Diversity and creativity in project management Pihl

DIVERSITY AND CREATIVITY IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Pihl is a global civil engineering and construction group based in Denmark and is one of the country’s oldest contracting companies. Philip Yorke looks at its wide spectrum of activities and the strategy behind its success.

Founded in 1887, Pihl is one of the largest civil engineering companies in the world and is engaged in countless major international contracts. The company works on a project-orientated basis with a flexible management structure that involves its many subsidiaries and consortiums. Pihl is currently working in 16 countries worldwide and is involved in major global projects ranging from tunnels, motorways and harbours to railways and municipal buildings. Pihl’s headquarters is located at Kgs.Lyngby, Denmark, and the company currently employs more than 3300 people worldwide. Firm foundations

It was in 1887 when a master builder in Copenhagen, Lauritz Emil Pihl, established his own construction company in the capital that the company began its journey to become one of the world’s leading civil engineering contract companies. During the years that followed, Pihl built up the business to become one of the leading construction companies in Denmark. Its fortunes were enhanced further in the 1940s by Kay Langvad, a master in civil engineering, who purchased 50 per cent of E Pihl & Son AS in 1947. The company then saw significant growth with large civil engineering projects being undertaken in Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Greenland. His pioneering work in the 1950s and 1960s formed the basis for the company’s further internationalisation which was based on his flexible management approach. This is where individual company specialists come together to form an optimal team and where relevant experience is pooled to optimise the success of each project.

It is flexibility and a commitment to creativity to achieve the best outcomes that has kept Pihl at the forefront of the global contracting industry. The success of this strategy is further enhanced by its commitment

to maintaining its respect for traditional, high quality Danish building techniques combined with its ability to develop new methodologies and project management techniques. Pihl offers a wide range of consultancy and contracting services and is happy to assume responsibility for the entire construction process if necessary, from the original design concept through to its final completion.

Diversity at work

Pihl is active in Denmark and around the globe on major projects such as the Oresund Tunnel in Denmark and hydro electric power plants in Iceland. In the Carribean and Africa, the company is building motorways and harbours, while in Asia it is constructing wastewater plants. One of its most important large-scale projects is the recent joint venture between Zublin and Pihl to design and construct a major road and tunnel complex in Copenhagen that will connect the Elsinore motorway with an arterial road close to the Danish capital, Copenhagen.

In another significant national contract, Pihl has joined Aarsleff of Denmark in a 50/50 joint venture to fulfil a major renovation programme for Danish Railways that involves the full refurbishment of the city’s central railway station. The work to be carried out by this well-established consortium involves the renovation of existing station concrete structures, new ventilation systems and railway ramps as well as modern station buildings and improved parking facilities. The budget for the remedial works at the central station is put at over DKK 400 million.

In-depth quality management

Pihl considers that quality management is fundamental to the success of any project and works to guarantee that the same high standards are achieved across the board,

irrespective of the size and value of the project. Top quality management at Pihl helps to ensure optimum design, planning and execution of each project. Pihl’s quality management system complies with the requirements of DS/EN ISO 9001 and is structured in such a way as to facilitate adoption of special conditions and the specific demands of its client.

The company’s quality management systems are regularly re-evaluated on the basis of newly acquired experience from completed contracts, as well as from internal and external audits. Before the commencement of any contract Pihl carries out a process of scrutiny to establish an in-depth knowledge of the project and to provide a better basis for determining the best possible execution. At Pihl, on going audits are performed on a regular basis and these focus on maintaining the quality management standards of all Pihl’s current contracts. The company also has extensive in-house planning resources as well as considerable facilities for the provision of services regarding concrete, masonry, carpentry and painting works.

Soren Langvad, Pihl’s CEO said, “The driving force behind Pihl is the joy of creating. We take pride in the projects that we carry out for our public and private customers worldwide and we have a desire for constant development and expansion. Our projects cover many different areas of expertise from large infrastructure works to hydro power plants and building. As a Danish contracting company working on the international marketplace, we face keen competition. Our overseas projects challenge the adaptability of our employees and whether we are working on the construction of a museum in Liverpool or on a water supply project in Sri Lanka, we make an effort to pass on our knowledge and also to improve our own skills.” n

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