Winning the First 100 Days: Operations Readiness and Startup Excellence Training Course
1Summary
The first weeks after a facility starts up are unforgiving: a problem that looks minor on day one can quietly calcify into years of lost performance if nobody catches it in time. This training course is built around that narrow, high-stakes window, giving participants a complete, practical grounding in operations readiness and startup excellence — the discipline that turns a fast, safe startup into years of strong operating performance rather than a slow recovery from early mistakes.
Participants learn to sequence startup planning and commissioning together so systems are genuinely proven, not just signed off, before handover. The course then works through embedding operational excellence habits from the very first shift, managing the path to first production without losing control of risk, and sustaining strong performance long after the initial excitement of startup has faded.
This program is delivered by Arab British Fellowship Training Academy through its Operations Readiness and Startup Excellence Training Course, designed to build well-rounded, practical startup capability for engineers and project professionals.
2Objectives and target group
By the end of this training course, participants will be able to:
- Explain why the first weeks of operation determine years of subsequent performance
- Coordinate startup planning and commissioning activities as a single, sequenced effort
- Embed operational excellence practices from initial startup onward
- Plan and manage the path to first production on new or upgraded facilities without losing control of risk
- Monitor and sustain strong performance well beyond the initial startup period
- Apply core principles of Startup Excellence to capital project transitions
- Apply relevant standards and best practices to startup and readiness management
Target Audience
- Operations and performance professionals receiving new facilities
- Operations readiness and startup managers
- Civil, mechanical, and process engineers involved in startup and commissioning
- Project managers responsible for the transition to operations
- Engineers and professionals advancing their expertise in Startup Excellence
3Course Content
Module 1: Why the First Weeks of Operation Decide Years of Performance
- The role of Startup Excellence in long-term operational success
- Key principles that distinguish excellent startups from troubled ones
- Linking startup preparation to safety and performance outcomes
Module 2: Startup Planning and Commissioning: Getting the Sequence Right
- Developing structured startup planning across project phases
- Aligning commissioning activities with startup readiness requirements
- Verifying system performance before proceeding to startup
- Managing outstanding commissioning items without delaying startup
Module 3: Embedding Operational Excellence from Day One
- Embedding operational excellence practices during startup
- Building strong operating discipline from initial operation
- Avoiding habits that undermine long-term performance
Module 4: The Path to First Production
- Planning the route to first production on new facilities
- Managing risks and constraints during the ramp-up period
- Coordinating stakeholders through the first production milestone
Module 5: Sustaining Performance Long After Startup
- Monitoring performance after startup and first production
- Identifying and addressing early performance gaps
- Building a foundation for continuous performance improvement
Module 6: Practical Application: Case Studies and Lessons Learned
- Case studies in Startup Excellence and operations readiness
- Common startup challenges and practical solutions
- Lessons learned from real startup and first production experiences