Lack of control over the life-cycle of an infrastructure project negatively impacts the capital and operational expenditure needed to deploy, manage and maintain assets. IMQS’s Project Control System can help overcome the challenges faced with infrastructure asset management by ensuring comprehensive and transparent control over the full life cycle of capital and operational projects.

 

Infrastructure Asset Life Cycle Management requires comprehensive control

Infrastructure can either attract or deter investment. Good infrastructure can enhance long-term industrial competitiveness and facilitate trade¹. The failure to provide, manage and maintain infrastructure can ultimately lead to economic shocks, social upheaval or large-scale disaster.

Africa is on the rise², but inadequate infrastructure threatens growth and development³. For the continent to become globally competitive and realise its true potential, writes Deloitte’s André Pottas, “massive improvements in infrastructure are required in a short space of time”⁴.

Infrastructure investment has become a priority for African governments keen to attract foreign money and capitalise on rapid urban growth. This positive step, according to Brookings’ Senior Fellow Jeffrey Gutman, needs to be accompanied by a shift towards gaining better efficiency out of infrastructure spending in the form of project implementation⁵.

The success of large-scale infrastructure projects are determined by the methodology and tools applied in the process. Infrastructure Asset Management (IAM) is a proactive methodology that attempts to manage operational risks and sources of uncertainty during both development and operational phases of a project. The aim is to decrease capital and operational costs and enable higher operational performance over the long-term.

From IMQS’s perspective, the successful implementation and management of complex infrastructure projects relies on comprehensive and transparent project control.

Infrastructure project management challenges

The retention of and access to critical project control data is imperative for comprehensive control over both the development and operational phases of a project.

KEY PROJECT MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES INCLUDE:

Absence of standardised project management control

Disjuncture between multiple project management tools that do not offer end-to-end project management capabilities

Misalignment between project engineers and finance

Inability to track physical and financial progress simultaneously

Inability to identify multiple projects at risk and monitor mitigation strategies.

Difficulty generating strategic reports across all capital projects.

Keeping tabs on budget, payment certificates, commitments and actual spend

Lack of system controls with regards to asset capitalization

Can Software solve the problem?

Project Control System (PCS) is a software solution developed by IMQS to enable a user to track and manage capital and operational projects in line with life cycle asset management requirements.

From budget management to project planning and construction to project close, PCS is an end-to-end digital project management solution with the added value of web-based project reporting:

A programme manager can register a programme, link it to relevant projects, assign multiple strategic objectives and view progress reports on all linked projects.

Users are able to import vendor lists, organisational structures and annual/approved adjustment budgets.

GPS coordinates enable a geographic view of the project location and its surrounding areas. This allows stakeholders to gain a birds eye view of planned and active projects in areas such as wards or regions.

The PCS module functions as a stand-alone product, but can also be incorporated in IMQS’s suite of Infrastructure Asset Management solutions for a more comprehensive holistic service.

Transparent control over large-scale infrastructure projects has become a necessity for developing countries globally, especially for countries in Africa. IMQS’s PCS acts as an end-to-end solution that will help maximise the value of infrastructure investments.

The efficient control of infrastructure projects over time will ultimately contribute to improved service delivery to the community. By closely monitoring the time and money invested in a project, municipalities can ensure the optimal use of taxpayer money and meet the expectations of the communities they serve.