Download or read book Construction Process Improvement written by Brian Atkin and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2008-04-15 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The construction process has come under intense scrutiny in recent times and this is set to continue as building owners and users demand better value for money from a more sustainable built environment. The construction sector’s actors are responding to the challenges implicit in this drive for greater competitiveness and social responsibility. New forms of procurement, innovation programmes, knowledge management, CAD-supported processes, predictive and diagnostic tools, and many more initiatives are helping to transform the sector. Construction Process Improvement showcases 21 examples of how directed efforts are being taken to raise productivity and quality, reduce waste and costs, and provide more certain and durable products for the sector’s customers. Each example is the subject of a closely coupled collaborative project in which answers are being sought on matters of strategic importance to companies. The chapters that describe and discuss these projects balance state-of-the-art reviews with details of the work being undertaken and, in many cases, the results that are being implemented within the companies. Construction Process Improvement deals with issues that matter to best practice companies and researchers in industry and universities. It covers, amongst other topics, modularisation for manufactured housing, life cycle methods in housing, commercial buildings and services installations, tools and techniques for performance prediction and diagnostics, coordination of design and production processes, novel use of traditional materials, new forms of procurement and the role of innovation, public private partnerships, partnering structures, learning organisations, management of major refurbishment, management information systems, TQM and continuous improvement, CAAD methodology, tools and 4-D CAD, and facilities management. This book analyses the way forward for improving the construction process, in particular the links between research and development and industrial competitiveness. The implementation of new methods and thinking in companies is examined and important advice for senior managers and researchers is offered.

Download or read book Construction Innovation and Process Improvement written by Akintola Akintoye and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2012-04-30 with total page 457 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Innovation in construction is essential for growth. The industry strives to remain competitive using a variety of approaches and needs to engage structured initiatives linked to proven innovation concepts, techniques and applications. Even in mature markets like the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) sector, where business behaviour is generally considered as being risk averse, it is increasingly important to embed innovation into mainstream business practices. In Construction Innovation and Process Improvement a number of wide ranging issues from construction practice in different countries with different contexts are presented to provide a rich collection of literature embracing theory and practice. Chapters are divided into three broad themes of construction innovation relating to: Theory and Practice; Process Drivers; and Future Technologies. Several questions are posed, including for example: What is particularly unique about construction innovation in theory and practice? What are the major drivers of construction innovation? What factors are needed to support and deliver future construction technologies? In attempting to respond to such questions, the book sheds new light on these challenges, and provides readers with a number of ways forward, especially cognisant of the increased role of globalisation, the enhanced impact of knowledge, and importance of innovation. All these can have a significant impact on strategic decision-making, competitive advantage, and sustainable policies and practices. Part One deals with change management, technology, sustainable construction, and supply chain management; Part Two addresses innovation and process improvement drivers, including strategic management, concurrent engineering, risk management, innovative procurement, knowledge management; Part Three explores future technologies in construction – and particularly, how these can be harnessed and leveraged to help procure innovation and process improvement.

Download or read book Performance and Improvement of Green Construction Projects written by Hwang Bon-Gang and published by Butterworth-Heinemann. This book was released on 2018-06-08 with total page 358 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Performance and Improvement of Green Construction Projects: Management Strategies and Innovations expertly explains the specific characteristics and management approaches of green construction projects using in-depth examples that compare presented tactics to conventional construction projects. The book provides a holistic view on management strategies and innovations, focusing on the assessment and improvement of green construction projects and how to manage performance with respect to cost, scheduling, quality, safety, risk, productivity and leadership development. Addresses performance improvement and project management in green construction projects, covering cost, scheduling, safety, quality, risk, productivity and leadership Clearly explains the obstacles, challenges and barriers to implementing green construction projects Discusses special issues that are inherent in green construction projects, from inception to delivery

Download or read book Productivity Improvement for Construction and Engineering written by J. K. Yates and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: J.K.Yates focuses on investigation and analysis techniques that can be used by engineering and construction firms to support the implementation of productivity improvement programs.

