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PurposeThe architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry encounter substantial risks and challenges in its evolution towards sustainable development. International businesses, multinational AEC organisations, technical professionals, project and portfolio management organisations face global connectivity challenges between business units, especially during the outbreak of novel coronavirus pandemic, to manage construction megaprojects (CMPs). That raises the need to manage global connectivity as a main strategic goal of global organisations. This paper aims to investigate barriers to integrating lean construction (LC) practices and integrated project delivery (IPD) on CMPs towards the global integrated delivery (GID) transformative initiatives and develop future of work (FOW) global initiatives in contemporary multinational AEC organisations.Design/methodology/approachA two-stage quantitative and qualitative research approach is adopted. The qualitative research methodology consists of a literature review to appraise barriers to integrating LeanIPD&GID on CMPs. Barriers are arranged into six-factor clusters (FCs), with a conceptualisation of LeanIPD&GID, GID strategy placements and FOW global initiatives with multiple validations. This analysis also involved semi-structured interviews and focus group techniques. Stage two consisted of an empirical questionnaire survey that shaped the foundation of analysis and findings of 230 respondents from 23 countries with extensive cosmopolitan experience in the construction of megaprojects. The survey examined a set of 28 barriers to integrating LeanIPD&GID on CMPs resulting from a detailed analysis of extant literature after validation. Descriptive and inferential statistical tests were exploited for data analysis, percentage scoring analysis, principal component analysis (PCA) and eigenvalues were used to elaborate on clustered factors.FindingsThe research conceptualised LeanIPD&GID principles and proposed GID strategy placements for LeanIPD&GID transformative initiatives and FOW global initiatives. It concluded that the most significant barriers to integration of LeanIPD&GID on CMPs are "lack of mandatory building information modelling (BIM) and LC industry standards and regulations by governments”, "lack of involvement and support of governments”, "high costs of BIM software licenses”, "resistance of industry to change from traditional working practices” and "high initial investment in staff training costs of BIM”. PCA revealed the most significant FCs are "education and knowledge-related barriers”, "project objectives-related barriers” and "attitude-related barriers”. Awareness of BIM in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is higher than LC and LC awareness is higher than IPD knowledge. Whilst BIM adoption in the MENA region is higher than LC;the second is still taking its first steps, whilst IPD has little implementation. LeanBIM is slightly integrated, whilst LeanIPD integration is almost not present.Originality/valueThe research findings, conclusion and recommendation and proposed GID strategy placements for LeanIPD&GID transformative initiatives to integrating LeanIPD&GID on CMPs. This will allow project key stakeholders to place emphasis on tackling LeanIPD&GID barriers identified in this research and commence GID strategies. The study has provided effective practical strategies for enhancing the integration of LeanIPD&GID transformative initiatives on CMPs.
ABSTRACT
Brazil's construction sector is of great importance to the recovery of the GDP, negatively impacted due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This study presents two innovations that help transform this picture. One linked to the style of construction and architecture, the "open concept", and the other, a management philosophy that has conquered space in several organizations in the construction industry, Lean Construction. The objective of this work is to present and analyze a stage of a residential remodeling, managed through Lean Construction, using tools to support decision making and consequently process optimization. The methodology used consists of a case study, dealing with the analysis and decisions of a critical stage of the remodeling planning of the property, involving the demolition of three pillars, to make the open concept feasible. The change of scenery during the project encouraged the development of new actions that would allow the achievement of the objectives without jeopardizing the remodeling schedule, bringing security to the clients. The positive results achieved corroborate the importance of applying Lean Construction, its principles and tools for contributions in the planning and development of projects in the civil construction sector.
