26 research outputs found
Integration of Overlapped Design and Construction Stages Through Location-Based Planning Tools
No full textIntegration of Overlapped Design and Construction Stages Through Location-Based Planning Tools
No full textThe overlap of design and construction stages is a current practice in the construction industry, which aims to shorten the project lead time and cost. Apart from the construction industry fragmentation and its difficulties imposed on project management, this type of project faces some additional challenges, such as difficulties in optimising the design solution in a short period and in keeping the construction activities flowing smoothly. Furthermore, the advantages of this practice may be minimised if the time is badly managed, resulting in over-costs, time delays, and an increase in uncertainty. Although these problems can be avoided through the use of lean management practices, there is a lack of research on the application of lean for managing projects with overlap between design and construction stages. Moreover, the current literature in planning overlapped projects explores traditional methods of planning, such as the Critical Path Method (CPM), which have limited capacity to deal with the construction complexity. Hence, research on the use of lean tools for planning, namely location-based scheduling (LBS) tools, is needed and has a wide field of exploration to improve the performance of overlapped projects.
The aim of this research is to devise a model to design, plan and control the stages of design and construction in the context of projects with overlap between these stages, using LBS tools and other lean practices to pull and align the project production regarding location, sequence and takt-time. The objectives are: (i) Determine how to use location-based tools to structure the work for design, suppliers and construction in alignment with their production sequences and production batches; (ii) Find out how to assemble design packages to meet suppliers’ and construction requirements; (iii) Determine the decoupling point of design development in order to apply pull production; (iv) Identify and analyse pros and cons of existing types of pull production systems that better suit the context of overlapped projects; (v) Explore how to measure and manage the work in progress and buffers in an integrated project system; (vi) Identify the best tools to control the production system, and to ensure that downstream information is achieving upstream processes.
The research process contains three studies from the researcher’s professional experience: a fourth case study at the new university’s building in Norway; a fifth action research study in a highways depot maintenance project in the UK; and a sixth case study in a construction company in a residential project in Norway. The research approach used to develop the studies was the Design Science Research (DSR). The DSR is a mode of producing scientific knowledge through the creation and implementation of a solution (an artefact) for problems that affect the construction management. The production of the artefact is the aim of this research, and it is built throughout the studies.
Findings indicate the use of LBS tools applied in construction to pull production in design and supply. The production control is conducted by an adapted last planner system to confirm and align deliverables with construction. Moreover, the BIM process is designed in connection with procurement and construction activities. The final model of this research can be used in the project management of construction projects with overlapping of design and construction phases, for example fast-track construction, flash-track construction, and complex projects with concurrent development of design and construction
Method for design and planning of production systems in construction using 4D BIM modeling
No full textAs atividades de projeto e planejamento de sistemas de produção na indústria da construção civil tendem a ser mais complexas em relação à manufatura pelo fato de que o produto (edificação) é fixo no espaço enquanto os recursos transformadores movimentam-se. Além disso, à medida que o empreendimento vai sendo construído, o leiaute é alterado, contribuindo para aumentar a complexidade destas atividades. O presente trabalho propõe o uso de modelagem 4D para a visualização espacial e temporal de empreendimentos de construção, pela introdução de BIM (Building Information Modelling) no projeto e planejamento de sistemas de produção. Em geral, os estudos prévios sobre modelagem 4D com o uso de BIM tiveram como foco decisões de planejamento de forma isolada, limitadas a processos construtivos específicos. Entretanto, pouco tem sido investigado sobre a implementação de modelos BIM 4D no projeto e na gestão de sistemas de produção no contexto organizacional de empresas de construção. Desta forma, este trabalho teve como objetivo desenvolver um método para o projeto e planejamento de sistemas de produção em empreendimentos de construção, com uso da modelagem BIM 4D. Esta pesquisa enquadra-se no modo de produção de conhecimento denominado de pesquisa construtiva (constructive research), que consiste em produzir construções inovadoras, com intenção de resolver problemas encontrados no mundo real, assim como contribuir com avanços teóricos sobre o tema em estudo. A pesquisa foi divida em quatro etapas: revisão bibliográfica, fase exploratória, fase de desenvolvimento e fase de consolidação. As principais contribuições do trabalho são o próprio método proposto, uma discussão sobre os possíveis papéis da modelagem BIM 4D na tomada de decisão do projeto e planejamento de sistemas produção, e a identificação das principais dificuldades para a sua implementação.The activities of designing and planning production systems in construction tend to be more complex than in