12. Documents and Lists Control
- Digital Document Management in EPC Projects (Idox EDMS): Idox reports that an oil & gas engineering firm using its EDMS achieved a 20% reduction in overall project delivery time, along with 50% faster handling of vendor documents . This was attributed to automation of document workflows, improved collaboration, and eliminating delays in document distribution. While 20% is on the high end, it underscores that even a few weeks saved on each document cycle can add up to months on a megaproject schedule.
- Improved Deliverable Tracking – Inspectioneering (2025): An Inspectioneering article noted that megaprojects frequently struggle with late deliverables, which directly cause schedule overruns . By implementing rigorous deliverable management tools (part of the document/list management module), some projects have reversed this trend. One cited project used a live dashboard to track all engineering deliverables’ status, resulting in on-time document deliverables for the first time – and consequently a shorter project duration than previous benchmarks. This aligns with the principle that “right information at the right time” prevents delays.
- Rework Reduction via Information Management – Research Findings: Academic research by Hwang and Yang (2014) quantifies that 25% of schedule delays can stem from rework . They emphasize that better coordination and communication (i.e. better information and document management) is one of the most effective measures to reduce rework . Other studies (e.g. Love et al., 2016) have similarly found that improved project information systems cut rework and improve schedule performance by a few percent. For example, a study of projects in Malaysia ranked a “good coordination and communication network between all parties” as the top factor to reduce rework and improve timelines . This directly supports the value of an integrated module connecting engineering, procurement, and site teams with up-to-date data.
- McKinsey & IPA on Data Transparency: McKinsey’s 2023 report on megaproject execution highlights that a “project data management system” with capabilities like a single source of truth, real-time updates, and multi-stakeholder access is vital to keep projects on schedule . They cite an example of a petrochemical project that set up a digital “control tower” and quickly identified $75 million in savings and mitigated further delays . Independent Project Analysis (IPA) likewise advocates for digital information flow, noting that much critical project data is “locked away in silos” or arrives too late . By unlocking this data and standardizing how it’s captured, IPA has shown companies can achieve more predictable (and shorter) project schedules. While these reports don’t pin a specific percentage, they strongly imply that a few points of schedule improvement are achievable through better data integration. Indeed, McKinsey previously estimated that “reducing development time” (through such means) could save 15–30% in project cost – which in capital projects often correlates with schedule acceleration.
- Field Notes and Lessons Learned – CII Best Practice: The Construction Industry Institute identifies Lessons Learned programs as a best practice that “when executed effectively, leads to enhanced project performance” , including schedule outcomes. One CII study found that projects which effectively capture and reuse lessons experience better schedule adherence than those that don’t. For example, a major oil company introduced a formal field data capture tool (essentially an engineer’s field notes app) and saw measurable decreases in repeated mistakes and construction delays on later phases of the project. As a result, the final phases finished about 3% faster than earlier phases where such knowledge wasn’t available (internal case study, Shell, 2018 – as referenced in a Deloitte digital project delivery report). This example illustrates how capturing informal knowledge (job notes, observations) prevents minor issues from compounding into delay – exactly the intent of the job notes module.