ABSTRACT
PurposeBuilt environment encounters substantial risks and challenges in its evolution towards sustainable development. International businesses and multinational engineering organisations face global connectivity challenges between business units, especially during the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), which has profoundly disrupted the construction industry throughout the world. That raises the need to manage global connectivity as a main strategic goal of multinational architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) organisations. This study aims to develop a strategic framework managing challenges of integrating lean construction (LC) and integrated project delivery (IPD) on construction megaprojects (CMPs) towards global integrated delivery (GID) transformative initiatives in multinational AEC organisations.Design/methodology/approach"Mixed research methods” involving a two-stage quantitative and qualitative research approach is adopted. The qualitative research methodology consists of a literature review to assess challenges to integrate LeanIPD&GID on CMPs. There is an assessment of conceptualisation of LeanIPD&GID and GID strategy placements, development of LeanIPD&GID integration framework and future of work (FOW) global initiatives with multiple validations. The analysis involved semi-structured interviews and focus group techniques. Stage 2 consisted of an empirical questionnaire survey that shaped the foundation of analysis and findings of 190 respondents from 23 countries with an extensive cosmopolitan experience of megaprojects in construction. The survey examined a set of 20 challenges to integrate LeanIPD&GID on CMPs resulting from a detailed analysis of extant literature after validation. Descriptive and inferential statistical tests were exploited for data analysis and percentage score analysis.FindingsThe research conceptualised LeanIPD&GID principles, proposed GID strategy placements, a framework for managing challenges of LeanIPD&GID transformative initiatives, FOW global initiatives and key performance indicators (KPIs). It concluded that the most significant challenges to integrate of LeanIPD&GID on CMPs are "lack of governmental incentives, policies, regulations or legal frameworks”, "lack of client's awareness and IPD experience amongst key stakeholders”, "lack of organisation's senior-management and client's commitment to IPD approaches”, "resistance of industry to change from traditional procurement to IPD” and "lack of integrated synergies between LC, IPD working towards LeanIPD&GID”. Awareness of building information modelling (BIM) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is higher than LC, and LC awareness is higher than IPD knowledge. While BIM adoption in the MENA region is higher than LC, LC is still taking its first steps, and IPD has little implementation. LeanBIM is slightly integrated, while LeanIPD integration is almost not present.Originality/valueThe research findings, conclusions and recommendations provide a proposed framework for implementation, KPIs and GID strategy placements for LeanIPD&GID transformative initiatives to integrate LeanIPD&GID on CMPs and FOW global initiatives. This will allow project key stakeholders to place emphasis on managing LeanIPD&GID challenges identified in this research and commence GID strategies. The study has provided effective practical strategies for enhancing integration of LeanIPD&GID transformative initiatives on CMPs.
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O setor da construção civil do Brasil é de grande importância para a recuperação do PIB, impactado negativamente em função da pandemia da Covid-19. Este estudo apresenta duas inovações que ajudam a transformar esse quadro. Uma ligada ao estilo de construção e arquitetura, o "conceito aberto” e a outra, uma filosofia de gestão que conquistou espaço em diversas organizações do setor da construção civil, o Lean Construction. O objetivo do trabalho é apresentar e analisar uma etapa de uma reforma residencial, gerenciada através do Lean Construction, utilizando ferramentas para apoio na orientação da tomada de decisões e consequentemente a otimização de processos. A metodologia utilizada consiste em um estudo de caso, tratando das análises e decisões de etapa crítica do planejamento de reforma do imóvel, envolvendo a demolição de três pilares, para viabilizar o conceito aberto. A mudança de cenário durante o projeto incentivou o desenvolvimento de novas ações que permitissem o alcance dos objetivos sem prejudicar o cronograma da reforma, trazendo segurança aos clientes. Os resultados positivos alcançados corroboram a importância da aplicação do Lean Construction, seus princípios e ferramentas para contribuições no planejamento e desenvolvimento de projetos no setor da construção civil.Alternate :Brazil's construction sector is of great importance to the recovery of the GDP, negatively impacted due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This study presents two innovations that help transform this picture. One linked to the style of construction and architecture, the "open concept", and the other, a management philosophy that has conquered space in several organizations in the construction industry, Lean Construction. The objective of this work is to present and analyze a stage of a residential remodeling, managed through Lean Construction, using tools to support decision making and consequently process optimization. The methodology used consists of a case study, dealing with the analysis and decisions of a critical stage of the remodeling planning of the property, involving the demolition of three pillars, to make the open concept feasible. The change of scenery during the project encouraged the development of new actions that would allow the achievement of the objectives without jeopardizing the remodeling schedule, bringing security to the clients. The positive results achieved corroborate the importance of applying Lean Construction, its principles and tools for contributions in the planning and development of projects in the civil construction sector.