manufacturing due to the fact that the product (building) is stationary, while the transforming resources move around. Moreover, as the project is being built, the site layout changes over time, contributing to increase the complexity of those activities. This research work proposes the use of 4D models for spatial and temporal visualization of construction projects, by introducing BIM (Building Information Modeling) in the design and planning of production systems. In general, previous studies on the use of BIM for 4D modeling in construction have focused on isolated planning decisions, limited to specific construction processes. However, not much research has been made on the implementation of BIM 4D models in the design and planning of production systems in the organizational context of construction companies. Therefore, the aim of this research study is to devise a method for designing and planning production systems in construction projects, with the use of BIM 4D modeling. This research fits into the mode of knowledge production named constructive research which consists of producing innovative constructions, intended to solve problems found in the real world, as well as to contribute to theoretical developments in the theme being investigated. The study was divided into four stages: literature review, exploratory phase, development phase, and consolidation phase. The main contributions of the investigation are the proposed method, a discussion on the possible roles of BIM 4D in the decision making process involved in the design and planning of production systems, and the identification of the main difficulties in terms of implementation
Relating construction production design and planning activities with location-based scheduling techniques
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Comparing production design activities and location-based planning tools
No full textWhat are the differences between production system design and work structuring? And between phase scheduling and work structuring? Which lean planning tool is better suited for each one of these design processes: line of balance, takt-time planning or flowline? This paper aims to answer these questions through a comparison and deeper understanding of production design processes, as well as the potential uses of location-based tools for production planning and control in each design effort. The method used is the literature review analyses on main lean terms and tools applied for production system design. With a better comprehension of the terms and tools, it is expected that academics and lean practitioners will be able to apply lean construction in a more aware and sensible manner. The results will also support researcher's decision about the most suitable lean tool to apply in the case studies in different production design processes.</p
Implementing last planner in the context of social housing retrofit
No full textThe paper aims to investigate the implementation issues and benefits of utilising the Last Planner and 4D modelling in the context of retrofit of social housing. It presents initial results of an on-going research project carried out in Northern Ireland, which focuses on the retrofit of solid wall homes. The research project involves the proposal of a process in which BIM is used to evaluate what-if scenarios for the retrofit of social housing with a focus on reducing user’s disruption throughout the construction process. Both 4D and the Last Planner are used to ensure the retrofit works with the minimum disruption.
A case study on the retrofit of a set of houses was carried out, which is part of a bigger research project entitled S-IMPLER. Data was collected via semi-structured interviews, participant observation in planning meetings, site visits and documental analysis. The study sheds light on a particular type of project that has not been well explored by the lean community, i.e. retrofits. It is argued that the results can be applicable to support the retrofit of a number of solid wall homes throughout the UK
Comparing Production Design Activities and Location-Based Planning Tools
No full textWhat are the differences between production system design and work structuring? And between phase scheduling and work structuring? Which lean planning tool is better suited for each one of these design processes: line of balance, takt-time planning or flowline? This paper aims to answer these questions through a comparison and deeper understanding of production design processes, as well as the potential uses of location-based tools for production planning and control in each design effort. The method used is the literature review analyses on main lean terms and tools applied for production system design. With a better comprehension of the terms and tools, it is expected that academics and lean practitioners will be able to apply lean construction in a more aware and sensible manner. The results will also support researcher’s decision about the most suitable lean tool to apply in the case studies in different production design processes
A consideration of Boundary Objects as a means of Integrating Design and Construction – A Case Study
No full textIntegration between Design and Construction is a common topic discussed in the literature in construction. The impacts of construction industry fragmentation are quite well known: poor design quality, lack of standards and constructability, suboptimal design solutions, high number of change orders, high rate of rework in design and construction, low value delivered for clients, design and construction delays and higher project costs. In the case of construction projects in which the design stage overlaps the construction stage, the industry fragmentation increases the projects’ risks and in some cases it nullifies the gains in cost and time which come about when using the strategy of overlapping.
