Large project effectiveness using plant personnel

In late 1995 Holcim (US) Inc. decided to build a new dry process cement plant at its Devil's Slide, Utah plant site to replace an older wet process plant. One of the desired outcomes was to reach consistent and full operation in a timely and efficient manner. In order to facilitate that success and short term goal, it was decided to make extensive use of plant employees to smooth the progress of the construction process. These employees were taken completely out of the existing plant operation and worked full time on the new plant project. The design/build philosophy allowed the plant employees working on the project to have input on the way the plant was designed. The result was that the start-up of the new plant was very successful. Knowledge gained by the plant employees on the project was passed on to all plant personnel. The consequence of having plant personnel involved was that when the plant was started the process was understood by the employees. They felt a real responsibility to see the project succeed because they were involved from the beginning.