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CNA Annual Conference 2023

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PTAG is proud to be a Silver Sponsor for the Canadian Nuclear Association’s (CNA) Annual Conference in Ottawa from February 22 to 24.

We’ll be excited to discuss this year’s theme, “Canada’s Global Leadership” with some of the world’s leading nuclear industry professionals.

“Strengthening Canada’s role as a global leader in nuclear technology and innovation.”

Canadian nuclear energy is enjoying a surge of momentum not seen in over a decade. New projects are being announced and financed. The public is increasingly supportive of nuclear power. The promise of nuclear energy for meeting Canada’s energy and climate goals, as well as its international market opportunities, is increasingly understood by governments at all levels.

As part of PTAG’s long-term industry commitment to support more new and young people joining the Nuclear industry, PTAG will be leading two initiatives during the conference:

  • Already underway, we have designed and are delivering 8 sessions that help the nearly 100 students attending the conference make the most of the experience as they meet potential employers for the first time
  • In collaboration with Ontario Tech University’s TALENT group, we have designed and will facilitate the speed dating format “Talent Collider,” which brings those new to the industry with Senior Executives

Visit us in the main lobby at our booth (#207) to learn more about how PTAG is helping the nuclear industry deliver projects successfully.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT CNA2023 HERE!

Webinar Recap –Digital Transformation: Automating Field Reporting & Progressing– September 20 at CIM MEMO 2022

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Digital Transformation: Automating Field Reporting & Progressing

Listen in to this video recap as PTAG industry thought leaders, Feroz Ashraf, and Bob Brown, discuss Digital Transformation, Automating, Field Reporting & Progressing.

This is the recap video of the session presented in Sudbury at the CIM | Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (MEMO 2022) on September 20, 2022.

The global pandemic has created a challenge to measure and record progress at mining construction sites. In particular, remote mining sites have been hard hit. This is due to physical restrictions and constraints at the site to limit the number of workers or staff compounded by testing and vaccination requirements and administration, “social distancing” and PPE requirements, and minimization of physical interactions and face-to-face meetings. The mining industry is challenged by travel restrictions, fluctuating commodity prices, and supply/demand and delivery issues accentuated by the pandemic.

It is evident from global responses to date that companies with high digital maturity and utilization have done significantly better than others who have relied on manual or semi-manual systems. There is a serious need within the industry to rethink and re-invent to improve productivity and resulting performance. An easy solution is to set up an “integrated” digital system that will capture the project data and provide reliable and real-time data on the project’s performance. Typically, contractors provide weekly updates, and it takes another week to consolidate and integrate the data.

This presentation discusses how leveraging current technology and industry best practices will lead to faster, better-informed decision-making and project performance improvement. Results of case studies presented and show how to address data collection at multiple levels at the work site using hand-held portable devices to provide meaningful insights, productivity measurements, and multiple shift data, mitigating COVID-19 impacts and reducing rework and change orders.

 In summary, the presentation presents simple steps to implement such solutions and how owners can leverage easy-to-implement technology and best practices to provide faster decision-making and project performance improvement.

CIM (MEMO 2022) Conference

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Attend PTAG‘s Digital Transformation presentation on Automating Field Reporting and Progressing at the CIM | Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum conference for Maintenance, Engineering and Reliability/Mine Operators (MEMO 2022) with PTAG‘s industry thought leaders Feroz Ashraf and Bob Brown.  

Come and join us on Tuesday, September 20th – from 13:55-14:20. 

We look forward to seeing you there!  

Get to know PTAG’s speaker:

Feroz Ashraf P.Eng

Global Executive Advisor

Feroz’s Profile

CIM Conference for Maintenance, Engineering and Reliability/Mine Operators (MEMO 2022) in Sudbury

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Attend PTAG‘s Digital Transformation presentation on Automating Field Reporting and Progressing at the CIM conference for Maintenance, Engineering and Reliability/Mine Operators (MEMO 2022) with PTAG‘s industry thought leaders Feroz Ashraf and Bob Brown.

  We look forward to seeing you there! 

