Preliminary Benefits of Big Data in the Construction Industry: A Case Study

Big data applications consist of i) data collection using big data sources, ii) storing and processing the data, and iii) analysing data to gain insights for creating organisational benefit. The influx of digital technologies and digitization in the construction process includes big data as one newly emerging digital technology adopted in the construction industry. Big data application is in a nascent stage in construction, and there is a need to understand the tangible benefit(s) that big data can offer the construction industry. This study explores the benefits of big data in the construction industry. Using a qualitative case study design, construction professionals in an Australian Construction firm were interviewed. The research highlights that the benefits of big data include reduction of litigation amongst projects stakeholders, enablement of near to real-time communication, and facilitation of effective subcontractor selection. By implication, on a broader scale, these benefits can improve contract management, procurement, and management of construction projects. This study contributes to an ongoing discourse on big data application, and more generally, digitization in the construction industry.

Safety Performance in Industrial Construction: A Case Study

This paper presents a case study of a safety training program developed by an international leading construction firm. The study was prompted by the continuing challenge of work- related accidents in the construction industry. Even with the measurable safety improvements in the last several decades, the construction industry still exhibits high rate of occupational fatal injuries compared to other industries. A linear regression model was developed using Microsoft Excel to determine the level of impact of the number of training hours on the resulting safety performance. The analysis confirmed that the number of training hours had a strong impact on reducing safety incidents. The coefficient of determination (R2) demonstrated that the number of training hours accounted for 81% of the variance in the incidents rate. The study results should assist in quantifying the cost-benefits of implementing safety programs, and in justifying the mandating of a certain number of training hours.

An Empirical Case Study and Approach on TQM in a Stipulated Construction Firm

In comparison to other sectors such as manufacturing and service, the construction sector is perceived to impose a low value on performance. TQM is implemented by very few construction companies in this world, and the top-down technique is widely used. To incorporate TQM in a company, top management must contribute to a “bottom-up” strategy by creating a “Quality Circle.” According to this study, the first and most important criteria for introducing TQM in construction firms is top management involvement, other obstacles that companies must overcome include a lack of education, lack of confidence, lack of common trust, a lack of skilled staff, market competition, weak strategies and requirements, bad behavior, the availability of experienced field managers, and so on. In this approach, one case study is analyzed to show how Total Quality Management (TQM) is efficiently applied by using a “bottom-up” approach and creating a PMO in an Indian construction company. After some study of the Pareto graph, and identifying root causes using Root Cause analysis, experience is applied in the provided studied construction firm to apply TQM. Following that, a method for applying TQM in a building company is suggested.

Improving Concrete Waste Rate Generation of Structure Projects in Leading Construction Firm in Indonesia

The Construction and Demolition (C&D) industry is very close to various waste management issues as the generation of waste is inevitable in every construction. In Indonesia, to make an applicable implementation of C&D Waste Management, the improvement must be made by looking into the actual field process. The improvement uses DMAIC as the lean tools and VSM to state the current process of material from its delivery on the site into a waste. Waste that is being monitored is the most used materials in the case study project which are concrete. A notable project was taken for the study as it will help other structure projects to imitate the down-to-earth future state, aiming at the reduction of waste generation rate and also business process improvement. The result shows that the process of concrete from orders to waste took eight steps, and three of them are improved, producing 3% lesser waste from the current state. The best scenario WGR were analyzed to also answer the stakeholder interest within the case study.

Determining Intervention for Behaviour-Based Safety (BBS) Implementation in Building Construction Project

The construction works value in country has been increased for the last 5 years, so does the workplace accident number that boosts consideration of safety issue in industry, including the listed private construction firm. Its revenue growth in the last 3 years, was offset by decreased total number of workplace accidents in contrary to the increased workplace’s major accidents number. About 75% of company’s workplace accident involved subcontractors, over 60% of its root causes were dealing with Unsafe Behavior, and 68% of workplace accidents in 2019 caused by Unsafe Action. It triggers a strong impetus to initiate Behavior Based Safety implementation, by the DO-IT (Define-Observe-Intervene-Test) approach using in-depth interview, structured self-assessment questionnaires and statistical tests. The findings deal with Safety Key Behavior (SKB) criteria in 17 areas of entire construction works through formulating at-risk behavior that leads to unsafe action by the workers, grouped into 3 circles of processes, i.e., execution, supervision and planning/ management. This study contributes to address mutual obligation between company and subcontractors in prioritizing safety behavior improvement to help the policy makers enhancing safety performance in the industry.

