Station Service Design Conflict Resolution: AEP Avoids Misinstallation Risk Through Early Engineering QA

Customer

AEP

Location

West Virginia

Highlights

  • Conflict Between One-Line and Construction Prints Resolved Pre-Construction
  • Engineering Validation Amid Team Turnover
  • Now a QA/QC Standard for Pre-Mobilization Checks

Preventing Miswire Before Mobilization: How Engineering Validation Averted Station Service Errors in West Virginia

The Challenge

While reviewing project documentation ahead of construction, a conflict was identified between the construction prints and the one-line diagrams related to the station service location. The bus hookup instructions were contradictory—some prints indicated a connection to bus #1, while others were either unclear or referenced different bays. This discrepancy introduced ambiguity into the installation plan, creating the potential for improper electrical connections, system rework, or energization delays. The issue was further complicated by repeated project delays and turnover on both the client and contractor engineering teams, which resulted in loss of institutional knowledge and missed updates to key design documentation.

The Solution

To prevent misinstallation or late-stage redesign, the field engineer:
  • Conducted a comparative review of the construction drawings and one-line diagrams 
  • Identified and flagged the inconsistencies 
  • Collaborated with the engineering team to resolve the conflict by relocating the station service to a different bay and confirming a verified connection to bus #1 
  • Documented the resolution and ensured the updated prints were distributed to all field teams

Key Benefits

  • Risk Elimination: Prevented incorrect station service connections that could have jeopardized energization sequencing or introduced safety hazards 
  • Improved Cross-Team Alignment: Bridged the communication gap between field operations and design engineering teams amid staff turnover 
  • Change Management: Successfully adjusted scope in response to outdated or contradictory documentation 
  • Engineering QA/QC Enforcement: Reinforced the need for real-time drawing validation before executing critical connections 
  • Delay Mitigation: By resolving the issue early in the cycle, avoided the risk of further field delays or system rework

The Results

  • No rework or misinstallation occurred due to the detected conflict 
  • Updated construction prints were redistributed, ensuring alignment across field and engineering teams 
  • The case underscored the value of conducting pre-mobilization design reviews, especially on projects with high turnover 
  • It reinforced a repeatable process for identifying and resolving documentation mismatches before they impact the field

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