REGISTER

Nick Terry BA, CEng, MIEE, MIRSE

Westinghouse Rail Systems Australia

Writing and managing specifications is crucial for successful engineering projects. Failures in specifications lead to re-work, frustration, increased costs, delays and disappointed customers. This paper discusses ways to help achieve successful projects through developing specifications with a high level of customer involvement so that projects meet the needs of the business. It also considers how to manage change and maintain flexibility within specifications. The successful commissioning of the Callemondah Third Spur and the associated remodelling at Gladstone, Central Queensland, in April 2008 is used as an example throughout to illustrate the points being made.