Pharmaceutical Industry Walkthroughs: Choosing the Right EPC Contractor

Manufacturing pharmaceutical products should always be taken seriously. That is, every process must follow the strictest and highest standards. This is the very reason why manufacturers prefer hiring an EPC contractor. 

Contractors working under EPC contracts will ensure the outcomes are of the best quality no matter what happens, focusing on the construction of the manufacturing facility. From having a single point of contact to saving your time, the benefits of following an EPC contract are plenty.

Have you ever wondered what are the steps to choosing the right EPC contractor? Find out about this plus more in this walkthrough that will seek to tackle:

– What is EPC contractor?

– How to choose the right EPC contractor

– Working with Canaan 

Who Are EPC Contractors?

Starting from the basics, EPC – which stands for Engineering, Procurement, and Construction – paves the way for faster project delivery since every phase of the project are fulfilled by just one EPC company working under one contract. 

That being said, several project owners and managers, those in pharmaceutical plants, for instance, choose to hire EPC contractors, especially when working on turn-key projects or highly schedule-driven tasks. 

To illustrate an example, an EPC contractor for powerplant is responsible for handling all aspects of the project, from facility design to equipment procurement to constructing the facility, without forgetting timely completion and cost efficiencies.

What They Do

In particular, an EPC contractor oversees all aspects of the project, including turn-key projects, adhering to the following principles:

• Engineering and Design: Technical plans and specifications for the project are developed.
• Procurement: The necessary materials, equipment, and services are sourced out and purchased accurately.
• Construction: The facility is built according to what’s planned.
• Commissioning: As an added value, they may also ensure the facility is operational and meets every requirement.

How to Choose the Right EPC Contractor

The following criteria must carefully be considered when choosing your ideal EPC contractors:

1. Carefully Define the Project Scope

Regardless of whether you’ve partnered with talented and skilled EPC contractors, without knowing the scope of your project, you will never succeed.

You must be aware whether the contractor staffs its departments in-house or also outsources certain phases of its construction work. This avoids project delays, schedule conflicts, and surprising costs. 

Should they tell you they also outsource team members, you must be completely hands-on with your project, too, even better. 

2. Check Their Relevant Experience

Similar to checking labels when buying milk for your toddler, or checking the background of your applicants, you must check and double-check the experience of the EPC contractor you are eyeing. Do they meet your specific requirements?

Also find out whether they have worked on similar projects in the past, and whether they are familiar with your systems. Take a look at their past projects or portfolio. Do they match what you’re looking for?

3. Integrate Expert Teams

It’s all about collaboration. Know that project phases, even those involving turn-key projects, must not occur in isolation. The last thing you want to happen is to encounter safety or logistical issues that must be revisited to make amends with the project completion. 

But, even this can delay the completion of your project. So, the pro tip is to integrate expert teams across project phases across the initial planning stages to reduce the obstacles you can encounter. This also helps the process be on time and within budget. 

4. Prefer Those That Use Sustainable Resources

Nowadays, in a world where choices affect the environment, sustainability is the way to go. Having said that, it is crucial that you prefer EPC contractors who value sustainability. What does this mean?

It means that the best contractors are those who utilize sustainable resources and practices in every phase of the project, including where it sources the materials. 

Right as you review their past projects, this commitment to sustainability must be showcased. Likewise, they must also be able to provide concrete examples of how they would carry out this sustainability clause.

5. Work With Contractors Who Don’t Compromise Safety

Sometimes, in the hopes for parties to complete projects on time and according to the budget, safety is compromised. This should not be the case. 

Thus, when hiring EPC contractors, it is important to ask them how committed they are to safety. There must be evidence to back up their claims. 

Overall, the following questions must be asked:

• How do they incorporate safety into their company’s culture?
• Are their workers receiving regular safety training?
• What’s their history of injuries? What actions do they take should these happen?

Are you ready to work with the best EPC contractors?

Work With Canaan Today

Working with an EPC contractor to build your pharmaceutical facility and launching it do not end with just the exteriors. Also equally important are what’s housed inside. Even if you have a fully operational building, all will be put to waste if you don’t have the right equipment.

Secure the best pharmaceutical equipment with Canaan. With over two decades under our belt, we are regarded as an industry A-list, as we make machines for the pre-treatment, material handling, coating, capsule filling, washing, and packaging of your pharmaceutical products. Aside from those, our company also manufactures water systems and extraction equipment. 

So, what else are you waiting for? Connect with our team today and discover why facilities built with Canaan stand out.