The causes of design changes in petrochemical process plant projects in the Mpumalanga and Free State provinces in South Africa

Abstract

The objective of this study is to determine and analyse the causes of design changes when executing petrochemical process plant projects in the Mpumalanga and Free State Provinces in South Africa. Data for analysis was obtained through a questionnaire survey based on the literature review. Although data is mainly qualitative in nature, the techniques used to analyse the data is quantitative. The results from the survey indicate that the main causes of the design changes is the unrealistic duration to complete design and insufficient equipment information resulting in assumptions at early stages of the design. The change in scope of work and none attendance of sufficiently experienced personnel and key stakeholders at design reviews later enforcing changes were determined to be the design change factors often experienced in petrochemical process plant projects in the Mpumalanga and Free State Provinces.