Although researchers tried to address the problem of industry fragmentation by implementing new tools and methods to integrate project stakeholders, for example, using Building Information Modelling (BIM), Integrated Concurrent Engineering, Big-Room, and so on, the literature is still lacking in concepts and theories about how to integrate planning and controlling of both Design and Construction stages.
The purpose of this paper is to present the use of some concepts, such as production batch and work package, in order to create a common ground among Design, Construction and Costs simulations using BIM and line of balance. The case study is a retrofit of a set of social housing in Antrim (Northern Ireland) which aims to improve the energy efficiency of solid wall houses, at the sametime as reducing the disruption for end users. The study is part of the research project entitled S-IMPLER (Solid Wall Innovative Insulation and Monitoring Processes using Lean Energy Efficient Retrofit) funded by the Innovate UK, which aims to develop a retrofit solution for social housing built with solid walls to achieve 60% reduction in monitored energy costs, with less disruption for end users, keeping quality and safety at high levels.
The use of these concepts allowed the creation of different scenarios for design solutions and production system organization which were presented in a What-if Matrix. The costs changed as a consequence of the crossing scenarios. Adding to it, the definition of production batch and work package was essential to develop the BIM models (3D, 4D and 5D), as well as the line of balance used to plan the retrofit works and measure the end users disruption.
The research findings show that the common definition of production batch and work packages between Design and Construction stages used in the retrofit study worked as a boundary object in the development of BIM models and scenarios simulations. These concepts created the basis for the integration between design and construction, especially, in projects using BIM.
The results are not limited to the context of retrofit and further research is currently undertaken by the researchers to examine its validity and applicability in different settings.
Keywords: BIM; Line of Balance; integration design and constructio
The use of 4D modeling and Building Information Modeling for the management of production systems in construction projects
No full textUm modelo BIM é uma representação digital de uma edificação, combinando informações tridimensionais e não-geométricas. Uma vez associado com as durações de atividades ou etapas da construção, o modelo resultante (modelo BIM 4D) pode ser utilizado para projetar e planejar sistemas de produção de empreendimentos de construção através da visualização do plano de execução da obra. Em geral, os estudos sobre o uso combinado da modelagem 4D e BIM realizados até este momento tem tido como foco decisões acerca do planejamento de processos construtivos específicos, dedicando pouca atenção quanto à implementação de modelos BIM 4D na gestão de sistemas de produção no contexto organizacional de empresas de construção. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo propor um método para apoiar a gestão de sistemas de produção em empreendimentos de construção através do uso da modelagem BIM 4D para o projeto do sistema de produção e planejamento da produção. Esta pesquisa adota a design science research como modo de produção de conhecimento, envolvendo quatro estudos empíricos em três empresas de construção de edificações residenciais. A principal contribuição da pesquisa consiste no método para uso de BIM 4D na gestão de sistemas de produção em empreendimentos de construção, além da identificação de um conjunto de benefícios que podem ser esperados a partir do uso dos modelos BIM 4D na gestão de sistemas de produção no contexto de empreendimentos de construção.A BIM model is a digital representation of a building, combining tridimensional and non-geometric information. Once associated with the duration of tasks or construction phases, the derived model (a BIM 4D model) can support the design and planning of production systems in construction projects through the visualization of the construction plans. In general, previous studies on the combined use of 4D modelling and BIM have focused on specific construction processes, paying very little attention to the implementation of BIM 4D models in the design and planning of production systems in the organizational context of construction companies. This research study aims to devise a method to support the management of production systems in construction projects through the use of BIM 4D modelling in production system design and production planning. The design science research approach was adopted in this investigation, comprising of four empirical studies performed in three residential building construction companies. The main contribution of this study is a method for using BIM 4D in the management of production systems in construction projects, as well as the identification of a set of benefits that can be expected from the use of BIM 4D in production management in the context of construction projects
