A consistent approach to project controls

Location Australia

Sector

Project Xenon was established to create a more consistent and integrated approach to project controls across Downer’s Energy & Utilities business. The project combined technology implementation with process improvement to standardise cost management, forecasting, scheduling, risk, change and performance reporting, improving visibility and supporting better decision-making across project delivery.

The challenge

Different processes, tools and reporting practices across the business made it difficult to achieve a consistent project controls framework. The challenge was to develop practical, scalable ways of working that could be applied across diverse projects while implementing a new platform within an accelerated timeframe.

The approach

A structured, business-led approach was used to define standard project controls processes and embed them through InEight. Subject matter experts worked closely with operational teams to align workflows, governance and reporting requirements, while agile delivery methods helped maintain momentum and respond to stakeholder feedback.

Outcomes

Project Xenon established a consistent foundation for project controls across Energy & Utilities, improving alignment across planning, forecasting, cost management, risk, procurement and performance reporting.

The benefits are demonstrated on the North South Corridor Stage 2 project, where InEight became the primary platform for project controls, forecasting and performance reporting. The system provides improved visibility of cost, productivity, earned value and schedule performance, enabling more proactive management of risks, opportunities and forecast variances.

The Project Controls team supported mobilisation through budget development, system configuration, training and ongoing guidance, helping the project establish a structured controls framework from the outset. Accurate forecasting, cost and schedule reporting, productivity analysis and earned value management have provided project leadership with reliable information to support informed decision-making.

The project demonstrates how standardised processes, supported by integrated technology, can improve transparency, governance, forecasting accuracy and overall project performance.

Pictured: The Energy Networks team implemented Project Xenon on the North South Corridor Project, where the team has been delivering critical gas infrastructure relocation works that will support South Australia’s future growth and connectivity. Project benefits realised through the use of Project Xenon include accurate forecasting, cost and schedule reporting, productivity analysis, and earned value management, allowing the team to provided project leadership with reliable and timely information to support informed decision-making.