Building a PMO for Capital Projects: Controls that Actually Work

Building a PMO for Capital Projects: Controls that Actually Work

A PMO only adds value when it anchors clear governance and measurable controls. For capital projects, we implement stage gates, a single source of truth for scope, and disciplined change control tied to risk and cost impact. Schedules are baselined and earned value is tracked; risks are quantified and actively retired; procurement is driven by clear evaluation criteria and interface management. Weekly dashboards highlight schedule variance, cost performance, and HSE/quality actions so leaders can intervene early. The result: fewer surprises, cleaner tenders, predictable delivery, and transparent decision-making.

Key controls:

• Stage gates & RACI; scope register + change log

• Baselined schedule (P6/MSP), EV metrics, look-aheads

• Cost model, commitment tracking, cash-flow forecast

• Risk register with owners, burn-down, and contingencies

• Procurement plan, bid evaluation matrix, contract strategy

• Interface & document control; HSE/QA ITPs and audits