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Tuesday, April 02, 2002

Initiative in PM Division hopes to train future estimating, project controls specialists

It takes more than bricks and mortar to construct a building. There’s architectural plans to read and materials to purchase, estimates and schedules to be developed and maintained not to mention hiring workers to build the building.

These project management skills are vital for the Laboratory and for the Department of Energy complex. The Project Management (PM) Division recently unveiled its Project Management Educational Initiative school to work partnership, which is aimed at addressing this need.

Last summer, the Lab’s Project Management Advisory Panel identified a Lab and nationwide problem of a lack of these estimating and project controls professionals.

Gary Thompson and Tashia Vigil of PM have been meeting with government, business and education leaders and also presented the initiative to senior Lab managers last December. The SET has endorsed the initiative, said Vigil.

Thompson, who has more than 20 years of experience in estimating and project controls at the Lab and in private industry, said the initiative will help the Lab chart a career path for estimating and project controls personnel to meet future Lab requirements.

According to Vigil, part of the initiative is to map skills students will need as they work their way through local school systems and universities. Hence the meetings with local school and education officials, she said. “We have built a strong coalition of support from business, education and government entities and have received approval from the [Senior Executive Team] to partner with the Governor’s Office on this,” she said.

Vigil said that current Laboratory workers also are eligible to participate in the initiative.

Since last June, Thompson and Vigil have been working on the initiative, which among other things defines what skills estimators and project controls professionals need to be successful. Such skills include everything from being able to read basic blueprints and engineering documents, to purchasing materials, scheduling associated design and construction activities to identifying funding and obtaining all the requisite permits.

A qualified estimator, for example, should be proficient in math and have some engineering experience, Thompson explained. Communications and reading skills and the ability to work in a team also are vital for an estimator, he added.

“The scope of the project, scheduling, costs, all must link” for a project to be completed on time and on budget, Thompson said.

An entry-level assistant estimator should be able to read blueprints; have some knowledge of math, trigonometry and statistics; be able to develop price quotes; and have a knowledge of project management techniques, terms and procedures.

A schedule analyst should have completed college-level algebra, have critical reading and writing skills, be able to develop presentations and have computer-software capabilities to operate and maintain a database among other skills.

Thompson said another goal of the project is to develop two- and four-year degree programs in estimating and project controls at local colleges and universities.

“The innovative systems approach identified by the Project Management Educational Initiative team will be utilized to develop a professional course curriculum for estimators and project control professionals,” said Vonell Huitt, educational policy advisor to Gov. Gary Johnson. “This approach is giving educators around the state a new perspective in identifying key skills and linkages needed from a business perspective.

“The Governor’s Office applauds [the Laboratory] for its leadership in this endeavor,” Huitt continued. “The Project Management Educational Initiative will have a tremendous impact for business and education within New Mexico.”

For more information about the Project Management Educational Initiative, contact Thompson at 7-8171 or Vigil at 5-1585.

--Steve Sandoval

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