Modern Construction - Lean Project Delivery and Integrated Practices

During the past several decades, the manufacturing and service industries significantly increased their levels of productivity, quality, and profitability through the application of process improvement techniques and information technology. Unfortunately, the construction industry lags far behind in the application of performance improvement and optimization techniques, as well as its overall competitiveness. Written by Lincoln H. Forbes and Syed M. Ahmed, both highly regarded for leadership and innovation, Modern Construction: Lean Project Delivery and Integrated Practices offers cutting-edge lean tools and other productive strategies for the management of people and processes in the construction industry. Drs. Forbes and Ahmed focus mainly on lean construction methodologies, such as The Last Planner(R) System, The Lean Project Delivery System (TM), and Integrated Project Delivery(TM). The tools and strategies offered draw on the success of the world-renowned Toyota Production System (TPS) adapted to the construction environment by construction professionals and researchers involved in developing and advocating lean construction methods. The book also discusses why true lean construction can best occur when all the construction stakeholders, owners, designers, constructors, and material suppliers are committed to the concept of optimizing the flow of activities holistically while de-emphasizing their self-interest. The authors also reintroduce process improvement approaches such as TQM and Six Sigma as a foundation for the adoption of lean methodologies, and demonstrate how these methods can improve projects in a so-called traditional environment. The book integrates these methods with emerging interest in "green construction" and the use of information technology and Building Information Modeling (BIM), while recognizing the human element in relation to motivation, safety, and environmental stresses. Written specifically for professionals in an industry that desperately needs to play catch up, the book delineates cutting-edge approaches with the benefit of successful cases and explains how their deployment can improve construction performance and competitiveness.Table of ContentOverview of the Construction IndustryBackground on Industry PerformanceReasons for Low ProductivityThe Need for New Approaches to ConstructionCauses of Poor Construction Industry PerformanceCategories of ConstructionWho are the Parties Involved in Construction?Project Delivery MethodsForms of ContractAdvantages and Disadvantages of Different Forms of ContractStrategies for Improving Construction PerformanceQuestions for DiscussionReferencesProductivity and Performance Measurement in ConstructionDefinition of ProductivityThe Importance of ProductivityProductivity Trends in the United StatesLean Construction: Impact on ProductivityThe Potential for Productivity ImprovementFactors Affecting Construction ProductivityProductivity RatiosConstruction Progress MeasurementLabor ProductivityProductivity Estimation Based on WorthTransitioning from Productivity Measurement to PerformanceImprovement and Lean ConstructionGuidance from the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality AwardQuestions for DiscussionReferencesWeb SitesFoundations of Lean ConstructionDefining Lean ConstructionLean TheoryThe Toyota Experience: Building on Ford’s PrinciplesAccomplishing a Lean StateOrigins of Lean ConstructionLean Design and ConstructionDeficiencies in Traditional Construction MethodsPhilosophical Differences Between Lean Construction and Traditional ConstructionBarriers to Applying Manufacturing Methods to ConstructionCharacteristics of Lean ConstructionA Systems Perspective of LeanLean Construction FundamentalsQuestions for DiscussionReferencesAppendix: ConsensusDocsConsensusDocs Endorsing OrganizationsLean Process ManagementOperation of the Lean Project Delivery SystemStructure of the Lean Project Delivery SystemProject DefinitionLean Design ManagementDesigning for Lean OperationsThe Last Planner SystemCreating a Support System for Managing the Lean ProcessThe Master ScheduleThe Activity Definition ModelVisual ManagementQuestions for DiscussionReferencesLean Process Measurement and Lean Tools/TechniquesMeasuring Lean Construction PerformanceObservations on Commitment ReliabilityLearning: Reasons Analysis and ActionComments on the RNCLean Performance MeasuresLean Tools and TechniquesValue Stream Mapping at Tweet-Garot