Video Recap – Canadian Institute of Mining’s CIM Virtual Convention 2021, May 3rd: The Importance of Front-End Planning and Leveraging Industry Best Practices to Minimize Project Risk

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Watch this video recap, as Feroz Ashraf, PTAG’s Executive Advisor for Capital Projects, presents this direct and to the point session providing practical and validated examples on “The Importance of Front-End Planning and Leveraging Industry Best Practices to Minimize Project Risk” at CIM 2021.

This is the video recording of the presentation which was originally presented at the Canadian Institute of Mining’s Annual Virtual Convention CIM 2021 on May 3rd, 2021.

Globally, including North America, most capital and sustaining projects have been impacted by COVID and resulting economic slowdown. Projects are also experiencing significant productivity impacts due to the new normal COVID working conditions, as well as increasing emphasis on safety, security, and regulatory compliance.

Due to budget cuts, project and construction teams have been reduced by 30% or more. Across the board, our industry is also seeing increases in material and equipment costs due to COVID with commodity price volatility and supply/demand uncertainty presenting additional challenges.

To mitigate these issues the project team must further increase the use of the Front-End Planning process, deploy industry best practices, conduct extensive value engineering exercises, as well as thorough internal and external risk assessment process. In doing so, the Construction Industry Institute (CII) has established through its industry research that a significant saving can be achieved and gain in productivity:

Interested in downloading the slide deck? Click here for Direct Download.

Find out more about the event here: The Experience (cim.org)

Get to know our speakers:

Video Recap – Canadian Institute of Mining’s CIM Virtual Convention 2021, May 3rd: How to Plan and Execute Capital Projects in Volatile and Uncertain Times

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Watch this video recap, as Feroz Ashraf, PTAG’s Executive Advisor for Capital Projects, presents this direct and to-the-point session on “How to Plan and Execute Capital Projects in Volatile and Uncertain Times” at CIM 2021.

This is the recap video recording of the presentation which was originally presented at the Canadian Institute of Mining’s Annual Virtual Convention CIM 2021 on May 3rd, 2021.

Globally, including North America, most capital and sustaining projects have been impacted by COVID-19 and the resulting economic slowdown. Projects are also experiencing significant productivity impacts due to the new normal COVID working conditions, as well as increasing emphasis on safety, security, and regulatory compliance.

The presentation focuses on below key areas:

Interested in downloading the slide deck? Click here for Direct Download.

Find out more about the event here: The Experience (cim.org)

Get to know our speakers:

Canadian Institute of Mining Annual Virtual Convention CIM 2021

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PTAG’s, Feroz Ashraf has been invited by Canadian Institute of Mining to present at their upcoming May 3rd virtual annual convention CIM 2021 on two topics: “The Importance of Front-End Planning and Leveraging Industry Best Practices to Minimize Project Risk” and “How to Plan and Execute Capital Projects in Volatile and Uncertain Times.”

Feroz will walk you through a direct and to-the-point presentation providing practical step-by-step approaches and validated examples. You will get a chance to engage with Feroz in the post-presentation Q&A session and to network with him at this virtual convention. This four-day event will have many thought leaders and keynote speakers presenting CIM community’s best content.

The presentations will focus on below key areas:

  • Challenges faced by the Mining Industry during Covid-19 and in general.
  • Top reasons why projects go off-track.
  • Front-End Planning – what, why, how? and Leveraging Industry Best Practices.
  • Rigorous staged-gate process to minimize project risks.
  • Learn how and when to use Construction Industry Institute (CII) Front-End Planning tools, such as the Project Definition Rating Index (PDRI) to determine the “state of readiness” and “maturity level” of your project to assure better outcomes.
  • Review how to assess the Project Complexity Index and Maturity Levels– and to adapt the Execution Plan accordingly to optimize the contracting strategy and minimize execution risk.
  • Determine why Initial Project Set-up and a focussed List of Deliverables are important for team alignment.
  • Review why consistent Project Controls and Risk Analysis methodology is critical.
  • Learn how a simplified, interactive Project Management & Project Controls Handbook – is a key to Project Management and Delivery Success.
  • Look into Integrated Project Management Structure and Systems – I2PD for enhanced risk-sharing and collaboration.
  • Understand why an Integrated Project Execution Plan (IPEP) is a roadmap to success.

Find out more about the event here: The Experience (cim.org)

Video Recap – Nov 17th Webinar – How to Plan and Execute Capital Projects in Volatile and Uncertain times.

