The OptiFit Process was developed in response to two internally-established definitions of retrofit success. First, it had to deliver a firm price and schedule that customers could rely on. Second, the entire fabrication scope had to be completed in the shop environment, essentially resulting in a “meccano” set to assemble in the field. We believed these two would go hand in hand, where accurate prefabrication in a controlled environment would be the driving force in keeping costs under control.
The story of OptiFit is one of dynamic response, evolving mindsets, and resilience. Failures were abundant in our efforts to meet the goals we had set out. The first attempt at the “shop prefabrication” requirement was a project for Canadian Natural Resources, on an ice-road northeast of Fort McMurray with break up looming. With two Waukesha 7042/ Ariel JGK/4 packages to re-cylinder, we arrived with over 70 pre-fabricated spools for the first unit. Given the full week we had spent on site measuring and re-measuring, the 99% fit failure rate was disappointing, to say the least. Undeterred by this setback, we took the failure as a valuable lesson in shaping what we now call the OptiFit Process.
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