Sharma, V; Al-Hussein, M and Abourizk, S M (2006) Residential construction lot grading approval process optimization: Case study of city of Edmonton. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 132(12), pp. 1225-1233. ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
Rapid growth of residential construction in the city of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada has led to an increased demand for lot grading (LG) inspectors. The traditional inspection process has contributed to inspection delays, backlog, and decreased customer satisfaction. The aim of the research presented in this paper is to study, evaluate, and optimize the existing LG approval process. Data from past years were collected and analyzed to establish a baseline performance level. Flowcharts were developed to visualize the process and a survey was conducted to determine potential areas of improvement from the perspectives of different shareholders. Lean thinking principles were applied to identify and reduce the nonvalue added activities and improve performance. The final phase of the research involved the simulation of the process to evaluate the impact of the implementation of various recommendations. Based on the simulation results, final recommendations were made and later implemented with the help from the city's Information technology department. These modifications to the existing process produced significant gains in quality and productivity, as predicted by the simulation model.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | automation; buildings; residential; Canada; case reports; computer aided simulation |
| Index terms: | information technology, approval, survey, residential construction, customer satisfaction, automation, computer aided simulation, implementation, case study, Canada, inspection, productivity |
| Subjects: | service delivery, Geography, automation and robotics, construction integration, management, quality assurance, computing systems, contractual role, data collection methods, contractual arrangements, modelling and simulation |
| Topics: | Procurement, Stakeholder Management, Geographical Context, Research Practice, Business Strategy, Contract Administration, Quality Management, Digital Applications |
| 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