“People often assume that when equipment arrives, it’s a simple case of sliding it into place, but on a busy site it’s rarely so straightforward,” says Hilal Demircapa, reflecting on five years of lessons learned using visual planning to optimise equipment delivery and installation.
On one project, a steel frame had to be partially dismantled because a transformer wouldn't fit through it. The consequences? Costly delays, extra labour, and a site team wondering why no one saw it coming. “So much emphasis is placed on ensuring equipment arrives on time that what happens next is an afterthought – until it’s too late.”
This is where the team’s Visual Equipment Delivery tool comes in. Developed by Lead Consultant Nick Martinis and Senior Consultant Janina Roxas, it models the path that equipment needs to take around the site, from delivery to storage or installation, allowing teams to spot potential clashes months in advance – before a single wall goes up.
As well as the model itself, Nick and Janina created the simulation below, in which you can see what the Visual Equipment Delivery tool looks like and how it runs (0:25-1:04)
Click to play:
The Visual Equipment Delivery tool simulation is a time-sequenced visualisation that reveals every move a piece of equipment will make from the moment it arrives on site.
“Here’s a power distribution unit,” explains Hilal, gesturing to the simulation playing out on the screen. “We can see exactly where it’s coming in, which corridor it’s going down, and how it’s going to turn. Straight away, we spot the problem. It’s not going to fit through this door unless we leave this wall down. This insight alone will prevent days of rework.”
By building the “leave-down wall” into the construction plan from the start, the delivery is more effective and transparent. No emergency site meetings. No last-minute demolitions. And no difficult calls to other stakeholders across the project about unnecessary delays.
More than just a model for catching mistakes
The benefits of this model go beyond avoiding mistakes. Visual Equipment Delivery enables site teams to plan proactively, communicate clearly and make smarter decisions.
“By the time we’re ready to go, we’ve reviewed every single move with the site team,” says Nick. This approach means that all the stakeholders know exactly what’s coming. Different teams can align their activities better, and people can work more effectively together.
“If you’re knocking down newly built walls because of poor planning, that impacts how much people can trust you,” says Hilal. “They start to think, 'If they missed that, what else have they missed?'” Projects run on trust as much as they do their planning and controls schedule, but when that trust is damaged, it isn’t rebuilt as easily as a wall.
“If you’re not thinking about equipment delivery routes early, it's highly likely you’re going to have to take something down later.”
Nick
Using visual planning “to see what’s coming next”
On one major project, site teams used visual models at the site entrance, displaying upcoming sequences on large screens. “The team often gathered around them when they needed to see what’s coming next,” recalls Spencer Hudson, the planning lead for one of our clients. “Very few people want to read a 10,000-line programme. Seeing it visually makes all the difference.”
The tool also helped coordinate complex logistics, like a 30-week generator yard installation. “The end client wanted to see exactly when each generator was going in, where the crane would be at each step, and how everything slotted together,” Spencer explains. “It made this clear, visual, and easy to follow – and that went down really well.”
See the route, control the build
Equipment delivery is often overlooked, but getting visibility over it is key to completely controlling your planning. With visual planning tools of the kind that Hilal and Nick have discussed here, you can flag it weeks in advance – in engaging clarity – so it’s seen and managed by the planning and controls team long before it ever becomes an issue.
Hilal puts it best: “Control is in the details. If you can see the details, you can get more control over the project.” By knowing, seeing, and planning for the route taken by every piece of equipment across the delivery process, your project team is in the best possible position to avoid mistakes, build trust, and keep your schedule on the right path forward.