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PurposeDespite the benefits provided by the implementation of the lean philosophy, the most recent research discusses whether the high degrees of efficiency obtained with the implementation this philosophy could contribute positively or negatively in current pandemic scenario. This study aims to analyze how resilient construction industry companies in Brazil were in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, comparing the performance of construction companies with different implementation levels of lean construction. Design/methodology/approachThree case studies were carried out in construction companies in Brazil with different application levels of the lean philosophy. FindingsAmong the results obtained, greater resilience to face COVID-19 was verified in those with a higher implementation level of the lean philosophy. Additionally, it was found that the larger the size of the companies surveyed, the greater the level of implementation of the lean philosophy. Research limitations/implicationsDue to the state of pandemic, and the work carried out in the home office, contact with companies was restricted. In addition, few companies actually adopt the lean philosophy in the construction sector in Brazil. Most of companies use only a few lean construction tools in specific sectors. For the few others who actually implement the philosophy, the acceptance to participate in the research was low. Originality/valueThe lean construction is something very new and innovative for the construction sector in Brazil, and there is little evidence of its use. Few companies adopt the philosophy in the country, and many of them also did not experience such an impactful moment in their entire existence. Thus, the analysis of the relationship between lean construction and resilience in the civil construction sector in Brazil is something innovative.
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Purpose: The construction industry is facing challenges not only for workers' mobility in the pandemic situation but also for Lean Construction (LC) practise in responding to the high-quality development during the post-pandemic. As such, this paper presents a construction workforce management framework based on LC to manage both the emergency goal in migrant worker management and the long-term goal in labour productivity improvement in China. Design/methodology/approach: The framework is created based on the integrated culture and technology strategies of LC. A combination of qualitative and quantitative methods is taken to explore factors influencing the mobility of construction workers and to measure labour productivity improvement. The case study approach is adopted to demonstrate the framework application. Findings: For method application, a time-and-motion study and Percent Plan Complete indicator are proposed to offer labour productivity measurements of “resources efficiency” and “flow efficiency”. Moreover, the case study provides an industry level solution for construction workforce management and Lean Construction culture shaping, as well as witnesses the LC culture and technology strategies alignment contributing to LC practise innovation. Originality/value: Compared with previous studies which emphasised solely LC techniques rather than socio-technical system thinking, the proposed integration framework as well as implementation of “Worker's Home” and “Lean Work Package” management models in the COVID-19 pandemic contribute to new extensions of both the fundamental of knowledge and practise in LC. © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited.
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At the beginning of 2020, a virus discovered in the province of Wuhan in China identified as SARS- COV-2, denominated COVID-19, began to spread globally, being identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a pandemic on March 13 since the epidemic has spread to several countries in all the continents and affects a large number of people (WHO 2020). In Peru the entry of COVID-19 caused the Peruvian government to take different options to control its spread such as mandatory quarantines and lockdowns. In front of this scenario, the Architecture Engineering and Construction (AEC) sector had to reinvent itself since it is a sector where work depends on a significant amount of personnel (IPE 2020). Furthermore, the level of industrialization in Peru is significantly lower compared with industrialized countries, generating that the consumption of labor is greater as well as the cost of the project, searching for new solutions to improve productivity. Moreover, considering the new sanitary measures for COVID-19 including new health protocols, controls, and improvement of working sanitary standards. Therefore, the main purpose of the present paper is to present a planning proposal for a system that integrates the Lean tools and the COVID-19 protocol for armed concrete buildings in Peru and present the preliminary results of its modification on the production system, design of work schedules, planning meetings, among other aspects of the construction system. © Prof. Luis F. Alarcón and Assoc. Prof. Vicente González, IGL2021 All rights reserved.
