Desktop Study

Mistakes made at the start of a project that potentially requires capital investment, can have more severe consequences than those made later. Often the biggest problem is being “too close to the situation”, which leads to decisions that lack objectivity.

For example, a price spike of a product that you are outsourcing could make you consider manufacturing in-house. This could be the right thing to do, unless for example, the price spike is caused by a raw material shortage that will affect you as badly as the company you are outsourcing from.

We can apply third-party objectivity to look at a plan like yours, using the information that you can send us, to give a view on whether it can be done and if so how, a ball-park estimate and a list of potential “Red Flags” and “Road Blocks” that could cause problems ahead.

In summary, the desktop study includes:

  • Requirement Validation
  • Options – Look at alternative approaches
  • Ball-Park Estimate
  • Identifying potential red flags and roadblocks

Once you have reviewed the Desktop Study outcomes and it indicates that the project is potentially viable, the second stage of the process is the more detailed survey.

Fiona Ryland at Ryland Research

Our work has ranged from technical management to designing, building and commissioning grease manufacturing and other process plants.