Managing Constructiion Logistics (original) (raw)
Understanding Construction Supply
observed. Analysis of these problems has shown that a major part of them are supply chain problems, originating at the interfaces of different parties or functions. There have been several kinds of initiatives aiming at improvement and renewal of construction supply chains, but only few have a track record of consequent and significant successes.
2011
The aim of this paper is to identify the various managerial issues encountered by UK/Irish contractors in the management of materials in confined urban construction sites. Through extensive literature review, detailed interviews, case studies, cognitive mapping, causal loop diagrams, questionnaire survey and documenting severity indices, a comprehensive insight into the materials management concerns within a confined construction site environment is envisaged and portrayed. The leading issues highlighted are: that contractors' material spatial requirements exceed available space, it is difficult to coordinate the storage of materials in line with the programme, location of the site entrance makes delivery of materials particularly difficult, it is difficult to store materials on-site due to the lack of space, and difficult to coordinate the storage requirements of the various sub-contractors. With the continued development of confined urban centres and the increasing high cost of materials, any marginal savings made on-site would translate into significant monetary savings at project completion. Such savings would give developers a distinct competitive advantage in this challenging economic climate. As on-site management professionals successfully identify, acknowledge and counteract the numerous issues illustrated, the successful management of materials on a confined urban construction site becomes attainable.
Roles of Supply Chain Management in Construction
Supply chain management (SCM) is a concept that has flourished in manufacturing, originating from Just-In-Time (JIT) production and logistics. Today, SCM represents an autonomous managerial concept, although still largely dominated by logistics. SCM endeavors to observe the entire scope of the supply chain. All issues are viewed and resolved in a supply chain perspective, taking into account the interdependency in the supply chain. SCM offers a methodology to relieve the myopic control in the supply chain that has been reinforcing waste and problems. Construction supply chains are still full of waste and problems caused by myopic control. Comparison of case studies with prior research justifies that waste and problems in construction supply chains are extensively present and persistent, and due to interdependency largely interrelated with causes in other stages of the supply chain. The characteristics of the construction supply chain reinforce the problems in the construction supply...
ijcscm.com
The aim of this paper is to identify the various managerial issues encountered by UK/Irish contractors in the management of materials in confined urban construction sites. Through extensive literature review, detailed interviews, case studies, cognitive mapping, causal loop diagrams, questionnaire survey and documenting severity indices, a comprehensive insight into the materials management concerns within a confined construction site environment is envisaged and portrayed. The leading issues highlighted are: that contractors' material spatial requirements exceed available space, it is difficult to coordinate the storage of materials in line with the programme, location of the site entrance makes delivery of materials particularly difficult, it is difficult to store materials on-site due to the lack of space, and difficult to coordinate the storage requirements of the various sub-contractors. With the continued development of confined urban centres and the increasing high cost of materials, any marginal savings made on-site would translate into significant monetary savings at project completion. Such savings would give developers a distinct competitive advantage in this challenging economic climate. As on-site management professionals successfully identify, acknowledge and counteract the numerous issues illustrated, the successful management of materials on a confined urban construction site becomes attainable.
More than materials: managing what’s needed to create value in construction
Construction is primarily an assembly process. This will remain the case as the industry moves to offsite manufacturing of sub-assemblies. Unlike automotive assembly, it is an example of one-off project-based production more akin to film-making or ship-building. Every project—road, school, hospital, even home—is a prototype. Each is unique. Yes, there are repetitions within the construction process, but the totality is unique. In construction, value is created when elements are correctly assembled. In order for that to happen a number of resource flows need to converge simultaneously at the workface – operatives, information, plant, tools as well as materials. If we are to deliver our projects faster and with fewer defects, these critical flows along with space management (for safe operations) and the completion of prior assembly work need more systematic management than they generally receive. This essay challenges the narrow (movement of materials) focus of most current construction logistics and suggests that there are significant benefits for clients and constructors from a broader definition. Realising the full range of benefits requires significant changes at design stage.
