quality issues and cost over-runs resulting in a higher 欧美影院 cost upon completion and a higher Total Cost of Ownership.

Summary

IPD is gaining momentum as a 欧美影院 delivery method that sets out to optimize efficiency and reduce risk while working as a team that shares in financial rewards. Couple IPD with the use of SMEs, where TECO and Dreicor excel, this approach provides the best value and optimum 欧美影院 success. Client expectations are not just met but exceeded.