How ProjectVIEW ERP Applies to Mineral Processing Plants
Managing Multi-Disciplinary Plant Construction
Mineral processing plants combine heavy civil works, structural steel, mechanical installation, piping, electrical, and instrumentation within tightly sequenced construction programs. Commercial exposure arises when interfaces between disciplines are not controlled.
ProjectVIEW ERP enables teams to structure costs, commitments, and progress by discipline, work package, and construction phase, maintaining control across the full plant delivery lifecycle.
Example:
Track costs separately for civil foundations, mechanical installation, and electrical works while maintaining consolidated visibility at plant level.
Controlling Long-Lead Equipment Procurement
Processing plants rely on high-value, long-lead equipment such as crushers, mills, conveyors, flotation cells, and thickener mechanisms. Delays in procurement or delivery directly affect installation sequencing and cost.
ProjectVIEW ERP provides real-time visibility into procurement commitments, delivery status, and financial exposure, allowing proactive management of equipment-driven risk.
Example:
Identify cost exposure caused by delayed delivery of major processing equipment and adjust construction sequencing to minimize idle resources.
Managing Contractor Performance and Interface Risk
Processing plant construction involves multiple EPC and specialist contractors operating in parallel within constrained plant footprints. Poor coordination leads to rework, productivity losses, and claims.
ProjectVIEW ERP links contractor commitments, progress, and costs within a single commercial framework, ensuring interface-driven risks are visible and manageable.
Example:
Detect cost overruns caused by mechanical installation delays affecting downstream electrical and commissioning activities.
Controlling Scope Growth During Installation and Commissioning
Design refinements, equipment changes, and commissioning-driven modifications frequently occur during plant construction. Without disciplined change control, scope growth erodes capital budgets.
ProjectVIEW ERP provides structured tracking of scope changes and their financial impact, ensuring adjustments are evaluated and approved before execution.
Example:
Assess the cost impact of late modifications to piping layouts or equipment foundations before changes propagate across installation works.
ERP for mineral processing plants
How do you track progress across civil, mechanical and electrical works?
Link each discipline’s Bill of Quantities (BoQ) items to work breakdown structure (WBS) activities and cost codes. For a grinding mill, compare verified quantities and actual costs with the baseline for civil, mechanical and electrical packages. Check the schedule and handover evidence before releasing the next trade. For example, an outstanding anchor-bolt survey can hold up mechanical installation even when most foundation quantities are complete.
How do you verify a processing plant contractor’s payment application?
Check the application against the contract’s payment basis, accepted work and previous certificates. For measured piping work, compare quantities accepted this period with the cumulative quantities already certified. For milestone-based payments, check the evidence required by the contract. Review the BoQ, progress records and linked documents together before certifying payment.
How do you measure the cost of out-of-sequence work?
Record the planned sequence, the activity that slipped and the work the team resequenced. If mill installation blocks cable tray access, record any additional crew hours, equipment standby or remobilization against the affected package and cost code. Link the site records and revised schedule. Compare the additional cost with the approved baseline before deciding whether to raise a variation.
