Dawood, N N; Hobbs, B and Fanning, A (1999) Standardization of brickwork construction: Process identification. In: Hughes, W (ed.) Proceedings of 15th Annual ARCOM Conference, 15-17 September 1999, Liverpool, UK.
Abstract
Bricks are the ultimate standardized component and highly suited to bespoke solutions in construction. Facing brickwork provides an environmentally attractive and functionally durable external fabric. To date, very little previous attention seems to have been given to the potential for standardization to improve the conventional on-site processes. A range of attempts has been made to develop 'generic' prefabricated masonry systems. However, in the housing sector, previous attempts at prefabrication have been unsuccessful. There is considerable potential for improvement in masonry construction business processes in order to meet client’s needs. Standardization of site procedures, partial prefabrication and full prefabrication are potentially useful masonry production techniques. Their relative cost and process effectiveness needs careful investigation in the context of the proposed research. The project addresses the scope for improving the efficiency of construction involving brickwork by harnessing the synergy between technological developments and supply chain and materials management. To date, the research project has draw upon case studies and the technical expertise of its industrial partners to establish a series of semi structured interviews forming the basis of the research methodology.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | brickwork; production procedure; standardization; process synergy |
| Index terms: | standardization, investigation, research methodology, effectiveness, prefabrication, synergy, housing, materials management, interview, site process, efficiency, brickwork, case study |
| Subjects: | partnership management, building construction, performance measurement, architectural elements, performance management, operations management, construction type, data collection methods, research design and methodology |
| Topics: | Site Management, Quality Management, Construction Technology, Stakeholder Management, Engineering Principles, Research Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here