Tommelein, I D (1998) Pull-driven scheduling for pipe-spool installation: Simulation of lean construction technique. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 124(4), pp. 279-288. ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
Many construction processes include installation of unique materials in specific locations in the facility being built; materials and locations must match before installation can take place. Mismatches due to delay and uncertainty in supplying materials or completing prerequisite work at those locations hamper field productivity. This is illustrated here using a model of a materials-management process with a matching problem that typifies fast-track process-plant projects. The uniqueness of materials and locations combined with the unpredictability in duration and variation in execution quality of various steps in the supply chain allow for different ways to sequence material delivery and work area completion. Several alternatives are described. Their impact on process execution is illustrated by means of probabilistic process models. One model reflects a total lack of coordination between delivery and work area completion prior to the start of construction; a second one describes perfect coordination. The corresponding materials staging buffers and construction progress are plotted based on output from discrete-event simulation models. A third probabilistic model then illustrates the use of the lean construction technique known as pull-driven scheduling. Real-time feedback regarding the status of progress on site is provided to the fabricator off site so process steps can be resequenced opportunistically. This yields smaller buffers, earlier project completion, and, when properly accounted for, increased productivity.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Index terms: | productivity, buffer, coordination, duration, mismatch, scheduling, lean construction, construction process, variation |
| Subjects: | engineering problems, operations research, financial risk, contractual condition, management, building construction, project controls |
| Topics: | Time Control, Contract Administration, Site Management, Organizational Design, Cost Management, Business Strategy, Engineering Principles |
| Descriptive scope: | 2 PC |
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