After completing a major project, the start of operations involves a wide-range of pre-operational activities that need to be completed in a timely manner, by a number of different parties. These parties include the project delivery team, the operator and other parties interested in ensuring a safe and reliable operation, all working in close consultation with the design and construction activities of the project works. Some of these activities have long lead times, and are critical to the successful start and on-going operation of the asset.
At the operational level (and technically speaking) ‘Operational Readiness’ can be defined as:
Delivery, commissioning and handover of the new infrastructure; appointment, preparation and training of personnel for operating and maintaining the infrastructure; and achieving the required regulatory approvals to operate and maintain the infrastructure to achieve the desired outcome.
Operational Readiness is generally operator led and does not include the final construction and sub-system commissioning of works which is to be undertaken by the contractor. Overall system test and pre-commissioning activities by the contractor are usually wrapped up into an overall suite of final operational readiness activities.
A typical timeline for operational readiness is shown below: