Lauri Koskela - Profile on Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Lauri Koskela

26th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction, 2018

Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) provides remote sensing and a quick and comprehensive technique ... more Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) provides remote sensing and a quick and comprehensive technique for deviation analyses. Its application for precision surveying purposes is becoming a common practice. There are many interdependent parameters that determine whether the accuracy obtained during the data collection and registration is appropriate to perform deviation analyses. Also, the accuracy of deviation analyses is reflected on visualisation/demonstration of results. However, the focus of previous research works has often been on either data acquisition, data registration, deviation analyses, or visualisation of results. The research described in this paper consolidates and formalises the existing methods in the literature and practice for data acquisition and data processing. In doing so, the aim is to develop a holistic method termed Tolerance Compliance Measurement (TCM) using TLS to obtain results from deviation analyses with the desired accuracy. Moreover, unlike the previous research works that mainly focus on assessment of flatness of surfaces, the appropriateness of the most common algorithms for assessment of different types of geometric variation is explored. The results show that the application of TLS and commercially available software are versatile although not complete for analyses of different types of geometric variation.

Proc. 29th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC), 2021

The design-bid-build (DBB) procurement method has negative effects on construction projects. To f... more The design-bid-build (DBB) procurement method has negative effects on construction projects. To find out whether those effects found in the literature appear in the field and to find ways to overcome them, nine interviews with practitioners from the architecture, engineering and construction industry have been conducted. It was found that building a lean culture in the DBB projects and/or setting up a management system that acknowledges lean ideals can help to overcome the negative effects of DBB. Using compatibility assessments of teams and "add-ons" to the standard contracts such as FAC-1 (Framework Alliance Contract) or Construction Manager at Risk were also mentioned as ways to overcome the problems existing in DBB environment. It was found from the interviews that Last Planner  System supports tackling the existing problems of DBB in number of ways. It enables building lean culture in the DBB projects through improving communication, visualization, transparency and collaboration, building trust, enhancing mood and relationships, as well as overcoming claim culture. It does help to minimize the negative effects of the DBB procurement method on construction projects.

Proceedings of the 8th International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction (ISARC), 1991

As in a number of Western Countries, the need for automation and robotic application for use in t... more As in a number of Western Countries, the need for automation and robotic application for use in the construction industry in the U.K. has been recognised during the past ten years. The industry is experiencing increasing shortages of skilled labour and an ageing workforce. The industry is also facing demands for higher productivity and improved quality in order, to meet external competition. A number of developments covering many applications are currently in progress in some academic and industrial organisations. The range includes computer aided construction and engineering, enabling technologies and prototype development for a number of devices.

26th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction, 2018

In line with its performance improvement and Lean Construction agenda, the highways supply chain ... more In line with its performance improvement and Lean Construction agenda, the highways supply chain in the UK has commenced many Continuous Improvement (CI) cells in recent years. The CI cell is a small-group work coordination and improvement technique that is frequently used in many industries as part of their lean transformations. The technique has also its links to some key lean concepts and practices like continuous improvement (kaizen), Visual Management and hoshinkanri policy deployment. This paper presents a summary of a detailed research aiming to understand the execution of the CI cells in the highways supply chain in the UK with their associated benefits and challenges through a study of 12 CI cells at the main client organisation. Alongside a set of benefits and challenges, the current CI cell execution mechanism and some suggestions to improve the current practice were also presented in the paper.

Over many years, delay has emerged one of the most significant problems in the construction indus... more Over many years, delay has emerged one of the most significant problems in the construction industry, so much so that the causes have been investigated in numerous studies in different developing countries. Poor project management has been cited by a number of investigators as the main reason. However, despite such consensus, there are usually no clear recommendations demonstrating how project management practice could be improved. Moreover, the majority of recommendations made in the existing studies are general in nature and do not lead to a focus on a specific area. None of them are devoted to solving the difficulties associated with particular causes. It is further argued that delays do not arise purely because of tangible causes, as usually assumed in delay studies, but rather the underlying theory of project management may play a role in this regard. Finally, the paper argues that the utility of further traditional studies on delay is limited. 1 Civil Engineer, MSc, PhD Studen...

