Olivieri, Hylton (2016) Integrating production planning and controlling systems for construction projects. PhD thesis, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil.
Abstract
A significant part of building construction companies still uses critical path method (CPM) concepts as the foundation of their production planning and controlling system (PPC). However, due to the limitations of this technique, several companies use auxiliary tools to address the needs of production teams, causing uncertainty about the work to be done, activities to be prioritized and uncertainties on the proper use of resources. From the lean philosophy point of view, CPM has been understood as a technique more targeted at managing contract performance and its respective milestones, more connected to long term plans. Four main CPM aspects have been criticized by the lean community, in relation to CPM limitations with the project production system: (i) the lack of workflow on the schedules, (ii) the focus on project control instead of production control, (iii) the poor quality of constraints analysis, and (iv) the inadequate daily management of activities. On the other hand, despite the limitations, the use of CPM worldwide cannot be ignored. Furthermore, in countries such as United States and Brazil, this technique is a contractual requirement commonly demanded by owners. In an attempt to fulfill the CPM limitations, Last Planner System (LPS) and Location-Based Management System (LBMS) (PCP systems used by lean community), have been evolutionarily implemented in many construction projects. The aim of this research is to propose an integrated model that fill the CPM gaps, through incorporating lean elements such as LPS and LBMS, in projects that use CPM due to contractual requirements or companies¿ philosophies, but need to improve aspects of workflow, production control, constraints analysis and daily management of activities. Thus, new processes and good practices are required due to the challenge of integrating three systems with distinct philosophies and controlling mechanisms. The processes were organized in a flow, considering the necessary steps to implement the model in the organization, preparation and execution phases. This research can be classified as Design Science Research (DSR), in which the desired artefact was an integrated model, initially developed through an empirical study. The exploratory case study was carried out through data analysis of planning and controlling system of two Brazilian building construction companies, which use partially the techniques of CPM, Earned Value Analysis (EVA) and LPS, but need to incorporate workflow in their schedules and improve production control aspects. Subsequently, the model was submitted to a pilot evaluation with construction professionals and tested by a theoretical simulation, aiming at improvement of the model and theoretical analysis searching for validation evidence. The model can compensate for the limitations of PPC systems focused on contract management, since the model attaches lean elements, which aim at obtaining production systems excellence. The model may also enable the improvement of PPC in companies that currently apply CPM as their only PPC strategy to systems using lean philosophy.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Granja, Ariovaldo Denis |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | production control; enterprises |
| Index terms: | project control, PPC, construction professional, empirical study, production control, owner, location-based management system, good practice, integrated model, case study, workflow, critical path method, construction project, last planner system, earned value analysis, evidence, validation, artefact, Brazil, strategy, building construction, production planning, philosophy, United States, design science research, data analysis, production system, contract management |
| Subjects: | building construction, production management, Geography, contract management, manufacturing engineering, research methods, analytical methods, operations research, evaluation and assessment methods, standard forms of contract, philosophical studies, project controls, sociology, professional development, design practice, management, performance measurement, data analysis and analytics, project delivery, financial and cost management, control systems, data collection methods |
| Topics: | Procurement, Engineering Principles, Geographical Context, Project Management, Quality Management, Stakeholder Management, Construction Technology, Cost Management, Business Strategy, Information Management, Research Practice, Time Control, Contract Administration, Design Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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