An execution readiness review is a structured check, held before a milestone, that confirms the documents, people, tools, materials and site conditions needed for the next phase of work are in place. Its purpose is to find gaps while they are still cheap to close.
On turbomachinery packages, the typical milestones are machine setting, grouting, final alignment, oil flushing, first run and first fire. Each one depends on work from several parties: the OEM, the EPC contractor, the installation contractor and the owner. A readiness review brings those pieces together and asks a simple question: can this work start, and be done right the first time?
1. Documents
Field work should follow approved documents, not memory or habit. Before a milestone, check that:
- The OEM installation and commissioning instructions are available at the correct revision.
- Procedures and method statements exist for each activity and match the OEM's requirements.
- The inspection and test plan (ITP) defines hold and witness points, acceptance criteria and responsible parties.
- Check sheets and report templates are ready, so results are recorded in a consistent way.
2. People
- Supervisors and technicians are qualified for the specific tasks, such as alignment, rigging or flushing.
- The OEM's field representative, if required by the contract, is scheduled.
- Roles are clear: who performs, who checks, who signs off at each hold point.
3. Tools and equipment
- Alignment and measuring tools are suitable for the task and within calibration, with certificates available.
- Lifting equipment and rigging are certified and match the lifting plan.
- Special tools supplied by the OEM have been received and checked.
4. Materials and machines
- Machines, auxiliaries and loose items have been received, inspected and recorded.
- Preservation has been maintained and recorded since delivery.
- Consumables such as grout, shims, lubricants and flushing oil are on site and meet the specification.
5. Site conditions
- Foundations are complete, cured and released by the civil team.
- Access, laydown space, weather protection and lighting are adequate.
- Interfaces with piping, electrical and controls work are understood, so other trades do not disturb finished work.
6. Records and traceability
If a problem appears later, the records are what allow the team to understand what happened. A readiness review should confirm that the project can show what was done, by whom, with which tools and against which acceptance criteria.
When to hold a readiness review
Hold one before each major milestone, early enough that gaps can be closed without moving the date. A review two to four weeks ahead is often practical, with a short confirmation check just before the work starts.
The outcome
The result should be a short list of findings, ranked by risk, each with an owner and a due date. The goal is not to stop the work, but to start it with the right conditions in place.