The Truth About Advanced Work Packaging (AWP)
This blog explores the reality behind Advanced Work Packaging (AWP)—what it is, how it works, and where it often goes wrong. While AWP offers significant value when applied correctly, there are also critical warning signs to watch for. The goal here is simple: help you make smart, tailored decisions for your project without adding unnecessary complexity.
Let’s break it down.
What Is Advanced Work Packaging?
Originally developed for large-scale oil and gas projects, AWP is a planning methodology designed to improve construction predictability. It involves breaking the project into work areas—typically based on systems or assemblies—aligned along a logical path of construction.
This approach is compelling because it encourages systems-based thinking and aligns various phases of work, including engineering, procurement, and installation.
In theory, it makes sense. But the way AWP is implemented in practice—especially in commercial construction—can lead to significant inefficiencies if you’re not careful.
Where AWP Adds Real Value:
There are several aspects of AWP that are genuinely worth adopting, regardless of project type:
- Path of Construction Planning:
Defining a clear path of construction is a smart move on any project. It improves sequencing, reduces confusion, and supports better flow. - Systems-Based Work Areas:
AWP encourages you to think in systems, not just zones. This is a powerful shift in mindset that improves coordination and clarity. - Installation Work Packages (IWPs):
Think of these like assembly instructions. Done well, each IWP includes materials, tools, layout information, and everything a crew needs to execute the work efficiently. This significantly reduces wasted time and increases field productivity. - Integration with BIM:
Leveraging Building Information Modeling (BIM) to drive prefabrication and planning is a major advantage that aligns well with AWP. - Supply Chain Alignment:
AWP aims to align engineering, procurement, and construction efforts—an approach that can eliminate delays when done correctly.
Major Pitfalls to Avoid:
Despite its potential, there are several critical issues that can undermine AWP’s effectiveness:
- Oversized Work Areas:
If work areas are too large and not optimized through zoning and Takt planning, time will be wasted. Smaller, Takt-aligned zones help accelerate delivery. - Over-Reliance on Workface Planners:
In oil and gas, hiring specialized planners makes sense due to budget and complexity. In commercial construction, however, this can disconnect field crews from planning. Foremen, field engineers, and superintendents must be involved in creating IWPs. - CPM-Based Implementation:
AWP is often misused as a more detailed version of Critical Path Method (CPM) scheduling. This leads to the same core issues—two-dimensional planning, misalignment, increased work in progress, and loss of control over actual production. - Command-and-Control Planning Models:
When planning is centralized and field teams are left out of the decision-making process, you’re essentially recreating the same outdated top-down management style that lean construction seeks to eliminate.
Practical Guidance for Using AWP Effectively:
If you’re considering AWP for your project, here’s how to make it work without falling into common traps:
- Define the path of construction early and clearly.
- Use BIM to support prefabrication, visualization, and sequencing.
- Ensure field teams—especially foremen—are directly involved in planning their own work.
- Integrate AWP with Takt planning instead of relying on CPM schedules.
- Focus on alignment and flow, not just documentation.
By focusing on these core principles, you can realize the benefits of AWP while avoiding the pitfalls that often make it inefficient or overly complicated.
Final Thoughts:
Advanced Work Packaging isn’t inherently flawed—it’s often just misunderstood or misapplied. Done correctly, it can significantly improve field readiness, reduce delays, and increase production reliability.
However, if implemented through the lens of outdated scheduling systems or disconnected from field expertise, it can create more problems than it solves.
Make it work for your project by applying only what adds value. Leave the rest.
If you want to learn more we have:
-Takt Virtual Training: (Click here)
-Check out our Youtube channel for more info: (Click here)
-Listen to the Elevate Construction podcast: (Click here)
-Check out our training programs and certifications: (Click here)
-The Takt Book: (Click here)
Discover Jason’s Expertise:
Meet Jason Schroeder, the driving force behind Elevate Construction IST. As the company’s owner and principal consultant, he’s dedicated to taking construction to new heights. With a wealth of industry experience, he’s crafted the Field Engineer Boot Camp and Superintendent Boot Camp – intensive training programs engineered to cultivate top-tier leaders capable of steering their teams towards success. Jason’s vision? To expand his training initiatives across the nation, empowering construction firms to soar to unprecedented levels of excellence.
On we go