The four roles of supply chain management in construction
… Journal of Purchasing & Supply Management, 2000
Supply chain management (SCM) is a concept that has flourished in manufacturing, originating from Just-In-Time (JIT) production and logistics. Today, SCM represents an autonomous managerial concept, although still largely dominated by logistics. SCM endeavors to observe the entire scope of the supply chain. All issues are viewed and resolved in a supply chain perspective, taking into account the interdependency in the supply chain. SCM offers a methodology to relieve the myopic control in the supply chain that has been reinforcing waste and problems.
Evaluating performance of integrated supply arrangements 4. 1 Stakeholder evaluation as an approach for measuring the performance of integrated supply 4.2 Experiences with stakeholder-based performance evaluation 4.3 Implications for future development of measurement 5 Conclusions and implications 5. 1 Conclusions on forces that shape successful innovation 5.2 Overview of the guidance material on developing supply chain integration References Appendix 1: Members of the Action Learning Club Appendix 2: Contents of the 'Building Down Barriers' handbook 4 Laing O'Rourke operates both as a main contractor and specialist concrete frame and groundworks contractor. The company has a strategy of being at the forefront of innovation in construction products and processes, including acting as a supply chain integrator. The Action Research Team's work was to support business-level innovation aimed at implementing forms of agreements with suppliers that require collaborative search for performance and profit improvement over time with sharing of risks and benefits. At the project-level, the team made considerable progress towards planning a collaborative costing framework to be used for cost planning, target setting and cost management on a series of health sector projects. This work stopped abruptly when the client decided it did not have the budget to proceed with these projects. Lend Lease Projects and the Building Design Partnership (BDP) as project manager and architects, respectively, worked together on a large city-centre retail development. Their Action Research Team focused on understanding the opportunities for improving project-level systems for integrating detailed design and procurement to be able to respond to emerging opportunities to optimise the design and deliver value to the end client. Pearce Group is a medium sized contractor operating in specialist niche markets within the public and private sector. The company recently returned to private ownership and has undertaken a major restructuring, creating client and market focused teams across its work streams. The Action Research Team looked at what would be involved in Pearce establishing a unique and unrivalled relationship with its suppliers, whereby the collaborative approach adopted becomes viewed by clients as an extension of Pearce's own service delivery. The team helped Pearce supply chain managers develop approaches for involving supply alliance partners in identifying opportunities for making process improvements and saving cost, and assessing joint performance. The change methodology set out to provide guidance for those who wish to innovate, recognising these realities of human organisation. Its purpose was to help an organisation or a set of supply partners evaluate their strategic assumptions and devise specific proposals for achieving integrated ways of working.
Service Quality for Client Satisfaction-Re-Orienting the Construction Team
Safety is very crucial for construction in Jordan. Safety should be a priority for all project parties. However, using low quality materials or following cheap process in construction will result in violation of the safety rules and regulations and finally in unpleased accident. The aim of this study is to test the current performance and conditions of safety in construction projects in Jordan, resource of dangers and hazards in construction, and cost of accident and delay in project due to worker leave, injury, and fatality. A safety questionnaire was prepared through consulting contractors and consultants in construction in Jordan. Then data were collected through distributing One hundred and sixty copies of the questionnaire filled by contractors, consultants, engineers, and superintendents in construction projects. The response rate is 29% therefore, 46 questionnaires were received and analyzed. Responses include information about companies and projects, safety equipment available and used, the roles of project parties in safety process, features and conditions of safety, and types and causes of accidents usually happen in construction sites. The study indicates that the construction accidents are due the violation of safety rules and regulations, the absence of training programs, lack of safety meetings, lectures provided to workers, the improper construction conditions, low quality of equipment used and the absence of testing by a specialized safety team in project site. Results of research show that in 69% of cases contractors pays for safety cost, in 68% of cases safety tools are available but not used in 44.4% of cases. Excavation is the most danger work in projects, collapse happened in 68% of cases reported. A simple accident can result in JD520 as cost, and a worker leave of 1 week at least. Construction companies in class 2 has good safety performance (80% safety tools are available and used, 60% training program is provided), followed by 1 st class, 4 th class, and 3 rd class companies. The paper results are helpful for construction sector and construction parties are urged to give safety a high priority to avoid additional cost and delay and critical injuries, disabilities or fatalities for their workers.
