If you’ve ever been involved in commissioning projects, you know the final stage of a build can feel like the last few miles of a marathon — deceptively hard and often full of unexpected hurdles.
Many resources vaguely point to “planning issues” as the culprit for delays in the commissioning of a project, but that’s like blaming “the weather” for a bad commute — it doesn’t tell you what actually went wrong or how to prevent it.
Let’s break down the real, recurring causes of project commissioning delays and talk about practical ways to avoid them.
1. Vendor Readiness (or Lack Thereof)
One of the most common issues is when vendors supplying critical equipment or systems aren’t ready when needed. This might mean:
- Equipment isn’t delivered on time.
- Vendor technicians aren’t available for on-site setup.
- Missing or incomplete technical support during testing.
Tip: Build vendor readiness checkpoints into your schedule months before commissioning. Require proof of availability, delivery confirmations, and documentation well in advance.
Expert Insight:
“We’ve seen more projects slip in the last two weeks before handover because of vendor delays than at any other stage. Vendor readiness isn’t a formality — it’s a dependency.”
2. Documentation Gaps and Errors
You can’t pass a commissioning milestone if your documentation isn’t complete or accurate. Common culprits include:
- Missing test certificates.
- Outdated as-built drawings.
- Incorrect equipment serial numbers in reports.
These errors can send teams scrambling at the last minute, losing days (or weeks) in approvals.
Tip: Use commissioning management software that centralizes and validates documentation in real time. The fewer spreadsheets and email chains involved, the fewer surprises at the finish line.
3. Late or Failed Inspections
Even if systems are ready, inspections can be delayed by:
- Scheduling conflicts with inspectors.
- Incomplete pre-inspection checklists.
- Failures requiring corrective work before re-inspection.
Tip: Treat inspection scheduling as a long-lead activity — book slots early and use pre-inspection audits to reduce failure rates.
4. Misaligned Handover Requirements
Sometimes the construction team and the commissioning team have different understandings of what “ready” means. This gap can stall the entire project commissioning phase.
Tip: Align turnover requirements early. Better yet, have both teams work in the same commissioning management software so completion status is visible to all parties.
5. Punch List Overload
If too many issues are left unresolved until the end, you’re looking at a mountain of small fixes that can still hold up handover.
Tip: Manage punch list closure progressively during construction — not in one mad rush at the end.
Practical Tools to Keep Commissioning on Track
If you want fewer sleepless nights before project closeout, consider:
- Commissioning management software for a single source of truth.
- Vendor coordination templates with firm commitment dates.
- Progressive documentation reviews (not a single handover dump).
- Pre-inspection readiness reviews.
Final Takeaways for On-Time Commissioning
Delays in commissioning projects aren’t just about “poor planning” — they’re about predictable, recurring issues like vendor readiness, documentation errors, and late inspections.
By acknowledging these patterns and addressing them early with the right processes and tools — especially integrated commissioning management software — you can turn commissioning from a stress-filled scramble into a predictable, well-orchestrated finale.
Because in the end, commissioning shouldn’t feel like a last-minute rescue mission. It should feel like the natural, confident conclusion to a well-executed project.
