Josana Gabriele Bolzan Wesz, Carlos Torres Formoso and Patricia Tzortzopoulos
The purpose of this paper is to propose a model for planning and controlling the design process in companies that design, manufacture and assemble prefabricated engineer-to-order…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose a model for planning and controlling the design process in companies that design, manufacture and assemble prefabricated engineer-to-order (ETO) building systems. This model was devised as an adaptation of the Last Planner® System for ETO multiple-project environments.
Design/methodology/approach
Design science research, also known as prescriptive research, was the methodological approach adopted in this research. An empirical study was carried out at the design department of a leading steel fabricator from Brazil, in which the proposed model was implemented in six different design teams.
Findings
The main benefits of the proposed model were shielding design work from variability, encouraging collaborative planning, creating opportunities for learning, increasing process transparency, and flexibility according to project status. Two main factors affected the effectiveness of the implementation process commitment and leadership of design managers, and training on design management and project planning and control core concepts and practices.
Research limitations/implications
Some limitations were identified in the implementation process: similarly to some previous studies (Ballard, 2002; Codinhoto and Formoso, 2005), the success of constraint analysis was still limited; some of the metrics produced (e.g. ABI, causes of planning failures) have not been fully used for process improvement; and systematic feedback about project status was not properly implemented and tested.
Originality/value
The main contributions of this study in relation to traditional design planning and control practices are related to the use of two levels of look-ahead planning, the introduction of a decoupling point between conceptual and detail design, the proposition of new metrics for the Last Planner® System, and understanding the potential role of visual management to support planning and control.
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Denise Ann Brady, Patricia Tzortzopoulos, John Rooke, Carlos Torres Formoso and Algan Tezel
The purpose of this paper is to discuss a production planning and control model known as the Lean construction management (LCM) model, which applies a number of visual tools in a…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to discuss a production planning and control model known as the Lean construction management (LCM) model, which applies a number of visual tools in a systematic way to the planning and control process. The application of the visual tools in this way facilitates the flow of information, thus improving transparency between the interfaces of planning, execution and control.
Design/methodology/approach
Design Science research is adopted for this investigation, which analyses the original development of the model and reports on its testing and refinement over different types of projects. The research is divided into three parts, each part focussing on a different stage of development and construction project type.
Findings
The main findings are related to the benefits of visual management in the construction planning and control process, such as maintaining consistency between different planning levels, so that feasible execution plans are created; control becomes more focussed on prevention rather than correction, and creates opportunities for collaborative problem solving. Moreover, the physical display of the visual tools in a discrete planning area on-site encourages a regular exchange between participants on actual work progress as it unfolds, leading to more timely reaction to the problems at hand.
Originality/value
The problem of a lack of transparency in construction planning and control leads to communication issues on-site, poor process orientation and high levels of waste. LCM improves process transparency by making information related to system-wide processes more readily available to project participants. This enables them to foresee problems in a timely manner and to take necessary measures to resolve them or to adapt the process to current circumstances. The LCM model proposes a new way of applying visual tools and controls systematically to improve transparency in construction planning and control.
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Juliana Parise Baldauf, Carlos Torres Formoso and Patricia Tzortzopoulos
This paper proposes a method for managing client requirements with the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM). The development of healthcare projects demands a large amount…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper proposes a method for managing client requirements with the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM). The development of healthcare projects demands a large amount of requirements information, in order to deal with a diversity of clients and frequents changes in healthcare services. The proposed method supports healthcare design by adopting a process-based approach for client requirements management, with the aim of improving value generation.
Design/methodology/approach
Design Science Research was the methodological approach adopted in this investigation. The main outcome of this study emerged from an empirical study carried out in a healthcare project in Brazil.
Findings
The proposed method involves three stages: (1) capturing and processing requirements; (2) product and requirements modelling, which involves the connection between requirements and the BIM 3-D model and (3) supporting design solution refinement, through the communication of requirements and the assessment of design in relation to updated client requirements information.
Originality/value
This study explores client requirements management from a process perspective, proposing activities and their interdependences and possible sources of data, including healthcare services information. The main theoretical contributions are related to the understanding of the nature and complexity of the information involved in client requirements management, and how this can be modelled.
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Algan Tezel, Lauri Koskela and Patricia Tzortzopoulos
The purpose of this paper is to holistically discuss, explore and synthesise the key literature on visual management (VM), an important, yet highly fragmented subject that is…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to holistically discuss, explore and synthesise the key literature on visual management (VM), an important, yet highly fragmented subject that is frequently referred in lean production accounts.
Design/methodology/approach
An extensive literature review was conducted to classify the current literature, to explore the different aspects and limitations of the current discussions on the subject, to clarify in what ways VM benefits manifest themselves in a workplace and to identify the future research focus.
Findings
VM is an important close-range communication strategy based on cognitively effective information conveyance. This strategy has been frequently discussed in the production management literature. However, the literature is fragmented as to the roles of VM in a production setting; the body of literature lacks integrated focus and cohesion with an abundance of related terminology from scholarly works and consultant books; a practical VM tools taxonomy and a visual workplace implementation framework were presented; there is poor clarity with regards to the functions (benefits) that VM may provide within organisations, nine conceptual VM functions were proposed; a wide array of future research directions related to VM was identified.
Originality/value
This paper synthesises the key literature related to VM, providing a conceptual picture of the current knowledge.
