How can data improve the delivery of major events like shutdowns?

Your guide to using data to drive safety, productivity and cost efficiency on maintenance and construction projects.

If there is a significant scope of works to be delivered on your job site, knowledge is power and quality data is key. “When you’re delivering large construction projects or planned industrial events like shutdowns, the more informed your approach, the better the outcome,” says Kamaile Knight, Coates General Manager - Industrial Solutions. “In supporting the delivery of major events, our emphasis is on helping customers to work safely, efficiently and cost effectively, and data is an important part of how we do this.”

Find out how SiteIQ – Coates’ next-gen proprietary asset management system – can inform your approach and enhance the delivery of your next major project.

Customer challenges

Managing the tooling, equipment and consumables for major projects can be challenging – here’s why:

• Scale and complexity: Delivering major industrial and construction events requires a sizeable temporary workforce, but managing the equipment needs for a workforce of this size can be costly and time consuming, impacting your ability to deliver on a tight schedule of works.

• Tool time and cost efficiency: To minimise downtime, events like shutdowns must be completed on time and on budget. To achieve this, contractors need access to the right tools, equipment and consumables from the moment they start work on site. This makes maximising the efficiency of hiring and allocating these resources critical to event success.

• Labour shortages: In a tight labour market, workforce utilisation is another challenge that many customers face. “With branches Australia-wide, Coates has reach into a large asset pool which drives cost efficiency and takes some of the pressure off our customers,” says Kamaile. “Coates also has the flexibility to provide a range of additional services to support customers how, when and where they need it.”

SiteIQ extracts maximum value from your hire by helping you to understand how, where and when tools and equipment are being used

How can data enhance the delivery of major events?

At all stages of planning, delivering and refining major projects, data informs your ability to work safely, efficiently and cost effectively.

Accurate scoping and costing

To help customers accurately plan their upcoming events, Coates combines real time and historical data with lessons learned across the delivery of hundreds of shutdowns and other major projects.

“For new customers we share insights and data from similar events to determine equipment needs. For returning customers we use data to find new efficiencies, progressively improving the delivery of ongoing events,” says Joanne Burgin, Contract Specialist at Coates. “Some customers have very consistent needs around what they take to site, while others need more help refining their scope, or finding equipment and technologies to resolve new challenges.”

Whatever your event equipment needs, framing your planning around quality data gives you the confidence to start work, knowing that you have what you need to get the job done.

Supporting remote events

Accurate planning is particularly important for delivering major events in remote locations, with added challenges such as offshore logistics and strict quarantine protocols. “We rely on data from SiteIQ to accurately inform the tooling and equipment needs for remote events,” says Joanne. “This gives customers the assurance of having what they need on site ready for use, when and where it is needed.”

Driving contractor accountability and efficiency

Knowing what equipment each contractor has on hire and its location on site helps customers to drive better hiring practices and efficiency in their event workforce. Having real-time visibility to this information also encourages contractors to be more accountable for returning their assets on time and in good working order, reducing the cost, downtime and inconvenience of lost and damaged tools.

“Customers can easily have 15-20 different contractors on site, each with its own tooling requirements. Without an itemised view of what’s on hire for each contractor, it’s difficult to keep track of these assets,” says Kamaile. “When customers have a comprehensive view of all tooling and equipment, they can optimise equipment hire and proactively follow up with contractors when items aren’t returned. This is particularly important in the lead-up to event close-out.”

Fifty contractors were on site at this project in Port Kembla

Customised access

The ability to customise tool store access for individual contractors is another useful, data-enabled feature of SiteIQ. For example, customers can limit scaffolding contractor access to the tools, equipment and consumables needed for this type of work. This feature gives customers better control over event assets, and improves safety, tool time and hire efficiency.

Data optimised site design

Site mapping is yet another powerful way that data can improve tool time and productivity on site. “In 2023 a leading oil and gas customer turned to Coates to confirm that its tool store was placed in the prime location to support the shutdown,” says Joanne. “By drawing on experience and data from SiteIQ, Coates informed the site design to maximise productivity for this customer. This data also helped to determine the tool store’s staffing requirements around its busiest times, ensuring faster transactions and less downtime.”

Why buy when you can hire?

Coates is continuously looking for ways to grow its fleet and technology offering to meet customers’ changing needs. “Coates has a targeted and disciplined investment in hire fleet program to achieve this” says Kamaile. “This investment gives customers access to a concentrated provision of equipment for their major events.”

Reach out to discover how Coates can enhance the delivery of your next major event.