Tandem Services Archives - Tandem Project Management

Biopharma Capabilities

The Biopharma sector accounted for €106 billion in national exports in 2020, that was an increase of 17% on 2019 (CSO). The industry continues to make significant capital investments, with over €100 million invested by just four of Ireland’s established multinational biopharma sites in 2021. Facilities are cutting edge and technologically diverse in manufacturing cell and gene therapies, drug substance and drug product.

Tandem brings our clients a wealth of experience to delivering their key projects. Its team of Project Managers, Design Engineers, Construction Managers and CQV Engineers have extensive drug substance and drug product experience and have worked in some of the top Biopharma companies in the world.
Delivering expertise in the areas of equipment specification and design of facility and cleanroom, clean and black utilities, HVAC, electrical, instrumentation and process automation to ensure consistent controlled manufacturing to the required quality standards.

Tandem offers clients a full life-cycle package from overall project management, concept and basis of design, detailed design, (including process equipment specification and procurement), construction management, commissioning, qualification, and validation right through to operational readiness for commercial operations.

Spotlight on Services: Project Controls

The Tandem Project Controls team provides specialised expertise across project lifecycles to reduce client risk, improve value and deliver positive outcomes in all sectors of the built environment. Services include cost control, procurement, contract administration, risk management, scheduling and document control.

Through cost estimates Tandem will establish project viability and a robust baseline. It delivers value management and value engineering, lifecycle costing and cost forecasting. Tandem will estimate and plan costs to proactively manage the project budget, optimising cost performance from inception to completion. Tandem delivers and manages cost reports throughout the project lifecycle and manages cash flow forecasting.

Tandem will expertly schedule each phase of a project from concept, engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning through to qualification, validation and operational readiness. It delivers man-loaded schedules and S-Curves with weekly earned versus actual progress reporting. Tandem’s critical path analysis, progress updates, identification of slippage and development of recovery plans delivers clarity and transparency. Tandem develops portfolio scheduling for PMO’s and micro-schedules for complex areas of work where detailed coordination is required.

Tandem offer procurement services and will prepare tender packages for trade contractors and equipment vendors, it will perform tender walkdowns and lead bid clarification meetings. Tandem will undertake commercial and technical bid analysis, issuing award recommendations on tender reports, managing vendors and leading final negotiations.

Tandem will identify the most appropriate procurement and contracting strategies to minimise risk to time, cost and quality. It will prepare contractual documentation, ensuring all parties are familiar with their contractual obligations and remain compliant at all times. Tandem employs timely communication to ensure the smooth progression of the contract. Tandem will implement change management procedures that facilitate well informed decisions and ensure effective financial management. It will deliver certification of monthly valuations, assessment and agreement of contractual claims, assessment of contractor claims for delays and provide advice when assessing claims for any time extensions and costs for delays.

Tandem’s expertise in risk management delivers analysis of potential project risks. Tandem will develop risk mitigation strategies, maintain a Risk Register and regularly communicate the mitigation status with stakeholders. Tandem also implement controlled processes and practices for the creation, review, modification, issuance, distribution and accessibility of documents.

Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) Capabilities

Ireland is the location of choice for over 90% of the world’s top pharmaceutical companies & has become the eighth largest producer & the fifth largest exporter of pharmaceuticals. Pharmaceuticals make up 50% of all of Ireland’s manufactured exports, with Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) forming the backbone of the sector.

Tandem’s team bring a wealth of experience to delivering successful project outcomes. Its Project Managers, Project Controllers, Design Engineers, Construction Managers & CQV Specialists have extensive life-sciences experience, having worked with many of the top API companies. This expertise allows our clients to deliver consistent controlled manufacturing to required standards.

Tandem delivers expertise to your entire project life cycle in all areas of design including process, process architecture, equipment, facility, cleanroom, clean & black utilities, HVAC & building services, electrical & instrumentation, process automation & building management systems. We also provide specialist Health & Safety services, such as Risk Assessments, HAZOP, ATEX/ EPD, pFMEA, & the full range of construction safety requirements, including BCAR Certification, PSDP & PSCS.

Spotlight on Services: Talent Solutions and on-boarding during COVID-19

2020 has been a year of significant changes and challenges posed to the talent management team and recruitment processes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, we have continued to successfully hire into roles by embracing and quickly adapting to a new way of working with both our clients and candidates, albeit virtually! With the quick migration from the office or site, to remote working or a hybrid of remote/site set ups, this has meant that video conferencing tools have become an integral part of both the hiring and onboarding processes.

Candidates have seen a shift from face to face interviews to remote video calls along with onboarding from home without meeting other members of their team.

In response to that, we have seen companies surmount these new challenges by devoting time to ensuring positive experiences for new team members, ensuring equipment has arrived in advance of their first day, planned team introductions, regular virtual meetings, mentoring and formal training programmes being implemented.

It has been a pivotal year but one that has seen the successful transformation of new hiring and onboarding practices that may very well remain in some form in the future. It is testament to our ability to adjust to a new reality while continuing to do business in a safe and applicable way.

“Thanks to the help of Tandem and their client, the interview and the onboarding process has been very smooth. In spite of my concerns at the beginning because of this new situation, I feel completely engaged with the values of the company and within a team”. – Compliance Specialist, Dublin.

The Future of Engineering

When Tandem meets with students, undergraduates and graduates interested in pursuing a career in engineering, we are always impressed with the technical ability, drive and enthusiasm that we see in budding young engineers.

As part of our CSR programme, Tandem engages with The Engineers Ireland STEPS Young Engineers Award, STEM South West, and i-Wish. Tandem also hosts TY students annually and employs undergraduate interns and graduates through our Advance graduate programme.

Engineers Ireland’s STEPS programme encourages primary school children to see the world of engineering that exists everywhere in their environment, in their home, on their street and in their community. Tandem actively engages with the STEPS Young Engineers Award, visiting schools, explaining to children what it is like to work as an engineer and encouraging them with their engineering projects. We always see a spark of inspiration in 3rd and 4th class primary school children when they are introduced to engineering through the Young Engineers award.

STEM South West and i-Wish are opportunities to meet with secondary school students, provide encouragement and to answer all of their questions regarding engineering as a career.

Our goal is to give our graduates rounded, cross discipline, full lifecycle training and experience, and in return we see inspirational young men and women contribute fully, enthusiastically and purposefully to the world of work. Working with young engineers is wholly beneficial to our entire operation.

This year’s graduate fairs have been moved online due to COVID-19 restrictions. This has not affected our ability to engage with potential candidates for the Advance programme. UCC’s first virtual fair took place recently and was found to be targeted and seamless, producing great results for our graduate recruitment campaign.

Tandem’s current graduate engineers have a lot of say about the Advance Graduate Programme:

“The support I have received from Tandem has made the transition from college to the work place an easy journey and I anticipate the experience will only get better as the years go on.” Evan O’Donovan.

“The experience I am gaining on the programme will no doubt be invaluable to my career as a process engineer.” Maria Costello

“The Tandem Advance Graduate Programme has given me vital hands-on experience working in the Pharmaceutical industry.” Gary O’Leary

Tandem is delighted to play a significant role in helping shape the careers of these young engineers and recognise very clearly the benefits we receive from their being part of our company. In Ireland, the Future of Engineering is strong and its potential is immense.