Success Factors of Plant Engineering Projects

Projects in plant manufacturing business are characterized by low margins and high risks. The knowledge and support of success factors, i.e. influencing factors that explain the success of a project, provide a suitable lever for plant manufacturing companies to improve their competitiveness. However, plant manufacturing business has not been a major field of success factor research yet. This contribution aims to close this research gap. In an extensive literature review existing success factors of other research fields are collected. 490 factors were examined on their applicability for engineering projects in expert interviews and an online survey. After consolidation, 41 success factors could be identified. If plant manufacturers consider these factors in project design and planning, project and business success can be influenced in a positive way. Since success factor research has been subject of criticism recently, this contribution includes a critical discussion of success factor research, too. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.