Industrial facility project management for in operational environment
Westrac Machine Shop Extension and Centre for Excellence
This Westrac project delivered two major industrial extensions to an operational Caterpillar equipment service centre and training facility in Tomago, Newcastle. Our project management services coordinated workshop expansions and a Centre of Excellence building, while maintaining full business operations across the 23-hectare site in Newcastle.
The project extended industrial workshop areas to increase capacity for heavy machinery and plant equipment servicing, and added a Centre of Excellence extension where Westrac demonstrates Caterpillar equipment capabilities to customers. External pavement works were completed to support the expanded operations.
Managing construction in operational industrial environments
Industrial project management for occupied facilities presented several coordination and safety challenges:
- Live environment management with active workshops and ongoing equipment servicing operations
- Work health and safety protocols for construction alongside operational heavy machinery areas
- Project control group coordination prior to contract award to establish governance frameworks
- Stakeholder management across operational staff, contractors, and facility management
- Construction sequencing to maintain business continuity and customer access
- Integration of new workshop areas with existing operational workflows
These factors required detailed planning and collaborative decision-making to deliver construction works without disrupting daily operations and equipment servicing activities.
Collaborative delivery approach
The project followed a structured governance approach with project control groups established before contract award. This ensured alignment between all parties and enabled swift, practical decision-making throughout construction.
Our project management role
Our team provided comprehensive management services for this industrial expansion project, including:
- Project management and construction coordination
- Design management for workshop and Centre of Excellence extensions
- Tender management and builder selection
- Superintendent services and contract administration
- Work health and safety coordination for live environment construction
- Stakeholder management across operational and construction teams