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RT-421 Advanced Planning Guide for Modularization

RT-421 Advanced Planning Guide for Modularization

Completed: 2026 (Launched: 2024)

What This Team Created

RT-421 produced two deliverables, available on the CII website:

  • FR-421 — Advanced Planning Guide for Modularization (Final Research Report). Research basis, foundational strategy, and definitions for all 11 focus areas. View on the CII website.

  • IR-421 — Advanced Planning Guide for Modularization (Implementation Resource). An interactive PDF tool with detailed, phase-based guidance across the 11 focus areas — activities, inputs, outputs/deliverables, stakeholders, and benefits for each of 8 project lifecycle phases. View on the CII website.

How Members Can Use This Research

  • Start early, and in the right order: use RT-396’s business case tools during Opportunity Framing/Assessment/Selection to confirm modularization is justified and at what scope, then bring in IR-421 once a modular approach is chosen — don’t wait until execution.

  • Pick the view that fits your role: View by Focus Area (default; best for beginners or leaders wanting an overview), View by Phase (for project managers/sponsors reviewing what’s due now), or View by Stakeholder (for SMEs reviewing what’s assigned to their discipline).

Background

Modularization is an execution strategy that transfers work from the project site to an offsite location to improve project performance. Done well, it can lower capital costs, improve schedule performance, increase productivity, improve quality, and reduce accidents and environmental impacts — but CII members report that companies often implement it poorly and too late in the project to capture these benefits.

Research Question

“How can companies set up their modular projects for success, including any key advanced planning requirement implementation, to capture all the opportunities that modularization brings?”

Limitations / Considerations

  • Developed for the heavy industrial sector (oil & gas, refining/petrochemicals, mining/metals, pulp & paper, power generation, gas processing, industrial buildings, pipelines, water/wastewater) — may need adaptation for other sectors.

  • Projects vary in location, transport constraints, contracting models, market capacity, module size, technology maturity, and owner objectives — apply the guide thoughtfully rather than as a fixed template.

  • The 85-technology catalog reflects the state of practice at publication (2026) and will age; the durable part is the Section 2.11 evaluation framework, not the specific tools named.

Academic Publications

TBD

Roster

Chair: Mike Kluck, KBR

Vice Chair: Cathy Farina, DyCat Solutions

Members

  • Roman Bargo, Matrix PDM

  • Adam Garcia, Black & Veatch

  • Mina Ghaly, McDermott International, Inc.

  • Lina Gonzalez, Kiewit Corporation

  • Craig Haas, Insight-AWP

  • Fred Haney, DyCat Solutions

  • Mirza Haque, Ontario Power Generation

  • Adrian Jeffery, Wood

  • David Kerr, Shell

  • Zachary Ledet, Pathfinder, LLC

  • Marcos Molina, Victaulic

  • Joon Na, Oracle USA, Inc.

  • Shankar Pathare, Sila Nanotechnologies Inc.

  • Norberto Pazos, Techint Engineering & Construction

  • Steve Pester, Accenture

  • Lucio Roubach, Alvarez & Marsal

  • Abir Roy, ExxonMobil Corporation

  • John Schnieders, The Procter & Gamble Company

  • Kevin Stafford, The Nuclear Company

  • Ruben Steketee, Worley

  • Pablo Telleria, YPF S.A.

  • Damien Teyssier, The Dow Chemical Company

  • FHZ Zawahemah, Aramco

Academic

  • Jin Ouk Choi, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

  • Woobin Kwon, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (Student)

  • Amrit Shahi, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (Student)