1 Altering Design Decisions to Better Suit Facilities Management Processes
2015
Research work reported in this paper tackles the communication between processes of both facilities management (FM) and design, showing the effect of such communication on the capability of newly built facilities in supporting organizations. Facilities management and design are seen as two different routes whereby the former starts on with the commencement of the building realisation process while the latter engages in post construction practices. Such a view suggests the existence of a gap between both processes which could influence the level of performance of the built facility and consequently the facilities management measures that would then be warranted. Therefore, the aim has been to reveal the distant relationship between facilities management and design as well as to unveil the FM potential in enhancing design decisions for achieving better performing facilities. Various factors leading to the aforementioned gap and reasons for bridging it have been presented. It was deduc...
International Journal of Information Technology Project Management, 2000
The aim of this paper is to identify and classify the numerous managerial issues encountered in the management of personnel in confined site construction. For the purpose of this research, a confined construction site is defined as a site where permanent works fit the site footprint, extending to levels above and/or below ground level, leaving spatial restrictions for other operations (e.g. plant and material movements, materials storage and temporary accommodation etc.) and require effective resource co-ordination beyond normal on-site management input. A literature review and analysis, case studies incorporating interviews and focus groups, and a questionnaire survey were used in order to gain a comprehensive insight into the issues of management of personnel in a confined construction site environment. The following are the top five leading issues highlighted; (1) Accidents due to an untidy site, (2) One contractor holding up another because of the lack of space, (3) A risk to personnel because of vehicular traffic on-site, (4) Difficult to facilitate several contractors at one work location, and (5) Numerous personnel working within the one space. In today's modern environment, spatial restrictions are quickly becoming the norm in the industry. Therefore, the management of personnel on-site becomes progressively more difficult with the decrease in available space on-site. Where such environments exist, acknowledging the numerous issues highlighted above, aids site management in the supervision and co-ordination of personnel on-site, thus reducing accidents, increasing productivity and increasing profit margins. As on-site management professionals successfully identify, acknowledge and counteract the numerous issues illustrated, the successful management of personnel on a confined construction site is achievable. By identifying the numerous issues, on-site management can proactively mitigate such issues through adopting counteractive measures and through successful identification of the traits identified.
The Role of Facilities Management at the Design Stage
2006
Facilities management is a new discipline, an exciting profession that embraces many essential areas of the built environment. The last two decades have witnessed a significant growth in the profession to the extent that there is the need to be clear on its roles both in the industry and organisation. This study looks at the role of facilities management in the procurement of a facility. It tries to highlight the advantages of the early involvement of the facilities manager in the procurement process. The methodology for this study is through interviews of professionals in construction and service providers as well as facilities managers and designers. Emphasis is placed on the attainment of value for money, Customer satisfaction and the delivery of a better building; that is economic to run, easy for the occupiers to maintain, control and manage, better able to respond to the needs of the occupants .In promoting the role of facilities managers, their influence and contributions to ...
A New Perspective of Construction Logistics and Production Control: An Exploratory Study
26th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction, 2018
Construction logistics and production control can enhance project performance. Research addressing site material management mainlyaims at reducing hauling distances and transportation costs. Other studies address the effects of logistics on labor productivity, proposing partial solutions instead of comprehensive optimization.Moreover, previous research on logistics optimization covers various stages of supply chain, but stops once materials reach the construction site. However, different techniques can be used to haulthese materials from storage areas to workplaces, including push and just-in-time techniques.These methods along with the effects they can have on crew performance still need to be studied. Pull and push techniques have been studied and applied for production control purposes. However, zooming into the level of project locations, the effects of production control approaches on crew performancestill need to be studied. This paper reviews onsite construction logistics and production control techniques, studies them at the level of locations, and proposes hypothesesto be evaluated in future research, relating logistics mechanisms and production control systems to productivity. This research is valuable due to exposing additional factors affecting labor productivity, and recommending further optimization in production planning and construction logistics.
