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BEST PRACTICES

Company Best Practices

Project Best Practices

Committees

Community of Practice

Productivity Index

COMPANY BEST PRACTICES

Company Best Practices and Project Best Practices. Company Best Practices are company-wide policies while Project Best Practices apply on a project-by-project basis. Both will help you improve safety and performance on your company’s job sites. Additionally, Resources provide specific Best Practices for ad hoc application when needed.

Different best practices are applicable at different stages of a project—for more information on when to implement each best practice, consult the COAA Best Practices Implementation Map.

 

PROJECT BEST PRACTICES

Company Best Practices and Project Best Practices. Company Best Practices are company-wide policies while Project Best Practices apply on a project-by-project basis. Both will help you improve safety and performance on your company’s job sites. Additionally, Resources provide specific Best Practices for ad hoc application when needed.

Different best practices are applicable at different stages of a project—for more information on when to implement each best practice, consult the COAA Best Practices Implementation Map

 
 

COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE

COLLABORATIVE CONTRACTING

The Collaborative Contracting Community of Practice is responsible for developing best practices that enhance efficiency and performance for all parties on industrial projects in Alberta.
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FUNDAMENTAL LEADERS OF INDUSTRIAL CONSTRUCTION (FLIC)

FLIC is on the search for the industry's best & brightest leaders in their early to mid-careers with the drive and energy to make change. Fundamental Leaders of Industrial Construction was initiated in 2018 by the COAA Board as a key element to promote the sustainability of COAA.
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TECHNOLOGY ENABLEMENT

Technology Enablement Community of Practice focuses on fostering technology and innovation adoption among members and provides COAA members with a forum for the awareness and advancement of industrial technology adoption in alignment with the work of COAA’s other standing communities and focus areas.
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COMMITTEES

CANADIAN MODEL

Mandated by COAA and with support from Energy Safety Canada, this Committee stewards the updating and evolution of the Canadian Model (alcohol and drug guidelines and work rule) for the heavy industrial construction and turnaround sector, plus the energy operating and maintenance sectors.
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CONSTRUCTION PERFORMANCE

The Construction Performance Committee operates under a mandate to improve productivity in heavy industrial construction and industrial maintenance by developing next-generation tools for advanced work packaging, championing workface planning and rework reduction strategies, and developing the tools to adopt benchmarking.
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SAFETY

The COAA Safety Committee is currently transitioning into a Members work to improve safety and performance in Alberta’s construction industry by working collaboratively to identify, develop and support the implementation of innovative philosophies, practices and tools.
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WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

The Workforce Development Committee is made up of senior professionals of COAA Member companies who have an overview of major project activity in Alberta as well as current or emerging economic trends that could affect workforce demand.
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PRODUCTIVITY INDEX

PRODUCTIVITY CALCULATOR

What is a High-Level Productivity Calculator (HLPC?)

For decades, the construction industry has been plagued by poor project productivity, particularly the craft disciplines, as well as an incapacity to reverse the trend. We compare ourselves to other industries (E.g. manufacturing) and lament our decline while others have substantially improved. The key differentiators are the metrics for benchmarking and the discipline to change. The opportunity for change has arrived. In collaboration with CLMA, CII and CURT, we’ve launched the HLPC, which enables a project and its craft disciplines to be benchmarked against a validated project index. For more background information, click here.

How does it work?

To start using the HLPC, you will first need to access CLMA® by clicking on the login & get started link below. The HLPC login is to the left once you’re on the page. You can either enter your email or sign-in as a guest. Please note, if you access the HLPC as a guest, your data and report will NOT be retained for future access. Be sure to print this report, save it as a PDF and/or make screenshots for your records. A full CLMA® account enables retention and retrieval of your data and report. There is no cost to use this version of the HLPC. For more assistance, please download the user guide & methodology document below. If you experience any technical difficulties with the app, please contact the developer at bdavis@myclma.com.

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USER GUIDE

COAA DIGITAL LIBRARY

The COAA Library contains documents and resources, including Best Practices documents, Power Point presentations, tools, templates and more! 

The Library contains 30 Best Practices developed by COAA committees over the past two decades. These Best Practices are presented as a ”master” document (PDF format), followed by individual appendices, forms, checklists, etc., which can be accessed or downloaded individually. 

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PURPOSE

COAA members work to unlock competitiveness by stewarding safety, productivity, innovation, and industry sustainability in Alberta’s heavy industrial construction ecosystem.

VISION

COAA’s vision reflects our more than 50 years of industry leadership and strategic advancement. Our vision is that Alberta is recognized as a world- class jurisdiction to build and maintain capital assets.

VALUE

Through collaboration and partnership, COAA’s owner-led membership brings together the heavy industrial construction industry to steward shared goals and priorities critical to a competitive and thriving Alberta.

