Conceptual Project Planning from an Owner's Perspective

During the conceptual planning phase of capital projects, also known as schematic design, architects and engineers develop the project scope through detailed design documents that they use to estimate the project's schedule and cost. This article examines the process of conceptual planning from a pharmaceutical owner's perspective. In doing so, it explains the many activities that occur during conceptual planning, activities such as defining functional objectives, operational concepts, master plans, schedules, and financial goals. It also identifies the phase's key issues as well as the pharmaceutical industry's primary considerations when developing capital projects, considerations involving the strategic (innovative manufacturing capabilities, project goals, project funding) and the technical (implementation, documentation, cost and schedule estimating, risk management).