A Carpenter’s Golden Rule: Measure Twice Cut Once – What does this have to do with emissions monitoring?
My Woodworking History
I am not a carpenter by trade. That said, I am pretty good with wood projects, enjoy being carpenteresque around the house but would never be able to feed my family working as one. Most of my adult life I have had the opportunity to work with and learn from many very talented woodworkers who did make their living through carpentry. They were all consistent and in full agreement on the most basic of building project rules: measure twice/cut once. No clearer, power packed words of wisdom have ever been spoken on a construction jobsite.
This same mantra was offered to me on every project I had the good fortune to participate in. Spoken to me by a cast of characters ranging from Dennis “Deebo” Bell to Dave “Spaceman” Saunders to Vincent “Uncle Vinny” DeVirgilio and every other crew chief along the way. It applied when I started working with them in 1978 and they still hold me to it today. A simple motto which when followed works perfectly every time.
It works because the meaning is clear and to the point: You measure two times before you cut something once. By doing so you improve results and minimize waste. By minimizing waste, you save time, money and make the boss happy. See what happens when you fail to follow this rule and after the yelling stops (trust me there will be yelling) you will never make that mistake again. The boss knows what they are talking about, know it works reliably and that it should never be forgotten.
So, what does this have to do with emissions monitoring and meeting our compliance obligations? Well, the short answer is “everything”. Not literally, no but conceptually yes. Change it from measure twice/cut once to plan carefully/execute once and fits our compliance example nicely. With careful planning, a foolproof due diligence process and an iron clad, well-defined specification you will produce a more reliable result when making your air compliance decisions. And it works…every time.
This approach applies to every aspect of your air compliance model from your pollution control choices to identifying the most reliable measurement technology to selecting the best monitoring methodology to finding your systems integration partner to picking a well-designed data collection/reporting solution to how you manage your annual QA/QC events. There is a common thread to success when it comes to making these decisions and it all starts with our variation of this simple rule: measure twice/cut once.
How do I start my air compliance project?
The best place to start is by matching your application profile and process conditions to your compliance requirements by reading through the applicable regulations. Understanding what you must do to comply is the first step in figuring out how best to comply. The rules are very clear by source type/fuel type and may be found through the USEPA and on any number of environmental information websites.
You will find a bunch of ready access resources online to help you along the way but if all else fails, look to your industry for help. Every industrial process impacted by environmental regulations has an industry resource available to help you figure out what is best. There is a community out there that is ready and willing to help.
In most cases even your competitors will assist, finding common ground in handling similar challenges. The power of being in the same boat transcends the normal competitive tendencies. Answers are offered freely when the opportunity presents itself at trade conferences or in industry forums. Take the advantage of the opportunity to learn from others and don’t be afraid to ask for assistance.
How do I ensure I am getting what I need?
Do your homework first and then build a specification. Due diligence followed by detailed outline defining exactly what you need is strongly recommended. Once you understand your requirements and regulatory obligations you need to research monitoring methods and measurement technologies that satisfy your site-specific application. This is another area where industry forums and internet research can help expedite the planning process. Bring in the monitor manufacturers and request case studies that back up their performance claims. Reach out to industry consultants to get their opinion on what works best for your specific stack conditions. Compliance solutions are not one size fits all. We suggest sorting out your monitoring options before building a scope of supply, integrating your preferences into your project specific requirements.
We can’t stress the need for a specification enough. You must have one. There is a long history of bad decisions in the environmental monitoring world that demonstrate what not to do because the project was started without a properly documented scope of supply. Bringing in potential solution providers without a specification is a monkey on a motorcycle. It will more times than not end badly for everyone so don’t be tempted to cut out this step to save some time or project costs. No one will be happy in the end.