Proc. 29th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC), 2021

There have been important advances regarding the synergies between Building Information Modeling ... more There have been important advances regarding the synergies between Building Information Modeling (BIM) – as part of Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) – and Lean Construction. However, the literature does not fully explore the nature of these synergies nor the conceptual reasons behind them. This better understanding of these synergies would allow the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry to achieve better Lean and VDC implementations and would provide a stepping-stone for the academia to continue building on these synergies. This article presents a thorough literature review based on leading international journals, conference proceedings and books, to explore the synergies between Lean Construction and VDC, including BIM (product), process and organization modeling. As part of this review, the article tests mechanisms about interaction mechanisms, previously mentioned in the literature. The findings indicate that using the entire VDC framework, the positive i...

The Toyota Production System (TPS) has continually inspired scholars of production management to ... more The Toyota Production System (TPS) has continually inspired scholars of production management to a search for its essence. Two new interpretations have recently been advanced. Firstly, Johnston has argued that conventional production management is based on an approach to management called management-as-planning. The central assumption is that intentional activity is based on a representation of the world. Thus, management is essentially about planning, i.e. manipulation of that representation. Instead, the TPS is essentially based on an approach called management-as-organizing. Here it is assumed that human activity is inherently situated, i.e. a response to the situation in question. Secondly, Spear and Bowen have claimed that the key to understand the TPS is the idea of the scientific method. When a production standard is defined, it also establishes a hypothesis that can be tested. Thus, they seem to emphasize the approach of managementas-learning as the foundational idea behind ...

The paper aims to investigate the implementation issues and benefits of utilising the Last Planne... more The paper aims to investigate the implementation issues and benefits of utilising the Last Planner and 4D modelling in the context of retrofit of social housing. It presents initial results of an on-going research project carried out in Northern Ireland, which focuses on the retrofit of solid wall homes. The research project involves the proposal of a process in which BIM is used to evaluate what-if scenarios for the retrofit of social housing with a focus on reducing user’s disruption throughout the construction process. Both 4D and the Last Planner are used to ensure the retrofit works with the minimum disruption. A case study on the retrofit of a set of houses was carried out, which is part of a bigger research project entitled S-IMPLER. Data was collected via semi-structured interviews, participant observation in planning meetings, site visits and documental analysis. The study sheds light on a particular type of project that has not been well explored by the lean community, i.e...

Since Aristotle, it has repeatedly been stressed that for engaging in meaningful discussion or de... more Since Aristotle, it has repeatedly been stressed that for engaging in meaningful discussion or debate, the discussion parties must share, besides a language, also knowledge, information, values and goals. What do we know today about this issue? How can that knowledge be used and advanced? The purpose of this paper is to consolidate our understanding on the many concepts that refer to preconditions for communication and collaboration in construction projects. The underlying research is conceptual by nature, and it is underpinned by a literature review. The findings show that currently there is a wide variety of terms and theoretical approaches that refer to the discussed phenomena. This situation invites for a conceptual synthesis and empirical research for its validation.

This paper aims at an initial analysis and explanation of lean through the lens of the discipline... more This paper aims at an initial analysis and explanation of lean through the lens of the discipline of rhetoric. First, the ancient origin, central ideas, subsequent history and current interpretations of rhetoric are outlined. Then, the overall meeting points of rhetoric and lean are discussed. At the outset, it is contended that certain arguments that can be used as a justification in rhetoric seem fertile for understanding the difference between lean and conventional management. Then, persuasion towards compliance in production is discussed. The field of visual management is argued to have an implicit foundation in rhetoric. The existence of a common ground of values, facts and presumptions between the speaker and the audience is emphasized in rhetoric; it is contended that lean construction in many ways endeavours to create such a common ground among the project participants. Regarding deliberation, the rhetorical dimensions in the methods of A3 and Choosing by Advantages are disc...

