Browsing by Author "Neitzert, TR"

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6

item: Article-Abstract
A framework for subcontractor integration in alliance contracts
Vilasini, N; Neitzert, TR; Rotimi, JOB; Windapo, AO
Project alliancing involves the active collaboration of construction project owners and non owner participants (designer, contractors, and suppliers) to deliver projects in an atmosphere of shared responsibilities and liabilities. Alliancingcon notes integration but in real practice, it fails to create a true alliance environment since only part of the value chain (owner, designer, main contractor) is considered for integration. Consequently subcontractors are very often left out of the key alliance. Therefore this study identifies improvement areas to current alliance practice and suggests changes that will permit critical sub-contracting processes to be integrated into a project’s main alliance. To achieve this objective the research follows a comparative study approach. Information obtained from relevant literature is used to identify current subcontractor management practices and best practices for subcontractor integration in alliances. A case study of an alliance project is used to identify improvement areas in subcontractor management practices in an alliance environment. From these findings, the study proposes a revised alliance framework that integrates subcontractors from the early stages in alliance contracts, thus enabling the realisation of benefits accruable to projects through early contractor involvement.
item: Conference-Full-text
Appropriateness of lean production system for the construction industry
(2012-06) Vilasini, N; Neitzert, TR; Jayatilaka, PR; Senaratne, S; Sandanayake, YG
The manufacturing industry has been a constant reference point and a source of innovation for construction over many decades. The lean concept is one of such strategies adopted by the construction industry from the manufacturing industry to improve performance. In order to take benefit of lean techniques developed in the manufacturing industries, it is important to identify which categories of manufacturing systems are best applicable to construction. Many research studies have identified construction as a lean resistant industry because it differs from manufacturing due to site production, temporary multi-organisation and one-of-a-kind nature projects. The main objective of this study is to find different characteristics of construction processes and how lean techniques can be adopted to them. The method used for this study is a practice oriented research approach where it compares the characteristics of two construction processes with manufacturing process characteristics. In the attempt of visualising the existing process, value stream mapping techniques were used. It is identified that the construction process is a combination of fabrication and assembly processes with different characteristics such as layout, material flow, information flow, and work element. It can be concluded that certain construction techniques like pre-fabrication soften the construction peculiarities.
item: Conference-Abstract
Appropriateness of production systems for the construction industry
Vilasini, N; Neitzert, TR
The manufacturing industry has been a constant reference point and a source of innovation for construction over many decades. The lean concept is one of such strategies adopted by the construction from the manufacturing to improve performance. In order to take the benefits of lean techniques developed in the manufacturing industries, it is important to identify which categories of manufacturing systems are best applicable to construction. Many research studies have identified construction as a lean resistant industry because it differs from manufacturing due to site production, temporary multi-organization and one-of- a- kind nature projects. The main objective of this study is to find different characteristics of construction processes and how lean techniques can be adopted to them. The method used for this study is a practice oriented research approach where it compares the characteristics of two construction processes with manufacturing process characteristics. In the attempt of visualizing the existing process, different mapping techniques were used and it can be concluded that certain construction techniques like pre-fabrication soften the construction peculiarities. Furthermore, the construction process can be identified as a combination of fabrication and assembly processes with different characteristics such as layout, material flow, information flow, and work element.
item: Article-Abstract
Correlation between construction procurement methods and lean principles
Vilasini, N; Neitzert, TR; Rotimi, JO
Different procurement methods have been developed and applied in the construction industry to improve performance. At the same time novel management concepts have been adopted for similar prospects of performance improvement based on new production methodologies. The lean principle is one such methodology being applied in the construction industry, which this paper believes, with the right combination of its objectives, principles and techniques could form the basis for a new project delivery system. The paper has as its objective the identification of an appropriate procurement method that accommodates lean principles. It reviews related literature on lean principles and its application in the construction industry as well as construction procurement methods and their individual characteristics. The study finds that partnership arrangements have a higher correlation with lean principles compared to other procurement methods because of the emphasis it places on collaboration and teamwork through construction partnerships.
item: Conference-Abstract
Generating value in alliance contracts through productivity improvements
Vilasini, N; Neitzert, TR; Tookey, J
Alliance contracting is a procurement approach which involves the collaboration of a project owner and non‐owner participants to share the responsibility for project risks and for achieving project objectives. There is evidence to suggest that in spite of significant benefits in this procurement system, there exist challenges that need to be overcome, particularly in relation to process improvements. The study will approach the problem from a ‘lean construction’ perspective. The objective of this research is therefore to investigate the potential for the application of lean production philosophies in alliance contracts in order to minimise waste. This study focuses on alliance projects which are comparatively large and complex in nature. It involves focusing on contextual and complex multivariate conditions which would necessitate the reliance on multiple sources of evidence. As such, it is envisaged that this study would benefit by undertaking the case study methodology to advance knowledge. The benefits are not difficult to understand because of the potential to reduce direct and overhead costs through reduction in time thereby increasing value through higher productivity. The study will provide the understanding of why productivity growth is hindered and how growth can be facilitated in an alliance contracts.
item: Conference-Abstract
Lean methodology to reduce waste in a construction environment
Vilasini, N; Neitzert, TR; Gamage, JR
Productivity and waste factors are interdependent of each other. Waste is a major problem in the construction industry which amounts to 60% of the construction effort. A study focused on the construction efficiency by the National Institute of Standards and Technology in the UK has documented 25% - 50 % of waste relates to coordinating labour and managing, moving, and installing materials. Therefore the main aim of this study is to find out the possibilities of waste reduction in the construction industry through lean construction applications. The method adopted for this study is a case study research approach where it concludes the results obtained from a major construction project in New Zealand. A pilot case study was carried out to understand the existing practices. The research study substantially followed the process mapping method to identify the level of concern in waste minimisation on a construction site. Outcomes from the studies indicate that one third of non value adding activities are resulting from factors under the control of management. This study concludes that there are more opportunities to eliminate waste and add value to the construction process. Hence by improving management practices through a lean implementation the non value adding time of a construction project can be reduced and thereby productivity can be improved significantly.