CTCI Chairman Michael Yang on Mega-Project Risk Management, AI Adoption, and Industry Transformation

The Taipei Structural Engineers Association published an interview with Michael Yang, Chairman of CTCI Corporation, in its Structural Forum. Starting as an on-site supervisor and having led projects such as Taiwan Power Company's Tatan Combined Cycle Power Plant, Yang shared insights on mega turnkey project risk control, balancing AI tools with core engineering instincts, and the firm's growth across petrochemical, transit, power, water, and advanced technology facility construction. Addressing skilled technical labor shortages, Yang outlined CTCI's phased approach: progressing from task automation to automated reporting, then implementing AI to free engineers from granular drafting into review roles, ultimately targeting design process re-engineering. However, Yang cautioned that over-reliance on digital tools can undermine foundational engineering judgment, emphasizing that balancing core analytical skills with AI tools remains a priority. Regarding risk management, CTCI delineates between project-level and corporate-level risks. Project risks are managed via standard operating procedures and periodic managerial reviews, with corporate intervention when issues exceed project thresholds. At the corporate level, forecasts for human resources, foreign exchange, and country risks are coordinated proactively. Looking ahead, Yang noted that construction demands driven by AI infrastructure and ESG-related low-carbon projects are reshaping the industry, requiring continuous strategic adaptation.

Key takeaways

• CTCI approaches digital adoption through phased automation and AI integration to streamline design review, while emphasizing that engineering intuition must not be lost to software dependence.
• Mega-project risks are managed hierarchically: project levels rely on SOPs and structured reviews, while corporate leadership handles workload projections, currency, and geopolitical risks.
• CTCI's portfolio has diversified from petrochemicals into transit systems, LNG terminals, and resource recovery, with recent momentum focused on global high-tech facility construction and decarbonization.