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.
Table of Contents:
Preface xi
Acknowledgement xiii
Contributors xv
1 Introduction 1
Brian Atkin, Jan Borgbrant & Per-Erik Josephson
Recognising the importance of process 1
Creating an effective response 1
Balancing concern for the product with the process 2
The process to be improved 3
Aims of this book 5
Topics addressed 6
Scope and content 7
2 Modularisation in the Customisation of Manufactured Housing 15
Carina Johansson
Introduction 15
State-of-the-art review 16
Research project 25
Research results and industrial impact 27
Conclusions 28
References 29
3 Application of Integrated Life Cycle Design to Housing 31
Mats Öberg
Introduction 31
State-of-the-art review 32
Research project 37
Case study: research results and impact 38
Conclusions 41
References 41
4 Life Cycle Costs of Commercial Buildings – a Case Study 44
Eva Sterner
Introduction 44
Methodological considerations 45
Case study description 46
Energy conservation 48
Life cycle cost analyses 50
Conclusions 54
References 55
5 A Life Cycle Cost Approach to Optimising Indoor Climate Systems 56
Dennis Johansson & Anders Svensson
Introduction 56
State-of-the-art review 56
Research project 62
Research results and industrial impact 64
Conclusions 65
References 66
6 Performance Indicators as a Tool for Decisions in the Construction Process 68
Veronica Yverås
Introduction 68
State-of-the-art review 68
Research project 74
Research results and industrial impact 77
Conclusions 79
References 80
7 Reducing the Risk of Failure in Performance within Buildings 82
Stephen Burke
Introduction 82
State-of-the-art review 82
Research project 89
Research results and industrial impact 90
Conclusions 91
References 91
8 Physical Status of Existing Buildings and their Components with the Emphasis on Future Emissions 93
Torbjörn Hall
Introduction 93
State-of-the-art review 94
Research project 101
Research results and industrial impact 103
Conclusions 104
References 104
9 Co-ordination of the Design and Building Process for Optimal Building Performance 106
Niklas Sörensen
Introduction 106
State-of-the-art review 107
Research project 111
Conclusions 115
References 116
10 New Concrete Materials Technology for Competitive Construction 118
Markus Peterson
Introduction 118
State-of-the-art review 118
Research project 124
Research results and industrial impact 125
Conclusions 127
References 127
11 Competitiveness in the Context of Procurement 130
Fredrik Malmberg
Introduction 130
State-of-the-art review 131
Research project 140
Conclusions 141
References 141
12 Encouraging Innovation through New Approaches to Procurement 143
Kristian Widén
Introduction 143
State-of-the-art review 143
Research project 149
Research results and industrial impact 150
Conclusions 151
References 151
13 Public-Private Partnerships – Conditions for Innovation and Project Success 154
Roine Leiringer
Introduction 154
State-of-the-art review 155
Research project 160
Research results and industrial impact 163
Conclusions 165
References 166
14 Pros and Cons in Partnering Structures 168
Anna Rhodin
Introduction 168
State-of-the-art review 168
Research project 176
Research results and industrial impact 178
Conclusions 180
References 180
15 Importance of the Project Team to the Creation of Learning Within and Between Construction Projects 183
Fredrik Anheim
Introduction 183
State-of-the-art review 184
Research project 188
Research results and industrial impact 190
Conclusions 192
References 193
16 Refurbishment of Commercial Buildings: the Relationship between the Project and its Context 195
Åsa Engwall
Introduction 195
Theoretical framework 196
The case study of Oxenstiernan 201
Discussion and conclusions 208
References 209
17 Improving Project Efficiency through Process Transparency in Management Information Systems 211
Christian Lindfors
Introduction 211
State-of-the-art review 212
Research project 221
Conclusions 222
References 223
18 Improvement Processes in Construction Companies 225
Peter Samuelsson
Introduction 225
State-of-the-art review 226
Research project 230
Research results and industrial impact 232
Conclusions 237
References 238
19 Design Research and the Records of Architectural Design: Expanding the Foundations of Design Tool Development 240
Robert Fekete
Introduction 240
State-of-the-art review 240
Conclusions 253
References 253
20 Communicating Project Concepts and Creating Decision Support from CAAD 255
Jan Henrichsén
Introduction 255
State-of-the-art review 255
Research project 260
Research results and industrial impact 264
Conclusions 264
References 265
21 Using 4D CAD in the Design and Management of Vertical Extensions to Existing Buildings 266
Susan Bergsten
Introduction 266
State-of-the-art review 267
Research project 274
Research results and industrial impact 275
Conclusions 275
References 276
22 Importance of Architectural Attributes in Facilities Management 278
Ulf Nordwall
Introduction 278
State-of-the-art review 279
Research project 285
Research results 287
Conclusions 290
References 290
23 Conclusions 292
Brian Atkin, Jan Borgbrant & Per-Erik Josephson
Ways forward to construction process improvement 292
Index 299
About the Author :
Brian Atkin PhD, MPhil, BSc, FRICS, FCIOB, his achievements span the disciplines of project management, construction management and facility management. As a member of British Standards Institutions FM Advisory Group and FM Technical Committee, he is well-placed to advise on current best practices and emerging trends in facility management. He has served on other advisory groups and steering committees covering standards, innovation, competitiveness and information technology (including BIM), and is actively involved in learning and business development for major corporations.
Review :
I found the chapter on learning organisations in project teams particularly stimulating.
The book would be especially useful to post graduate and final year undergraduate students looking for useful advice on a vast range of research methodologies, as well as examining the topics in some detail.
Chris Hill Ms PGD MCIOB MCMI ILTM