S-IMPLER BIM Protocol: Guidelines for using Building Information Modelling in the Retrofit of Social Housing

The method of analysis was developed by ancient Greek geometers to identify and solve problems re... more The method of analysis was developed by ancient Greek geometers to identify and solve problems related to geometry. From that period, well known scientists such as Newton and Descartes have applied the method. More recently, Polya has presented the method of analysis as a heuristic template to solve mathematical and other problems. Despite its continual epistemological dilution, the method has also been used to explain the cognitive process of designing. In this paper it is claimed that the method of analysis can also explain production management. It seems that the method of analysis has been used across different levels of management in production, i.e. from a holistic/strategic perspective through to detailed levels. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to discuss whether the method of analysis provides a partial theoretical foundation for production planning. The research approach is literature review with an emphasis on the method of analysis and synthesis. The conclusion is tha...

In the manufacturing industry the use of information systems based on modern communication techni... more In the manufacturing industry the use of information systems based on modern communication techniques, such as Material Requirements Planning (MRP), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) or Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Systems, is standard and has long been deployed with success. But these systems depend on consistency in the production systems, which a construction site is unlikely to offer. Furthermore the construction process is highly fragmented and in comparison to the stationary industry very complex. Due to the dynamics of the processes on earthwork construction sites, new flexible logistic concepts are needed. This paper will present “digital Kanban”; a method to dynamically allocate the best possible match of excavators and transport vehicles at earthwork construction sites. With regard to the principles of jidoka, “intelligence” is transferred to a control centre in order to detect abnormal conditions, enabling it to respond rapidly. Excavators are pulling empty dum...

Proc. 29th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC), 2021

Living Labs (LLs) consist of social and dynamic environments that enable end-users and stakeholde... more Living Labs (LLs) consist of social and dynamic environments that enable end-users and stakeholders to collaborate towards an innovation. This paper presents the concept of LLs and analysis on how it can foster communication and collaboration from a lean perspective. Key concepts, such as co-creation, common ground, shared understanding and boundary objects are discussed in relation to LLs. The paper highlights the synergies between LLs and lean, including the focus on users' needs and values, the use of participatory approaches and early inclusion of stakeholders in the decision-making process, for example. There is however lack of clarity in the literature regarding the concept of LLs and, hence, there is a need for future empirical research to enable a better understanding of the synergies between Living Labs and lean.

Proc. 28th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC), 2020

The construction industry is famous for its poor performance. Despite multi-party contractual agr... more The construction industry is famous for its poor performance. Despite multi-party contractual agreements acknowledged by the lean construction community as enablers of better communication and performance, design-bid-build (DBB) still dominates the construction industry in Germany, UK and other countries. This study describes designbid-build procurement and explores its negative effects on construction projects, environment and project participants through a review of existing literature. Understanding the influence of design-bid-build on construction environment should give practitioners an insight into the potential of using the Last Planner ® System and other lean tools. The direct and indirect effects of DBB on the construction environment are presented in the form of a tree diagram. It can be hypothesized that if the internal dispositions of project participants can be determined and the behavior of project participants can be positively influenced, for example, by lean management tools such as the Last Planner ® System 5 , the situational context in which project participants operate can be influenced too, meaning a shift to more positive, collaborative environment.