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CARLOS T. FORMOSO, PATRICIA TZORTZOPOULOS and RENATA LIEDTKE
The performance of the product development process has a critical influence on the efficiency and duration of building projects, as well as on the quality of the final product…
Abstract
The performance of the product development process has a critical influence on the efficiency and duration of building projects, as well as on the quality of the final product. Despite its importance, relatively little attention has been given to the management of this process, if compared with production. The main objective of this paper is to present some results of a research project which aimed to devise a general model for managing the product development process in small sized companies involved in the development and construction of residential and commercial buildings. This model consists of a template for the product development process, which can be used by different companies as a basis to devise their own models for managing individual projects. The development of the model was based on case studies carried out in two companies from the south of Brazil and also on a benchmarking study.
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Abdullah O. AlSehaimi, Patricia Tzortzopoulos Fazenda and Lauri Koskela
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of implementing the Last Planner System (LPS) to improve construction planning practice and enhance site management in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of implementing the Last Planner System (LPS) to improve construction planning practice and enhance site management in the Saudi construction industry.
Design/methodology/approach
LPS was implemented in two large state-owned construction projects through an action research process. The data collection methods included interviews, observations and a survey questionnaire.
Findings
The findings identify benefits including improved construction planning, enhanced site management and better communication and coordination between the parties involved. The paper describes the critical success factors for LPS implementation. The paper also describes barriers to the realisation the full potential of LPS, including the involvement of many subcontractors and people's commitment and attitude to time.
Research limitations/implications
The work reported in this paper is limited to two case studies.
Practical implications
The study has thus contributed to improving management practice and may aid the establishment of a basis for the development of further research in the area of lean construction. The research outcomes can inform practitioners of the opportunity to implement alternative management methods in construction, and give a good account of the opportunities and challenges. Beside the direct benefits to managerial practice, the study also contributed to practice by offering practical recommendation that can assist in the achievement of the full potential of lean and LPS in Saudi Arabia.
Originality/value
This is the first comprehensive academic study in the Saudi construction sector concerning the application of lean construction principles and techniques. The study has thus contributed to practice and developed a basis for the development of further research in the area of lean construction. It may help construction organisations to establish a new strategy and policies to improve their managerial practice. The outcomes of the case studies can be used as a reference for organisations seeking to improve their managerial practice.
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Ricardo Codinhoto, Patricia Tzortzopoulos, Mike Kagioglou, Ghassan Aouad and Rachel Cooper
The purpose of this paper is to present a conceptual framework that categorises the features and characteristics of the built environment that impact on health outcomes.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a conceptual framework that categorises the features and characteristics of the built environment that impact on health outcomes.
Design/methodology/approach
An extensive literature review was carried out. A total of 1,163 abstracts were assessed, leading to 92 papers being reviewed.
Findings
There is a considerable amount of evidence linking healthcare environments to patients' health outcomes, despite the lack of clarity in relation to cause‐effect relationships.
Originality/value
The paper proposes a theoretical framework linking different built environment characteristics to health outcomes. This framework provides a structure to group causal effects according to their relation with design features, materials and ambient properties, art and aesthetic aspects and use of the built environment.
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Patricia Tzortzopoulos, Martin Sexton and Rachel Cooper
Different process models have been developed by academia and industry to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the design and construction activity in response to the need…
Abstract
Purpose
Different process models have been developed by academia and industry to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the design and construction activity in response to the need for improving performance. However, the effective and widespread adoption and use of process models have been limited, and the benefits resulting from these endeavours have been ambiguous at best and non‐existent at worst. This paper synthesises the key general and construction‐specific literature related to process model implementation around a generic model, providing a systematic picture on the current knowledge on implementation.
Design/methodology/approach
Secondary data sources were reviewed, criticised and synthesised. The books and academic papers identified focused on the areas of process management in construction and manufacturing, change management and knowledge/technology transfer.
Findings
The paper concludes that the body of literature related to process model implementation lacks an integrated focus and cohesion, and the need to appropriately locate and operate the implementation strategy within a visible organisational context is not adequately addressed.
Research limitations/implications
The paper review and synthesis are limited to relevant literature within the context of implementation of process models.
Practical implications
Gaps in the literature are identified and discussed, and a set of questions proposed to stipulate future research.
Originality/value
The paper originality relates to providing a broad, systemic perspective on the complexity of process models implementation, analysing it from different but interrelated conceptual lenses.
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Aline Patricia Mano, Sergio E. Gouvea da Costa and Edson Pinheiro de Lima
The purpose of this study seeks to identify the critical barriers for the deployment of Lean Construction (LC).
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study seeks to identify the critical barriers for the deployment of Lean Construction (LC).
Design/methodology/approach
In order to identify the barriers of Lean Construction, a systematic review of the scientific literature was carried out, in addition to analysis of the content of papers presented at a major Lean Construction conference. After the barriers were identified, a Lawshe study was conducted with experts in Lean Construction to verify the criticality of each of the barriers encountered.
Findings
This study identified 83 potential pre-deployment barriers in the literature, of which eight were considered critical by the experts. The results of Lawshe study pointed that critical barriers refer to leadership characteristics, cultural aspects and structural aspects.
Research limitations/implications
Variations in the assessment of the criticality of the barriers may occur from one country to another due to regional differences in the construction sector.
Practical implications
The implications of this study are recognizing and identifying the characteristics of an organization that can hinder Lean Construction allows these issues to be resolved before beginning the Lean journey.
Originality/value
This article is the first of its kind to assess the criticality of barriers to Lean Construction using a quantitative technique. Knowledge of this set of barriers provides both practical and theoretical readers with an increased chance of success in the deployment of an LC project.