Download or read book The Lean Builder A Builder s Guide to Applying Lean Tools in the Field written by Joe Donarumo and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on 2019-08-16 with total page 250 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sam Brooks, a young superintendent with ProCon Builders, has been given responsibility for the largest and most complicated project of his career. He struggles with all of the common difficulties in construction -- lack of communication, coordination issues, and other kinds of wasteful occurrences that rob his project of time and money, while leaving him and his team frustrated and overworked. Luckily, his friend, mentor, and co-worker, Alan Phillips, brings the benefit of his experience and his knowledge of Lean Construction tools and processes to help Sam learn valuable skills for improving the operation of his project. Together, Sam and Alan discuss the merits and explore the practical applications of: Daily Huddles Visual Communication The "Eight Wastes" Managing Constraints Pull Planning The Last Planner System(TM) Percent Plan Complete

Download or read book Total Construction Management written by John S. Oakland and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2017-02-17 with total page 1256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A convergence of lean management and quality management thinking has taken place in organizations across many industries, including construction. Practices in procurement, design management and construction management are all evolving constantly and understanding these changes and how to react is essential to successful management. This book provides valuable insights for owners, designers and constructors in the construction sector. Starting by introducing the language of total quality, lean and operational excellence, this book takes the reader right up to the latest industry practice in this sector, and demonstrates the best way to manage change. Written by two of the world's leading experts, Total Construction Management: Lean quality in construction project delivery offers a clearly structured introduction to the most important management concepts and practices used in the global construction industry today. This authoritative book covers issues such as procurement, BIM, all forms of waste, construction safety, and design and construction management, all explained with international case studies. It is a perfect guide for managers in all parts of the industry, and ideal for those preparing to enter the industry.

Download or read book Process Improvement Essentials written by James R. Persse, PhD and published by "O'Reilly Media, Inc.". This book was released on 2006-09-14 with total page 353 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Today, technology has become too much a part of overall corporate success for its effectiveness to be left to chance. The stakes are too high. Fortunately, the idea of 'quality management' is being reinvigorated. In the last decade process programs have become more and more prevalent. And, out of all the available options, three have moved to the top of the chain. These three are: The 9001:2000 Quality Management Standard from the International Standards Organization; The Capability Maturity Model Integration from the Software Engineering Institute; and Six Sigma, a methodology for improvement shaped by companies such as Motorola, Honeywell, and General Electric. These recognized and proven quality programs are rising in popularity as more technology managers are looking for ways to help remove degrees of risk and uncertainty from their business equations, and to introduce methods of predictability that better ensure success. Process Improvement Essentials combines the foundation needed to understand process improvement theory with the best practices to help individuals implement process improvement initiatives in their organization. The three leading programs: ISO 9001:2000, CMMI, and Six Sigma--amidst the buzz and hype--tend to get lumped together under a common label. This book delivers a combined guide to all three programs, compares their applicability, and then sets the foundation for further exploration. It's a one-stop-shop designed to give you a working orientation to what the field is all about.

Download or read book Methods Improvement for Construction Managers written by Henry W. Parker and published by McGraw-Hill Companies. This book was released on 1972 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Lean Project Delivery and Integrated Practices in Modern Construction written by Lincoln H. Forbes and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2020-04-01 with total page 613 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Lean Project Delivery and Integrated Practices in Modern Construction is the new and enhanced edition of the pioneering book Modern Construction by Lincoln H. Forbes and Syed M. Ahmed. This book provides a multi-faceted approach for applying lean methodologies to improve design and construction processes. Recognizing the wide diversity in the landscape of projects, and encompassing private and public sector activity, buildings and infrastructure, the book expands upon the detailed coverage of integrated project delivery and new lean tools and techniques to include: Greater emphasis on the importance of creating a lean culture and the initiatives required to transform the industry; Expanded discussions of the foundational writings in lean construction theory; Exploration of the synergies between "lean" and "green" initiatives; Specific procedures for modifying planning and scheduling activities to improve the performance of the project team; Expanded sections on quality, and topics that have become a part of the lean lexicon, such as Choosing by Advantages, "line of balance"/location-based scheduling, virtual design teams, takt time planning and set-based design; Discussion questions for beginners and advanced lean practitioners; and Improved cross-referencing within the text to help the reader navigate the frameworks, techniques and tools to support the application of lean principles. The techniques described here enhance the use of resources, reducing waste, minimizing delays, increasing quality and reducing overall costs. They enable practitioners to improve the quality of the built environment, secure higher levels of customer/owner satisfaction, and simultaneously improve their profitability. This book is essential reading for all those wanting to be at the forefront of construction management and lean thinking.

