Project Management

Pharmaceutical companies often face pressure to build new capacity quickly while maintaining strict compliance. The challenge is balancing speed and regulation without sacrificing quality. At Pathfinder, we believe that accelerated projects can still be disciplined when built on structure, clarity, and coordination.

This fall marked our seventh year delivering the Risk Management segment of the Construction Industry Institute (CII) Best Practice Program. The program connects seven to ten universities each fall to industry and CII Best Practices, and our segment has become a core part of the curriculum.

The pandemic exposed a hard truth about America’s dependence on foreign pharmaceutical production. Over the past two decades, the drive to move manufacturing offshore to reduce costs left the nation vulnerable when global supply chains were disrupted.

Recognizing this as both a health and national security risk, the U.S. government is now actively supporting the return of pharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturing to domestic soil. This shift has sparked the announcement of numerous large-scale capital projects across the country.

Across the capital projects landscape, one recurring challenge continues to surface: misalignment between owner corporate business objectives and engineering solutions. This disconnect has led to countless projects running over budget and missing key schedule milestones, costing organizations both time and credibility and deteriorating owner financial and other business drivers.

We recently led a repeat Project Execution Planning (PEP) training for a major international petrochemical company. Twenty-four project leaders came together to strengthen their skills and align on the principles of effective execution planning.

Over two days, participants explored the PEP as a living document that drives alignment, accountability, and consistency. They also focused on the owner and contractor relationship, learning how clarity in roles and responsibilities keeps projects on track despite challenges.

Project Management PANORAMA is Pathfinder's quarterly newsletter, focusing on industry trends and discussions. We offer insights into the "Capital Project World as seen by Pathfinder, LLC," covering both trending and controversial topics. 

We hope you find this issue engaging. As always, we welcome your feedback and opinions on industry matters. Let's continue to aim for safe, efficient, and successful projects! 

You can access the latest version HERE