Case Study: Program Management of Volume Modules

Volume module systems in the refining and petrochemical industries are large, multi-level systems that are fabricated offsite and stacked onsite, with integral piping and wiring interconnections. This is a case study in a program management system that was introduced for a particular volume module system. Modular design and fabrication suffer from inherent shortcomings: it is neither cheap nor fast nor does it result in any meaningful increase in quality. Lessons learned reveal cheaper, faster and better methods that overcome the inherent shortcomings of modular design and construction. These lessons can inform current trends in modular design and fabrication in the USA and Canada.