Download or read book Performance Improvement in Construction Management written by Brian Atkin and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2009-09-25 with total page 409 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Novel research in construction management is often distant from existing practice. This collection of reviews serves to bridge this gap under three major themes: innovation, organisation and human behaviour, and methods and tools. It outlines a series of successful collaborative projects between industry and the academic and research communities. Many of the authors have worked in technology transfer, as change agents, resolving industrially-relevant problems by using scientifically-based research. The book reveals the source of ideas, data and results to provide a useful resource for researchers, academics and graduate students, and a challenging guide for senior industry managers.

Download or read book Construction Site Management and Labor Productivity Improvement written by H. Randolph Thomas and published by ASCE Press. This book was released on 2017 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Thomas and Ellis provide detailed, straightforward management practices to improve construction site activity and reduce losses in labor productivity from the most common site challenges.

Download or read book Continuous Cost Improvement in Construction written by Temitope Seun Omotayo and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2022-03-21 with total page 330 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Continuous Cost Improvement in Construction: Theory and Practice aims to provide students and practitioners with an all-inclusive understanding of strategies for adopting continuous improvement in construction cost management. This book addresses continuous improvement practices from the perspective of cost management and applies case study examples to question the readers’ perspective of continuous cost improvement strategies in the project lifecycle. Continuous cost improvement practices in managing the cost of minor, major, and mega projects are all connected with decision-making tools for devising strategies for choosing the approaches for mitigating the effect of cost overruns in construction projects. Continuous cost improvement should be taught as part of modern methods and processes of construction in further and higher education institutions. This book will be key reading for all advanced undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Construction Project Management, Building and Quantity Surveying. Professionals in all aspects of the AEC industry will also gain greatly from engaging with the key concepts of continuous cost improvement throughout this book.

Download or read book Lean Construction Management written by Shang Gao and published by Springer. This book was released on 2014-05-23 with total page 402 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The book presents a mixed research method adopted to assess and present the Toyota Way practices within construction firms in general and for firms in China specifically. The results of an extensive structured questionnaire survey based on the Toyota Way-styled attributes identified were developed and data collected from building professionals working in construction firms is presented. The quantitative data presented in the book explains the status quo of the Toyota Way-styled practices implemented in the construction industry, as well as the extent to which these attributes were perceived for lean construction management. The book highlights all the actionable attributes derived from the Toyota Way model appreciated by the building professionals, but alerts the readers that some attributes felled short of implementation. Further findings from in-depth interviews and case studies are also presented in the book to provide to readers an understanding how these Toyota Way practices can be implemented in real-life projects. Collectively, all the empirical findings presented in this book can serve to enhance understanding of Toyota Way practices in the lean construction management context. The readers are then guided through to understand the gaps between actual practice and Toyota Way-styled practices, and the measures that they may undertake to circumvent the challenges for implementation. The book also presents to readers the SWOT analysis that addresses the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats towards the implementation of the Toyota Way in the construction industry. The book prescribes the Toyota Way model for use in construction firms to strategically implement lean construction management. The checklist presented in the book enables readers to draw lessons that may be used additionally as a holistic assessment tool for measuring the maturity of firms with respect to their Toyota Way implementation. Consequent to this, management would then be in a better position to develop plans for Toyota Way implementation by focusing on weak areas, strengthening them, and thus increasing the likelihood of success in the implementation of the Toyota Way. In a nutshell, this book provides a comprehensive and valuable resource for firms not only in the construction industry but also businesses outside of the construction sector to better understand the Toyota Way and how this understanding can translate to implementation of lean construction/business management to enhance profitability and survivability in an increasingly competitive global market place.

Download or read book Value and Waste in Lean Construction written by Fidelis A. Emuze and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2015-11-06 with total page 177 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Non-value adding activities are otherwise known as ‘waste’ in the lean construction lexicon. The aim of this collection is to build a common understanding of the role and contribution of value-adding activities in achieving stipulated objectives and continuous improvement in construction projects, and to contrast this with waste. Although the lean approach to construction projects has been widely covered, this is the first book that explicitly provides the link between value and waste in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) sector. This internationally researched collection seeks to create a paradigm shift, which will shape work processes and future directions for how value is conceptualized and operationalized in both the project management and business aspects of construction. The readers will gain an understanding of: The value-adding paradigm in construction How to make value-supporting decisions Waste identification and control in practice With contributions from South Africa, Brazil, Norway, and the USA, the implications of this book are globally relevant. This is essential reading for all higher level students of construction management and economics, and all professionals interested in value management.