26th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction, Jul 18, 2018

It is contended that legal proceedings, as they have evolved from Antiquity onwards, embrace impo... more It is contended that legal proceedings, as they have evolved from Antiquity onwards, embrace important and effective principles for collaborative competition in pursuit of a common goal, in the considered context, justice. Seven principles contributing to this goal can be recognised: "hear both parties", reasoned judgment, right to appeal, use of both logical and rhetorical arguments and reasoning, standardized proceedings and documents, public nature of proceedings, as well as dedicated and structured space. It is contended that the court of law can be used as a metaphor of what is happening in design. There are wishes, concepts and solutions competing against each other. For reaching the best outcome, each wish, concept or solution needs to be promoted and defended in the best possible way, and a reasoned judgment among them has to be done. Then, the question arises whether the seven principles found in legal proceedings have relevance for this collaborative, yet competitive pursuit of a common goal in design, namely the best solution in view of customer requirements. For initial exploration of the relevance and validity of the seven principles in design, a case study was undertaken. It turns out that all the seven principles are being implemented. The outcomes of the project are clearly better than in projects managed in the traditional way; although it is not possible to trace back the benefits only to the collaborative principles and related practices, their emergence, and continued use, provide solid circumstantial evidence on their efficacy.

26th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction, Jul 18, 2018

Production management in construction is moving away from conventional construction management. T... more Production management in construction is moving away from conventional construction management. The correctives to this model have been explicitly or implicitly based on flow and value principles. Supply Chain Management (SCM) is often presented as suitable for efficient management of construction production, but its successful implementation in the industry remains limited, particularly at the lower tiers of the construction supply chain. This paper takes a closer look at SCMan analysis from the production perspective might help to create a better understanding of the concept and the key principles presented could be prescriptive in the further development of SCM in construction.

Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction (ISARC), 1988

During the past few years, a cluster of development projects with wide participation have been in... more During the past few years, a cluster of development projects with wide participation have been initiated in Finland in order to create the necessary basis for a second wave of industrialization of construction in the next decade. The targets include the creation of an open construction system based on prefabricated components and of a national framework for project wide computer aided design. On the other hand, a research programme concerned with computerization and robotization of construction has been launched, in order to build up the necessary national competence in these areas, which are seen as the major driving forces for the coming changes.

26th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction, 2018

From early on, visual management (VM) has been an intrinsic ingredient of the Toyota Production S... more From early on, visual management (VM) has been an intrinsic ingredient of the Toyota Production System (TPS) and its derivatives like lean production. Akin to the evolution of most other parts of the TPS, it has been developed through practitioner efforts rather than being propelled by theoretical insights. Recently, scholars have started to create a theoretical knowledge base for VM. Besides taxonomies of visual devices and their functions, there is only one fully fledged theory of VM, based on the concept of affordance. It is contended here that the scholarly field of visual management has been too narrowly defined. In fact, research on (or bearing on) visual devices has been carried out in several other, mostly small fields, often with little mutual awareness. A review on the theoretical explanation of VM is provided, based on this wider literature. The concept of affordance has been used in this context already in early 1990s. This focuses attention especially to the human cognitive capabilities and corresponding features of visual devices. Generally, VM is argued to provide a more rapid and reliable mode of communication in comparison to traditional alternatives. VM is thus compatible with the lean tenets of time compression and variability reduction. This explains its central role in lean production.

26th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction, 2018

The wastes of the supply chain should be reduced to achieve the stabilization of construction ope... more The wastes of the supply chain should be reduced to achieve the stabilization of construction operations in lean-based construction management. The aim of this paper is to investigate the communication related sources of waste on construction worksite when compared to the manufacturing industry. The methodology used involves several observations of Japanese construction worksites and interviews with worksite managers and executives of some construction companies, and public institutions, and participation at forums for exchanging practical construction experiences conducted over the last few years. Two main results are obtained. The first one details the three peculiarities of construction, specific customer, site production, and temporary organization as described in prior research. The second one proposes a structural model to depict wastes caused by temporary organization, one of the three mentioned peculiarities. These findings contribute to better understanding of the peculiarities of construction in view of applying lean techniques, and to broadening the practitioners' viewpoint by providing a guideline to gain the capability of a sharp and systematic understanding of their worksite.