IncThe Future State MapKaizen MethodologyThe Five-Step Plan (5S)The A3 ReportKanban and Lean ConstructionSupply Chain Management and Lean ConstructionQuestions for DiscussionReferencesLean Construction ApplicationsPrerequisites for Lean Design and ConstructionOrganizing Lean ConstructionTraining the Work ForceLean CoachingThe Case of Ready MechanicalDebrief of Ready Mechanical CaseNational BuilderExamples of Lean Project Delivery ApplicationCase 1: A Specialty Contractor’s Lean Journey and Successes: Tweet/Garot’s Lean JourneyCase 2: Belair’s Lean Experience and Lean Construction SuccessesCase 3: The Grunau Company Inc.’s Lean JourneyCase 4: YAJ Window CorporationQuestions for DiscussionReferencesLean-Based Project Delivery MethodsDisadvantages of Traditional Contracting ContractsOverview of Relational ContractingCharacteristics of Relational ContractingRelationship Building Among Team MembersThe Integrated Project Delivery MethodHighlights of the Contractual Agreements: Case ALean Project Delivery (LPD) with an Integrated AgreementApplication to the Sutter ProjectLean Production ManagementRoles and ResponsibilitiesBrief Overview of the Whiting ProjectExperiences and Lessons LearnedSummary of LPM RequirementsQuestions for DiscussionReferencesInformation and Communication Technology/Building Information ModelingIntroductionWhat is Ict?Impact of Ict on the Construction IndustryICT Tools For Design ProcessesBuilding Information ModelingThe Benefits of BIM at Each Construction Project PhaseBIM Benefits in the Design PhaseCase 1: Using BIM with Hilton AquariumCase Study 2: Savannah State Academic BuildingBIM and Energy/Exergy Analysis in DesignBIM and Lean ConstructionSummaryQuestions for DiscussionReferencesQuality Management in Construction: A Complement to Lean ConstructionPart A: Total Quality ManagementPart B: Six Sigma in ConstructionSustainable Construction: Sustainability and CommissioningPart A: SustainabilityPart B: CommissioningQuestions for DiscussionReferencesAppendix: Certification (Certifying Organizations, Designations, and Web Sites)Web Sites for Locating Commissioning InformationCommissioning: Related Organizations with Web ReferencesSelected Performance Improvement Tools and TechniquesPerformance Improvement in ConstructionThe Learning CurveCycle Time AnalysisSimulationQuality Function DeploymentComments on the Output Target ValueSummaryQuestions for DiscussionReferencesSafety ManagementIntroductionHow Safe Is Construction?Safety and Lean ConstructionThe Role of Design Professionals in Construction SafetySummaryQuestions for DiscussionReferencesAppendix: OSHA Checklists (Selected Items)Management: Worker FactorsManagement-Related IssuesChanging Management AttitudesMoving Beyond Traditional Thinking to Lean ThinkingDiversity and Construction QualityErgonomicsVoluntary Ergonomics Guidelines Developed by OSHAThe Effects of Vibration and NoiseTemperature Effects on PersonnelReferencesSystems Integration ApproachesIndustrial Engineering Solutions for the Construction IndustryProfessional Overview of Industrial EngineeringCase 1: Seattle Area Coffee CompanySystematic Layout PlanningLearning from Projects and Enhancing Integrated Project DeliveryIntroductionOverview of Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) for Continuous Improvement in ConstructionCategories of POE: Historical, Comparative, Longitudinal, Quasi-ExperimentalThe Role of Programming in POEPlanning for the POEPOE ProceduresClient Satisfaction with Design and Construction ServicesBest Practices to Derive the Best Results from POEContractor Post–MortemsAn Overview of Lessons Learned from Lean Construction ProjectsEnhancing the Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) ProcessObservationsSustaining Lean ConstructionThe Way ForwardQuestions for DiscussionReferencesAppendix: Examples of the “Lessons Learned” Recommendations from the Post-Occupancy Evaluation of a New Educational FacilityGlossary of Lean TermsIndexReview Quote"... collects lean ideas in one place. clarifies their application in the construction industry and helps to promote their adoption. ... balances theoretical explanations with discussions of actual cases where practitioners successfully applies lean innovation. ... thoroughly documents the human element important for success." -- Industrial Engineer's book of the month May 2011Biographical NoteCollege of Engineering, Florida International University, Miami, USA. (Adjunct) Department of Construction Management, East Carolina University, USA (chair)