Failure factors–a comparative study of private and government construction firms

PurposeThe purpose of the present study is to examine the failure factors for the construction firms in a developing nation. Furthermore, the comparison of failure factors for private and government firms are evaluated.Design/methodology/approachIn the present study, comparison between private and government construction firms is done in the context of a construction firm failure. About 60 construction firms were selected in and around the Nashik region for the investigation, where a simple multi-attribute rating technique (SMART) is used for analysis purpose.FindingsIt is found that for private firms (private contractors and builders) lack of experience is the major factor for failure of the business as against lack of managerial experience is a critical factor in case of a government contractor.Practical implicationsThe outcome of the present study will be used to guide the policymakers during the implementation of governmental and private projects in order to lessen the construction project failures.Originality/valueConstruction company failure is an important aspect in developing countries like India. The limited studies were available in literature which shows failure factors for government and private firms and distinguished them. Hence, the present study extends the construction company failure literature by focusing on government and private firms. Also, the study provides some theoretical guidelines for management to avoid construction company failure in India.

The Ways of Corruption in Infrastructure: Lessons from the Odebrecht Case

In 2016, the Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht was fined $2.6 billion by the US Department of Justice. It was the largest corruption case ever prosecuted under the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Our examination of judicial documents and media reports on this case provides new insights on the workings of corruption in the infrastructure sector. Odebrecht paid bribes for two reasons: to tailor the terms of the auction in its favor, as well as to obtain favorable terms in contract renegotiations. In projects where Odebrecht paid bribes, costs increased by 70.8 percent on average, compared with 5.6 percent for projects with no bribes. We also find that bribes and profits made from bribing were smaller than documented in most previous studies, in the range of one to two percent of the cost of a project.

Digitalization as a Strategic Means of Achieving Sustainable Efficiencies in Construction Management: A Critical Review

Construction is a complex activity, characterized by high levels of capital investment, relatively long delivery durations, multitudinous risks and uncertainties, as well as requiring the integration of multiple skills delivering a huge volume of tasks and processes. All of these must be coordinated carefully if time, cost, and quality constraints are to be met. At the same time, construction is renowned for performing poorly regarding sustainability metrics. Construction activity generates high volumes of waste, requires vast amounts of resources and materials, while consuming a significant proportion of total energy generated. Digitalization of the construction workplace and construction activities has the potential of improving construction performance both in terms of business results as well as sustainability outcomes. This is because, to put it simply, reduced energy usage, for example, impacts economic and “green” performance, simultaneously. Firms tinkering with digitalization, however, do not always achieve the hoped-for outcomes. The challenge faced is that a digital transition of construction firms must be carried out at a strategic level—requiring a comprehensive change management protocol. What then does a digital strategy entail? This study puts forward an argument for the combined economic and sustainability dividends to be had from digitizing construction firm activities. It outlines the requirements for achieving digitalization. The elements of a comprehensive digitalization strategy are cataloged, while the various approaches to developing a digitalization strategy are discussed. This study offers practitioners a useful framework by which to consider their own firm-level efforts at digitalization transition.

Web-based material requisition system in the supply chain of construction businesses

In the construction project delivery process, the supply chain of construction businesses can only be efficient and effective based on the prompt availability of building materials. Whereas, the process of requisition for the materials on the construction site, if not handled appropriately, can adversely affect construction performance. Therefore, the study was aimed at developing a web-based material requisition system (W-BMRS) that will make the supply chain on construction sites seamless and more effective. A use case and an activity block diagram provided an understanding of the users and functionalities of the material requisition platform. In addition, using a different user interface and a database system including a programming language to connect them, the study developed a web-based material requisition system for construction firms using the model view controller (MVC) model. The MVC model comprised of using MySQL, HTML, and PHP. The W-BMRS was tested by sending materials requisition through the supply chain of a construction firm. The results were presented via screenshots of the web-based platform. In conclusion, any construction firm can register on the platform and make use of the web-based materials requisition system to maximize productivity and optimize the use of ICT in their materials’ supply chain process.