The specification doesn’t need to be a manifesto. At a minimum it should clearly state the technical requirements, project deliverables, timeline and performance expectations. Add in your standard purchasing terms and conditions and you are well on your way to compliance happiness. If you are managing a large project that involves construction, then you probably should hire an engineering firm or environmental consulting company to build the specification for you. Either way, don’t proceed without one. You will be much happier for the upfront effort and with the end results because of this investment.
How do I choose the right supplier?
Start with a pre-bid sitewalk. This is the best opportunity to understand the engineering capability and integrity character of the perspective suppliers. Trust your gut. These meetings tell you a lot about who you will be dealing with throughout the project. In our opinion, success in air compliance projects is 25% preparation, 25% matching technology to the application and 50% relationship/trust building with the vendors. Anybody can create the illusion of expertise through marketing eyewash, but the proof is in the pudding when you meet them onsite for the first time. And, when calling references (you should be calling references) be sure to ask the hard questions. Assume something will go wrong and find out from others how the supplier handled things when they did (remember measure twice/cut once).
The environmental supplier market is a crowded field and houses a cast of confusing characters. The good news is you have plenty of choices, drawing from an experienced group of providers you can find your way to the right one. Having options to pick from is good as this guarantees a fair price for a fair day’s work. My personnel preference is to utilize a “true” integrator as opposed to a manufacturer that happens to also integrate total solutions. True integrators generally don’t manufacture the equipment they use to satisfy the contract. Their profits are driven by the service and engineering labor they provide as opposed to the products they make. This is not to say that there aren’t good manufacturers out there because there are but, in my opinion, you are best served by the independent provider.
The key to ensuring you pick the right fit for your needs is to measure each bidder equally. This is where your upfront specification effort comes into play. You should build requirements that creates a level playing field for the bidders. Your goal is a clear requirement that presents an apple to apples comparison of the participants. The “advantage” for one supplier over another should come from their experience base, bid presentation and references. It should not come from finding a loophole in the specs. Be cautious when seeing bids that are severely out of line with the rest as it may mean something was left out or that you may be facing change orders/adders down the line. If it seems too good to be true, then…well you know how that goes.
How do I keep the provider accountable?
Assign a single point of contact Project Manager on both sides of the equation. This goes a long way to controlling the results and keeping everyone accountable to the task at hand. Build something that fits the overall size of the project. Simple is fine if it provides ready access to deliverable milestones. Use a Gantt chart, milestone schedule or spreadsheet to track workflow, project deliverables and deadlines.
Project Managers should be in regular communications during the project and vendors should be keeping clients fully informed about progress and/or delays. You might consider requiring regular reports or formal updates that follow the completion of each step of the critical path. This added visibility will keep everyone on track. A good supplier will be willing to provide this at no extra charge and the really good ones do it as a normal part of their service.
How do I close out the process?
Project closing should be defined up front in the requirements. If this is a new CEMS application, then you can tie final payments to passing the required certification testing. If this is smaller retrofit or monitor change out, then you will want to develop a different measure of completion. The bottom line is you need to tie the completion of work to some real result. It should be a meaningful metric that demonstrates you are in compliance, when they are done. Be specific in this definition as it will be as beneficial to the suppliers as it will be to you to understand the acceptable measure of completion.
We also favor a formal project closing meeting to ensure all the requirements were met and/or to reach an agreement on any punch-list remedies. You are looking for long term partnership with your suppliers and ongoing support will be needed. Adding a formal project closing to your requirements allows you to review the project performance together and creates the opportunity to define the rules of engagement going forward. The quality integrators want to be in business with you beyond this one project and generally don’t survive the long game by job shopping from project to project. Build a bond and gain a reliable partner for the future.
In summary
We hope Uncle Vinny appreciates the shout out and the comparison to his often-stated mantra. Prepare, plan and perform in environmental monitoring by following some simple rules or if all else fails measure twice/cut once. A rule that defines any allegory of success, fits any endeavor we take on and should be applied liberally. Thank you for taking the time to read this high-level view of managing an environmental monitoring project and hope it added some value to your day. We wish you all the compliance success going forward.