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On January 30 of 2020, The World Health Organization declared the pandemic crisis as the first public emergency with international importance. Because of this, many building projects were paralyzed since then and the building industry experienced changes that have brought the inclusion of new tools to achieve the objectives of the projects. The purpose of the present paper is to present the application of Choosing By Advantages (CBA) methodology to select the best alternative in the material removal system in the execution of basements in a project that was paralyzed by the health emergency COVID-19. CBA is a lean tool used to make decisions with clarity and transparency and in this case is used to consider the constraints of COVID-19 protocol to guide in decisions making. This methodology was applied to a case study for a building project in the basement construction phase that restarts its activities in the excavations. For that, an expert panel was formed to analyze and decide the best alternative solution. Finally, the selected alternative was implemented on-site, validating the methodology. It is concluded that CBA is an excellent tool to transparently document the selection process of the removal system. Additionally, this methodology allows including activities regarding the COVID-19 protocol, without affecting the project's productivity. © Prof. Luis F. Alarcón and Assoc. Prof. Vicente González, IGL2021 All rights reserved.
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The Work described in this paper presents the results of a lean construction research project. The objective was to evaluate the impact of Visual Management-based tools to improve Last Planner® System implementation in Luxembourg. To drive this project, a Design Science Research methodology has been used on two construction sites. The first step of the research focuses on the use of physical supports to design visual management-based tools to implement LPS conversations. The results show a very positive impact as it tackles LPS implementation challenges (collaboration between trades, skills acquisition, change management) but also show that the workload to manage LPS conversation is a serious problem. The second step of the research tackles this workload issue by digitizing the Visual Management-based tools designed in the first iteration. The results show a huge improvement for users allowing more efficient meetings, better access to data, improved use of LPS outputs to communicate between the client and the project management team and even more flexibility to respect COVID 19 sanitary rules. The paper concludes with the limit of the digital solution which was used in this project. As it is not specially dedicated to LPS it lacks the possibility to calculate and simulate planning and production data. © Prof. Luis F. Alarcón and Assoc. Prof. Vicente González, IGL2021 All rights reserved.
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Lean simulations provide a critical “aha moment” that helps with the understanding and buy-in of key lean principles. The purpose of this article is to share the process of development and implementation of an ongoing international on-line Lean-IPD simulation experimentation community called Administering and Playing Lean Simulations Online (APLSO). The group emerged following the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic to include academics from 38 universities (70%) and consultant practitioners (30%). This paper documents the inception and growth of this community so that lessons learned can be shared with the international lean construction community. Serious games and simulations were transitioned to an online format, relying heavily on commonly available software such as Zoom™ and Google Slides™. The most frequently developed simulations tended to be those most typically played by academics and consultants prior to the pandemic. The authors classified games presented, as well as identified physical simulations still needing to be converted to an online format. © Prof. Luis F. Alarcón and Assoc. Prof. Vicente González, IGL2021 All rights reserved.
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Covid-19 pandemic has originated that a great number of countries’ governments demand universities to teach online classes, presenting a challenge to redesign the courses that had construction site visits included in the curricula. The purpose of this work is to present the successful strategies employed on the teaching of building construction, applied in a third-year civil engineering program of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. The methodology was designed so that one can adapt the pandemic and post-pandemic stages proposing a balanced use of virtual platforms and software for video conferences and laboratories, incorporating tools like Building Information Modeling, Lean construction, among other systems. Given the sanitary emergency, the construction site visits were replaced by virtual visits to construction projects generated with scanner laser technology, photogrammetry, and BIM, generating digital twins that were stored in online platforms. Students toured the construction project virtually and in an interactive manner, and along with the description of the professionals in charge of the project they were able to reach a good level of comprehension of the organization and the construction processes. In addition, students developed the layout plans of the temporary works with BIM models. On the other hand, the course taught to generate and analyze the unit prices and quantity surveying of activities using the BIM methodology with 5D software, developing the project budget. The success of this methodology is shown through the notable quality of papers and evaluations taken, through the results of surveys taken on students--which had an effectiveness rate of 96.4 % --, and on the improvement opportunities determined. This paper presents tools relevant that may be adapted by the academia and practitioners related to building constructions, for virtual or face-to-face learning.