Supply Chain Management and Construction Project Delivery: Constraints to its Application
Supply chain management (SCM) is a production based project delivery approach that has come to stay and help streamline all the experiences of extensive delays and abandonment that have bedeviled the Nigerian construction industry. The objectives of this study were to identify and evaluate the constraints to the application of SCM in the delivery of construction projects. The study adopted an exploratory research design method of investigation consisting of both quantitative and qualitative methods. A purposive and convenient sampling technique was deployed in selecting the sample size using the Krejcie and Morgan method. A semi-structured interview, multiple case study, personal observation and questionnaire survey was carried out among four (4) construction firms located in Abuja, Lagos and Rivers State respectively. The questionnaires were used as the primary data collection instrument after they were pre-tested using a pilot study for validity and reliability. The data collected were analyzed using Severity Index (SI) and Cronbach's Alpha reliability with the aid of SPSS 17.0 version as well as a Microsoft excels programmed software. The study found that out of the 403 responses gotten on the twenty four (24) factors identified as constraints to the application of SCM in construction project delivery. The followings were identified as the most significant constraints; Lack of the understanding of SCM concept (SI=50.76), unclear strategic benefits (SI=50.52), dearth of trust within and outside an organization (SI=50.31), lack of a common standard for collaboration (SI=49.32) and failure to broaden the SC vision beyond procurement or product distribution (SI=48.12). The study recommends that a forum be created through workshops, conferences, face-to-face interactions to aid in understanding what the concept is all about. The study further recommends that effort should be made by the professionals, contractors, subcontractors and the likes to adopt the SCM techniques in the delivery of their construction projects to schedule, cost and quality objectives.
Integrated construction supply chain design and delivery solutions
2013
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UNDERSTANDING CONSTRUCTION SUPPLY CHAINS: AN ALTERNATIVE INTERPRETATION
Much research work has assessed that construction is ineffective and many problems can be observed. Analysis of these problems has shown that a major part of them are supply chain problems, originating at the interfaces of different parties or functions. There have been several kinds of initiatives aiming at improvement and renewal of construction supply chains, but only few have a track record of consequent and significant successes.
Examining service quality within construction processes
Technovation, 2000
The overall intent of this research was to explore possible ways of project success, so as to incorporate two important features, such as service quality in construction delivered by contractors and the project owners expectations. Special consideration has been given to service gap analysis as a diagnostic tool on the differences and similarities of the views of project owners and contractors concerning 15 attributes. This technique highlights and confirms some construction problems and their nature sought by means of a structured questionnaire survey completed by 138 participants. This study built up a body of information on project construction characteristics in present conditions, tested the assumptions among the project team and raised important issues relating to the debates surrounding it.
Construction materials supply logistics
1997
of cost, quality and time. Customer service is the key element that holds together all supply logistics activities, thus, the effectiveness in selecting suppliers should begin with evaluating characteristics that are deemed necessary for a supplier to provide a pre-requisite level of customer service. Such factors, or enablers, provide indications as to whether a given supplier will be able to meet key materials delivery objectives. This paper provides a review of problems besetting the supply of construction materials as identified in current literature. Opportunities presented by the introduction of information and communication technologies for improving the materials management process have been examined. A logistics perspective of construction materials management has been adopted. The analytic hierarchy process has been presented as an appropriate methodology for assessing factors that enable achievement of efficient and cost-effective materials supply logistics to support con...
In order to provide for controllable delivery, reliable lead times and efficient customer response, lean manufacturing and platform assembly practices play an important role in supply chains in the aerospace industry. The adoption of lean manufacturing practices ensures an efficient delivery of products to the market. Benefits from the development of platform strategies are a more reliable materials supply and an improved logistics control. The aerospace industry is characterized by a small number of major global players and many small ones. A major part of the design and production has been contracted out to suppliers. In this paper the basic similarities and differences between the construction and aerospace industry and supply chains are analysed. A comparative study of aerospace and construction supply chains is presented to indicate and discuss the applicability of supply chain management concepts to construction, and the improvement potential of these concepts regarding supply chain management in construction. It is concluded that in particular the practice of platform assembly is a fruitful concept to be applied in the construction industry.