Speed-to-Market Can Be Improved With Project Buffering

A new white paper by ProLift Rigging explores how data center speed-to-market can be improved with project buffering strategies.

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There were major shifts in the global data center market in 2020 as increased data usage accelerated demand for storage and processing. With an 18 to 24 month construction phase for most large data centers, the industry needs new strategies to increase speed-to-market and meet the needs of the rapidly expanding global colocation market. Modular construction techniques are helping, but according to the paper, there are still a number of threats to efficiency that slow data center construction. First, there are a lot of developers competing for the same OFCI equipment and mismatched production and delivery lead times can cause delays. As we found with COVID-19, supply chain issues can cause massive disruptions. Skilled labor is often in short supply and, the “skilled labor market is aging, and younger generations of workers are not flocking to the trades.”

According to the paper, project buffering is a proven method for eliminating all of these threats, and is being implemented at data center construction sites across the country.

“The buffer absorbs the shock of upstream disruptions, such as production delays, supply chain disfunction, unforeseen transportation hiccups, etc. It also serves as a pressure relief valve when downstream issues arise, like site readiness delays, on-site labor shortages, etc.” ProLift Rigging, “Project Buffering: The Secret to Building Data Centers Faster is Project Buffering”

The author goes on to explain ProLift Rigging’s approach to project buffering, including the four core components they use to improve speed-to-market. First, they employ strategically located warehouses. Then they integrate a logistics management platform. “This cloud-based ‘dashboard’ includes real-time production updates from each OEM, tracks and traces all shipments, manages inventory at the warehouses via a customizable QR code system, and keeps track of construction timelines.” The third of ProLift Rigging’s core components is dedicated coordination of supply chain management. Lastly, they have the ability to quickly mobilize specialized equipment and labor across the country.

The report concludes with a case study illustrating how ProLift rigging used project buffering to improve the speed-t0-market of one of their hyperscale partners.

Download the full report to learn more about how project buffering can improve the speed-to-market of your data center construction projects.