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August 29, 2024
At TEG Projects, we understand that the food and beverage manufacturing industry is an intricate web of processes, standards, and ever-evolving consumer demands. Successfully navigating this complex landscape requires not just technical expertise, but also a depth of experience that only seasoned project managers can provide. In this blog, we delve into how we leverage the wisdom of experienced engineering project managers, and how this can be the secret ingredient to achieving excellence in food and beverage capital projects.
The Importance Experience for Continuous Improvement
Continuous improvement is at the heart of successful project management, and certainly a key learning principle for us at TEG Projects. Experienced engineering project managers bring a wealth of knowledge that is built upon years of continuous learning and adaptation. They have seen firsthand how industry practices have evolved and are adept at integrating new technologies and methodologies into their projects. This continuous improvement mindset ensures that our projects are not only current with industry standards but are also pioneering in their approach. The seasoned insight of our project managers helps us to refine our processes constantly, leading to enhanced efficiency and superior outcomes.
Experience and Leadership Skills Are Inextricably Linked
Leadership is another crucial area where experience makes a significant difference. The ability to lead a diverse team through complex projects requires more than just technical knowledge; it requires a deep understanding and lived experience of team dynamics and human behaviour. Experienced project managers possess this understanding, having honed their leadership skills through years of managing different teams and projects. They know how to inspire and motivate their team, how to resolve conflicts, and how to maintain a collaborative environment that drives project success.Their leadership ensures that every team member is aligned with the project’s goals and is working towards a common objective.
Long Term Relationships and The Importance Of Industry Experience
In our industry, relationships are invaluable. Experienced project managers have established strong industry relationships with clients, contractors, equipment suppliers and consultants over their careers, which can be a significant advantage in delivering capital projects successfully. These relationships can facilitate smoother negotiations, quicker problem resolution, and more effective collaboration with stakeholders. At TEG Projects, we leverage these established relationships for ongoing projects, and to ensure our projects run smoothly and efficiently. The trust and rapport that experienced project managers have built over the years can be instrumental in navigating the complex network of suppliers, contractors, design consultants and other industry players.
The long-term nature of many of TEG Projects’ assignments further underscores the importance of experience. Long-term project portfolios require sustained effort, strategic foresight, and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances over time. Many of our project portfolios span months and years, and experienced project managers bring a wealth of lived experience to these long-term assignments, enabling them to foresee potential challenges and devise strategies to mitigate them. Their experience ensures that projects remain on track, even in the face of unforeseen obstacles, and that they deliver the desired outcomes over the long term.
Supporting less experienced employees through mentorship is another critical aspect of leveraging the wisdom of experienced project managers. When we check in with our employees a common thread is their appreciation of working alongside more experienced team members and the knowledge sharing that comes from this. At TEG Projects, we believe in nurturing the next generation of project managers by pairing them with seasoned peer mentors and with a senior TEG Regional Manager . These mentorship relationships are both informal and formal. In a formal capacity we ensure our team members have access to Peer Coaching opportunities and monthly 1on1’s with their Manager. This allows less experienced employees to learn from the wealth of knowledge and experience that their mentors and manger possess. TEG Projects Project Manager Wesley Kesack shared recently that “TEG’s peer coaching system is an excellent way to share and gather learnings from a range of experiences”. Mentorship not only accelerates the learning curve but also ensures that the wisdom of experienced project managers is passed down, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and excellence.
Competence Comes from Experience
Research indicates that the secret to successful project delivery is the competence of the project manager. Competence is of far greater importance than any project management processes/ practice or project management software/tools. This is as true for capital projects in the food and beverage industry as it is for any other form of project. Competence comes from building knowledge, skills and the appropriate behaviours from time spent in the industry.
Finally, overcoming project challenges and managing team dynamics are areas where the lived experience of industry seasoned engineering project managers truly shines. They have encountered and resolved a wide array of project challenges over their careers, from technical issues to interpersonal conflicts. This experience equips them with the tools and strategies needed to handle any challenge that arises, ensuring that projects remain on track and that team dynamics are managed effectively.
In conclusion, at TEG Projects, the wisdom of experienced engineering project managers is the secret ingredient to our success in the food and beverage manufacturing industry. Their continuous improvement mindset, leadership skills, industry relationships, long-term project management capabilities, mentorship, knowledge of standards, and ability to overcome challenges are invaluable assets that drive excellence in our projects. Leveraging their experience ensures that we consistently deliver outstanding results for our clients, navigating the complexities of the industry with confidence and expertise.
We’re always looking for experienced Engineering Project Managers to join our team. Interested in learning more about what it’s like to work for TEG Projects? Read more now.
