Tesla Gigafactory, Reno, NV

The Tesla Gigafactory was born out of necessity to supply enough batteries to support Tesla’s projected electric vehicle demand. Tesla broke ground on the Gigafactory in June 2014 outside Sparks, Nevada. The factory’s planned annual battery production capacity is 35 gigawatt-hours (GWh), with one GWh being the equivalent of generating (or consuming) 1 billion watts for one hour. This is nearly as much as the entire world’s current battery production combined. The Gigafactory already has a footprint of over 2 million square feet, with an operational square footage of over 5.5 million square feet, but is still only representative of 30% of the intended project completion.

Working at the Tesla Gigafactory is a unique experience. As the Tesla Construction team has only been around for a couple of years, there are still many processes and systems that need to be developed and implemented, like a typical startup would require. Developing these processes and systems has been one of my main tasks out here to help create a more effective and efficient workflow between all departments within the Tesla EPC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction) team. From change management within Tesla, to a Panasonic change order workflow, to a formal Design Change process, developing and executing these processes has been a critical focus.

My responsibilities beyond that mainly lie within the Panasonic Battery Production facility, which is nearly half of the current Gigafactory footprint. From leading and managing CSA contractors, to taking over as the Electrical CM for construction of the facility, the roles and responsibilities have been varied. Client relationships have been a core focus in understanding contracts management, execution, and responsibilities of cost throughout the project.