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COAA Head Office is
located in Edmonton, AB
780.243.7453

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LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The Construction Owners Association of Alberta recognizes that COAA’s office in Edmonton is located within Treaty 6 Territory and within the Métis homelands and Métis Nation of Alberta Region 4. We further acknowledge that what we call Alberta is the traditional and ancestral territory of many peoples, presently subject to Treaties 6, 7, and 8. Namely: the Blackfoot Confederacy – Kainai, Piikani, and Siksika – the Cree, Dene, Saulteaux, Nakota Sioux, Stoney Nakoda, and the Tsuu T’ina Nation and the Métis People of Alberta. We acknowledge the many First Nations, Métis and Inuit who have lived in and cared for these lands for generations and we are grateful for the traditional Knowledge Keepers and Elders who are still with us today and those who have gone before us. We make this acknowledgement as an act of reconciliation and gratitude to those whose territory we reside on or are visiting.

Shawn Madro is a Portfolio Design Engineer at TC Energy, where he leverages software and data tools to optimize operations and maintenance programs across Canada and the United States. With over a decade of experience in engineering, supply chain, and project management, Shawn has supported major energy infrastructure projects and led initiatives to improve efficiency and collaboration across teams and in project execution. He is also active with the Construction Owners Association of Alberta, currently serving as Co-Chair of the Collaborative Contracting Committee. Shawn is a Professional Engineer and a graduate of the University of Calgary’s Schulich School of Engineering.

Dillon Shepherd is a Digital Construction Manager with specialized expertise in the implementation of digital twin technologies within the built environment. He supports building owners, developers, and construction companies in bridging the gap between physical assets and digital intelligence, ensuring that organizations are positioned to maximize efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance long-term asset performance.

With a strong background in business strategy and technology enablement, Dillon provides structured leadership in guiding organizations through every stage of digital transformation—from strategic planning and design through to deployment and operational integration. His focus is on delivering measurable outcomes while maintaining alignment with organizational goals, industry standards, and best practices.

Gordon Walsh has been working in health and safety for over 20 years. Gordon is currently employed with Energy Safety Canada (ESC) as Principal Consultant, Safety Centre of Excellence. Over his 15 plus years with Energy Safety Canada (previous ENFORM), Gordon has worked in multiple roles and departments. Before working with ESC, Gordon worked for two other industry safety associations in commercial trucking and manufacturing. Before starting a career in safety Gordon was employed in various industries including Excavation, General Construction and a short stint in Underground Coal Mining.  

Gordon completed his OHS Certificate with the University of Alberta and has been qualified as a Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) since 2007, further completed a Business Essentials Program Certificate through the University of Calgary Haskayne School Of Business, and NEBOSH Tech Cert Oil and Gas Ops Safety. 

Over the past 5 years Gordon has been focused on learning about Human and Organizational Performance, working directly with experts in industry and academia to progress the adoption of doing Safety Differently through the lens of the 5 Five Principles of HOP, evolving safety forward. 

Gordon has been an instructor of safety courses and a presenter at multiple conferences over the last two decades covering topics relevant to frontline workers as well as manager level content. 

Gordon sits on the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Regulator OHS Advisory Council as well as Construction Safety Research Alliance (CSRA) research projects.    

Angela Thompson is Vice President of Commercial at FLINT Corp., a leading provider of construction, maintenance, turnarounds and environmental services across Canada. She oversees PMO, Estimating, Business Development & Indigenous Relations and has been instrumental in advancing FLINT’s project delivery systems, client account frameworks and building meaningful indigenous relations.

With a career spanning operational P&L leadership and project execution, Angela is recognized for her collaborative leadership style and her ability to connect commercial strategy with operational delivery. She has been named to Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 and recognized among Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women, bringing a grounded perspective on lessons learned, innovation, and building partnerships that drive stronger project outcomes.

 

As the Vice President of Operational Interface for Bird, Adam is a seasoned leader with a proven history in the industrial services sector. He has been driving excellence in industrial maintenance, overseeing strategic initiatives, and ensuring the successful execution of the organization’s growth strategy. 

Adam’s role centers on strengthening collaboration and solution development between Bird’s shared services and field teams, helping to drive reliable execution and streamlined workflows. Recent key initiatives that Adam is focused on include enhancements to the craft management system and development, advancements to the HSE management system, and improvements to vendor management processes. 

With a career spanning diverse sectors within the industrial landscape, he continues to be a force behind Bird’s success, embodying a commitment to operational excellence and a strategic vision that positions the company as an industry leader in construction and maintenance services. 

With over 25 years of experience, Adam offers a unique perspective gained from starting his career in the field and advancing through a range of support roles into senior P&L management. This progression has provided him with deep insight into industry challenges and clear opportunities for improvement.

COAA IS OPPORTUNITY