Download or read book Proceedings of Government Industry Forum written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2002-05-29 with total page 50 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Recurrent problems with project performance in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in the 1990s raised questions in Congress about the practices and processes used by the department to manage projects. The 105th Committee of Conference on Energy and Water Resources directed DOE to investigate establishing a project review process. Many of the findings and recommendations in this series of reports identified the need for improved planning in the early project stages (front-end planning) to get the project off to the right start, and the continuous monitoring of projects by senior management to make sure the project stays on course. These reports also stressed the need for DOE to act as an owner, not a contractor, and to train its personnel to function not as traditional project managers but as knowledgeable owner's representatives in dealing with projects and contractors. The NRC Committee for Oversight and Assessment of Department of Energy Project Management determined that it would be helpful for DOE to sponsor a forum in which representatives from DOE and from leading corporations with large, successful construction programs would discuss how the owner's role is conducted in government and in industry. In so doing, the committee does not claim that all industrial firms are better at project management than the DOE. Far from it-the case studies represented at this forum were selected specifically because these firms were perceived by the committee to be exemplars of the very best practices in project management. Nor is it implied that reaching this level is easy; the industry speakers themselves show that excellence in project management is difficult to achieve and perhaps even more difficult to maintain. Nevertheless, they have been successful in doing so, through constant attention by senior management.

Download or read book Modern Construction written by Lincoln H. Forbes and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2010-10-13 with total page 526 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.

Download or read book Project Management Lessons Learned written by Mel Bost and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2018-06-14 with total page 207 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Readers can benefit from the expertise of Mel Bost as both a project manager and a PMO practitioner. Kudos to him for bringing us this valuable perspective on lessons learned." —Mark Price Perry, Founder, BOT International and author of Business Driven Project Portfolio Management "Every project —by definition —produces a valuable outcome, whether it be a bridge, an app, or a new service.? But what author Mel Bost points out so well in this book, is that projects also yield something perhaps even more valuable: lessons learned, enabling an enterprise to execute projects sustainably better, with sustained benefits realization.? With a flair for storytelling, Bost uses case studies, templates, and examples from his vast and varied PM and PMO experience to make this book a valuable read for any project manager who wants to consistently master the art and science of project management."?—Rich Maltzman, co-author of the Cleland Award-Winning Green Project Management as well as Bridging the PM Competency Gap Project Management Lessons Learned: A Continuous Process Improvement Framework is intended for project managers, PMO professionals, and students of project management who wish to apply performance-based feedback to their process and project improvements. This feedback is the basis for modern process control theory, which is playing a greater and greater role in process design. Readers can apply the Process Feedback Framework, as well as lesson learned from the book’s case studies, to meet challenges that arise now and in the future. Special focus is given to technology development in projects and sustainability implications of process design. The book emphasizes rationale for a robust project risk management program which capitalizes on lessons learned. PMO leaders can use the organizational dynamics and systems archetypes applications presented in the book to define project policy standards and procedures to align PMO behaviors with performance objectives. as both a project manager and a PMO practitioner. Kudos to him for bringing us this valuable perspective on lessons learned." —Mark Price Perry, Founder, BOT International and author of Business Driven Project Portfolio Management "Every project —by definition —produces a valuable outcome, whether it be a bridge, an app, or a new service.? But what author Mel Bost points out so well in this book, is that projects also yield something perhaps even more valuable: lessons learned, enabling an enterprise to execute projects sustainably better, with sustained benefits realization.? With a flair for storytelling, Bost uses case studies, templates, and examples from his vast and varied PM and PMO experience to make this book a valuable read for any project manager who wants to consistently master the art and science of project management."?—Rich Maltzman, co-author of the Cleland Award-Winning Green Project Management as well as Bridging the PM Competency Gap Project Management Lessons Learned: A Continuous Process Improvement Framework is intended for project managers, PMO professionals, and students of project management who wish to apply performance-based feedback to their process and project improvements. This feedback is the basis for modern process control theory, which is playing a greater and greater role in process design. Readers can apply the Process Feedback Framework, as well as lesson learned from the book’s case studies, to meet challenges that arise now and in the future. Special focus is given to technology development in projects and sustainability implications of process design. The book emphasizes rationale for a robust project risk management program which capitalizes on lessons learned. PMO leaders can use the organizational dynamics and systems archetypes applications presented in the book to define project policy standards and procedures to align PMO behaviors with performance objectives.