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November 17th, 2020
10am PST / 11am MST / 12 noon CST / 1pm EST

Join PTAG’s Gulf Coast General Manager Steven K. Hillyard, and principals Feroz Ashraf and Michael Dubreuil for a special 90min webinar on How to plan and execute Capital Projects in volatile and uncertain times. This extended 90min webinar will be direct and to the point providing practical and validated examples pertinent to planning and restarting your capital projects.

Throughout the United States and Canada, most capital project budgets have been cut. With few exceptions, no region has gone untouched by the impact that COVID has had on those of us working on capital projects.

The need to maintain existing facilities still exists. Capital spend is still needed to maintain operability, safety, and capacity. Commodity demand is still increasing.

Project teams have been reduced by 30% or more. Across the board our clients are seeing increases in material and equipment costs due to COVID, with continued commodity price volatility driving new behaviours.

Projects are experiencing significant productivity impacts due to the new normal COVID working conditions, as well as increasing pressure and social license related to climate change.

Our panel of seasoned capital project practitioners will walk through these issues with practical step by step approaches and strategies covering delivery models, best practices in detail for both the Planning and Execution phases of new projects and refurbishments.

Our webinar sessions are part of PTAG’s ongoing webinar series on Best Practises in Project Management & Project Controls. PTAG works with sustaining and capital projects owners around the world and is passionate about ensuring the successful delivery of every project, especially in today’s volatile and uncertain conditions.

Please register for access to post webinar session video and Q&A even if you will not be able to attend on our schedule date.

Get to know our speakers:

Webinar Recap – (Session 2) The Importance of Front-End Planning Leveraging Industry Best Practices

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Listen in to this PART TWO video recap, as PTAG principals Feroz Ashraf and Michael Dubreuil deliver a brief 1hr online webinar on the Importance of Front-End Planning and Leveraging Industry Best Practices for Project Management.

This is the recap video recording of Session Two which was originally recorded September 29, 2020.

Session 2’s Agenda:

Session One recap can be found here.

For more Session detail, please visit:
www.PTAGinc.com/webinars

Globally, an increased focus on health, safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements is impacting project costs, all while the pressure to maintain project objectives to meet tighter budgets, schedules and quality requirements exists. It is becoming imperative to rigorously plan and define the projects well, the ability to do so is defining company and project teams success
Join us, as Senior PTAG practitioners walk you through practical step by step approaches and strategies covering the following topics:

These sessions are part of PTAG’s ongoing webinar series on Best Practises in Project Management & Project Controls. PTAG works with sustaining and capital projects owners around the world and is passionate about ensuring the successful delivery of every project, especially in this ever growing complex and uncertain environment.

We look forward to you attending one or both sessions. Registration ensures you will get access to post-session Q&A and Video recap, even if you are unable to miss one of the sessions.

Interested in downloading the slide deck? Click here for Direct Download.

Get to know our speakers:

Webinar Recap – (Session 1) The Importance of Front-End Planning Leveraging Industry Best Practices

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Listen in to this video recap, as PTAG principals Feroz Ashraf and Michael Dubreuil deliver a brief 1hr online webinar on the Importance of Front-End Planning and Leveraging Industry Best Practices for Project Management.

This is the recap video recording of Session One which was originally recorded September 22, 2020.

Session 1’s Agenda:

Session Two Slide Deck and Video Recap can be found here.

For more Session detail, please visit:
www.PTAGinc.com/webinars

Globally, an increased focus on health, safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements is impacting project costs, all while the pressure to maintain project objectives to meet tighter budgets, schedules and quality requirements exists. It is becoming imperative to rigorously plan and define the projects well, the ability to do so is defining company and project teams success
Join us, as Senior PTAG practitioners walk you through practical step by step approaches and strategies covering the following topics:

These sessions are part of PTAG’s ongoing webinar series on Best Practises in Project Management & Project Controls. PTAG works with sustaining and capital projects owners around the world and is passionate about ensuring the successful delivery of every project, especially in this ever growing complex and uncertain environment.

We look forward to you attending one or both sessions. Registration ensures you will get access to post-session Q&A and Video recap, even if you are unable to miss one of the sessions.

Interested in downloading the slide deck? Click here for Direct Download.

Get to know our speakers: