scholarly journals Productivity Metrics and Its Implementations in Construction Projects: A Case Study of Singapore

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (21) ◽  
pp. 12132
Author(s):  
Ming Shan ◽  
Yu-Shan Li ◽  
Bon-Gang Hwang ◽  
Jia-En Chua
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Statistical Tests ◽  
Construction Productivity ◽  
Construction Companies ◽  
Four Levels ◽  
Project Company ◽  
Different Levels ◽  
Design Score ◽  
Assessment Results

Although some studies have used or developed different types of metrics to assess construction productivity in the existing literature, few of them investigated those metrics systematically and the differences between assessment results. This study examined the various types of metrics used in the assessment of the productivity of construction projects. First, a literature review was conducted first to identify prevailing productivity metrics at four levels, namely trade, project, company, and industry. Then, the questionnaire was developed and disseminated to 53 Singapore-based construction companies for data collection. Subsequently, non-parametric statistical tests were conducted to analyze the data collected by the questionnaire. Results showed that the top five metrics in terms of usage frequency and relative importance were “constructability score”, “buildable design score”, “square meter of built-up floor area per man-day”, “square meter per dollar”, and “output per worker.” In addition, results showed that differences existed in the assessment results when productivity metrics at different levels were used to conduct the same measurement. This is the first study to explore the most widely used metrics in productivity assessments of construction projects and investigate possible differences in assessment results. This study could help the authorities to review, evaluate, and modify the productivity metrics used in practice. Thus, this study is beneficial to the practice as well.

scholarly journals Application of BIM and 3D Laser Scanning for Quantity Management in Construction Projects

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Thu Anh Nguyen ◽  
Phong Thanh Nguyen ◽  
Sy Tien Do
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Essential Role ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Management Process ◽  
3D Laser Scanning ◽  
Economic Sectors ◽  
Construction Companies

The construction industry has played an essential role in the process of modernization and industrialization and it has also been a major factor in determining the development of the infrastructure for other economic sectors. Construction companies consider the measurement of work progress, which often wastes time and has a low resolution, to be one of the most challenging problems faced by project management. Therefore, this research aimed to propose practical solutions by applying recent technological achievements of the 4.0 industrial revolution to improve the efficiency of the quantity management process. By utilizing the advantages and features of a BIM model and 3D laser scanning, this paper proposes that adopting a BIM model and 3D laser scanning has the potential to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the quantity management process. The case study demonstrated some typical tasks to evaluate accuracy and efficiency as well as to showcase the research proposal.

scholarly journals CASH FLOW FORECASTING WITH RISK CONSIDERATION USING BAYESIAN BELIEF NETWORKS (BBNS)

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (8) ◽  
pp. 1045-1059 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mostafa KHANZADI ◽  
Ehsan ESHTEHARDIAN ◽  
Mahdiyar MOKHLESPOUR ESFAHANI
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cash Flow ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Bayesian Belief Networks ◽  
Influence Diagrams ◽  
Belief Networks ◽  
Cash Flow Management ◽  
Construction Companies ◽  
Cash Flow Forecasting

Cash-flow management is very important for contractors given that inadequate cash resources typically are the main causes for bankruptcy of construction companies. In comparison to most other industries, the construction industry is severely plagued by risk, and the success of construction projects usually depends on valuating all risks. However, conventional methods suggested by extant research on cash flow forecasting do not consider comprehensive identifica­tion of risk factors, interactions between the factors, and simultaneous occurrences of the factors. This study introduced a simple and appropriate probabilistic cash flow forecasting model using Bayesian Belief Networks (BBNs) to avoid bankruptcy of contractors by considering influence diagrams and risk factors that affect a project. Workability and reli­ability of the proposed approach was tested on an important building construction project in Iran as a real case study, and the results indicated that the model performed well.

scholarly journals Construction delays: a case study in the Brazilian Amazon

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 167-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luiz Mauricio Furtado Maués ◽  
Wylliam Bessa Santana ◽  
Paulo Cerqueira dos Santos ◽  
Renato Martins das Neves ◽  
André Augusto Azevedo Montenegro Duarte
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
City Planning ◽  
Brazilian Amazon ◽  
Construction Time ◽  
Construction Companies ◽  
Industrial Sectors ◽  
Planning Department ◽  
The Government

Abstract he construction industry is one of the industrial sectors with the lowest rates of fulfilment of contract deadlines, especially in developing countries. This fact has been the focus of considerable discussions seeking to identify the causes of the delays. The main purpose of this paper is to use factor analysis to identify the factors that are correlated with delay, contemplating exclusively residential real estate projects and using a city in the Brazilian Amazon as a case study. Based on the database from the government agency that authorises constructions in the city of Belém (City Planning Department - Secretaria Municipal de Urbanismo, SEURB) and data from construction companies, the study investigated 274 construction projects from the past 11 years. Factor analysis and work with the variables that can be identified and measured in the initial phase of the project, i.e., during the feasibility study, demonstrate that the physical characteristics of the apartments and the construction project are the primary causes for variations in construction delays; these causes have not yet been reported in the literature. We hope that the results of this study will contribute to more consistent forecasting of construction time, minimising the risk of delays.

TEACHING HOW TO USE A REPETITIVE SCHEDULING METHOD WHEN PLANNING A GREEN CONDOMINIUM BUILDING

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 203-217
Author(s):  
Wannawit Taemthong ◽  
Nattasit Chaissard
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Critical Path ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Construction Planning ◽  
Construction Engineering ◽  
Construction Productivity ◽  
Scheduling Method ◽  
The Right ◽  
Apartment Complexes

This paper aims to present a methodology for use in construction planning named the Repetitive Scheduling Method (RSM). Students on a graduate level construction management program can learn how to create a RSM schedule to be applied to a real project. Typically, the Critical Path Method (CPM) is used to plan general construction projects. This paper presents a case study wherein a CPM diagram is transformed into a RSM schedule for use in the construction of a green condominium. RSM is the most suitable tool for planning repetitive projects like condominium buildings, apartment complexes, or real estate development projects. It utilizes an uninterrupted flow of resource concept in order to eliminate manpower-related resource wastage. As a result, construction productivity can be improved by using the right construction planning tool on the right project. Interested graduate students researching construction engineering can apply RSM on their repetitive projects in the future.

scholarly journals Climate and construction delays: case study in Chile

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 596-621 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo Ballesteros-Pérez ◽  
Maria Luisa del Campo-Hitschfeld ◽  
Manuel Alejandro González-Naranjo ◽  
Mari Carmen González-Cruz
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Climatic Data ◽  
Weather Variables ◽  
Cost Overruns ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Construction Productivity ◽  
Outdoor Work ◽  
Standard Construction ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – Construction projects usually suffer delays, and the causes of these delays and its cost overruns have been widely discussed, the weather being one of the most recurrent. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the influence of climate on standard construction work activities through a case study. Design/methodology/approach – By studying the extent at which some weather variables impede outdoor work from being effectively executed, new maps and tables for planning for delays are presented. In addition, a real case regarding the construction of several bridges in southern Chile is analyzed. Findings – Few studies have thoroughly addressed the influences of major climatic agents on the most common outdoor construction activities. The method detailed here provides a first approximation for construction planners to assess to what extent construction productivity will be influenced by the climate. Research limitations/implications – Although this study was performed in Chile, the simplified method proposed is entirely transferable to any other country, however, other weather or combinations of weather variables could be needed in other environments or countries. Practical implications – The implications will help reducing the negative social, economic and environmental outcomes that usually emerge from project delays. Originality/value – Climatic data were processed using extremely simple calculations to create a series of quantitative maps and tables that would be useful for any construction planner to decide the best moment of the year to start a project and, if possible, where to build it.

scholarly journals A Building Project-Based Industrialized Construction Maturity Model Involving Organizational Enablers: A Multi-Case Study in China

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 4029 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guangbin Wang ◽  
Huan Liu ◽  
Heng Li ◽  
Xiaochun Luo ◽  
Jiaxi Liu
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Indicator System ◽  
Systematic Evaluation ◽  
Maturity Model ◽  
Expert Interviews ◽  
Analytic Hierarchy ◽  
Project Governance ◽  
Four Levels ◽  
And Performance

Industrialized construction (IC) as a promising construction mode has been increasingly adopted in China due to its advantages of enhancing productivity and reducing the labor intensiveness in the construction industry. An objective and systematic evaluation of the IC mode is essential by clarifying the current weak areas in application and improving project performance. The meager existing studies have considered evaluating the IC maturity of prefabricated construction projects from the perspective of project governance. This study proposed an industrialized construction maturity model (ICMM) involving organizational enablers by employing the framework of the well-established European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) excellence model. The evaluation indicator system consisting of two parts (i.e., “enablers” and “results”) were abstracted by a literature review and expert interviews. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) approach was used to weight the indicators. The maturity of IC projects was rated as four levels (i.e., initial, upgraded, integrated, and optimal levels). The proposed ICMM was validated by conducting a multi-case study, four typical building projects that adopted prefabricated construction techniques in Shanghai were selected and evaluated by the proposed ICMM. Results showed that the ICMM can objectively and comprehensively realize the status quo of IC projects and help managers to identify weak areas of the current IC projects and performance improvement paths from the perspective of project governance. The ICMM was also evaluated to demonstrate its applicability and reliability through expert interviews.

scholarly journals USE OF BIM WITH PHOTOGRAMMETRY SUPPORT IN SMALL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. CASE STUDY FOR COMMERCIAL FRANCHISES

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 513-523
Author(s):  
Antonio J. Loredo Conde ◽  
Justo García-Sanz-Calcedo ◽  
Antonio M. Reyes Rodríguez
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Productivity Improvement ◽  
Total Period ◽  
Construction Companies ◽  
Execution Phase ◽  
Cosmetic Industry ◽  
Building Information ◽  
Building Engineering ◽  
Alternative Solutions

Building Information Modelling for small constructions is a useful working tool aimed at providing alternative solutions in building engineering. However, it is not commonly applied to this purpose, and even less together with photogrammetry techniques. This work seeks to analyse the advantages of this methodology with photogrammetry support in small projects. To this end, 121 commercial franchise projects in the field of perfume and cosmetic industry were studied in order to assess the benefits of BIM methodology. These projects were developed between 2011 and 2016. BIM protocols were shown to achieve 20% reduction in costs per project and in working periods (4.11 days), which led to a productivity improvement exceeding 27%. The total period until opening to public was observed to decrease in 10.09 days, and the number of inquiries and doubts during the project execution phase handled by the construction companies were seen to reduce by 25%. Moreover, the return of investment (ROI) corresponding to the implementation of BIM protocols was found to be more favourable than that of CAD (41.88%), with associated internal rate of return (IRR) of 34.5%. The validity of the results is limited to the scope of works for small commercial premises.

Empirical investigation of the applicability of constructability methods to prevent design errors

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel Raviv ◽  
Aviad Shapira ◽  
Rafael Sacks
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Comparative Case Study ◽  
Design Quality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Construction Companies ◽  
Failure Data ◽  
Causal Connections ◽  
Specific Project ◽  
General Tool

PurposeThe paper aims to identify the effective constructability methods and tools that should be applied during the early project design stages to prevent specific constructability failures regarding project context.Design/methodology/approachSeventeen basic constructability problems were defined, 12 constructability implementation methods for investigation were selected, and a general tool representing potential causal connections between the problems and the methods that could prevent them was developed. A comparative case study was conducted through a rigorous investigation of the construction documentation of four major building construction projects. Nearly four hundred constructability problems were identified. The tool developed was used to draw conclusions about the preferred constructability methods, in general, and with respect to specific project contexts.FindingsThe managerial approach offers the best methods for preventing constructability problems. The major methods that emerged were (1) assigning a constructability champion, (2) facilitating the involvement of the general contractor early in the design process, and (3) augmenting design quality control. At the other end of the scale, methods such as company procedures and owner involvement were found to be the least effective.Originality/valueThe paper offers the ability to relate constructability problems to preventive mechanisms and to identify the appropriate steps to be taken to resolve these problems. The mechanism described here can be used by construction companies that keep failure data within accounting files to check projects in retrospect and draw lessons from them to be implemented in future projects.

scholarly journals MANAGEMENT OF TIME AND COST CONTINGENCIES IN CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS: A CONTRACTOR PERSPECTIVE

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 254-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
José I. Ortiz ◽  
Eugenio Pellicer ◽  
Keith R. Molenaar
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Actual Behavior ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Construction Companies ◽  
Use Of Time ◽  
Negative Contingency ◽  
General Contractors ◽  
Project Objectives

The management of threats and opportunities plays a key-role in enhancing project performance. However, there is a gap in literature concerning how general contractors manage threats and opportunities in construction projects, in particular in the use of time and cost contingencies. This research partially addresses this gap through a case study of two large Spanish construction companies. The research presented two key factors determining how the contractors analyzed manage time and cost contingencies: project objectives and existing mistrust among the contractor’s team members. The research also found that managers use time and cost contingencies not only to manage threats, but also as tools for managing opportunities, thereby providing insight into a previously undescribed form of contingency: the negative contingency. The research results enable a better understanding of the actual behavior of general contractors, which contributes to paving the way for developing enhanced methods for contingencies management.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document