Construction Process Improvement

Description

The construction process has come under intense scrutiny in recent times and this is set to continue as building owners and users demand better value for money from a more sustainable built environment. The construction sector’s actors are responding to the challenges implicit in this drive for greater competitiveness and social responsibility. New forms of procurement, innovation programmes, knowledge management, CAD-supported processes, predictive and diagnostic tools, and many more initiatives are helping to transform the sector. Construction Process Improvement showcases 21 examples of how directed efforts are being taken to raise productivity and quality, reduce waste and costs, and provide more certain and durable products for the sector’s customers. Each example is the subject of a closely coupled collaborative project in which answers are being sought on matters of strategic importance to companies. The chapters that describe and discuss these projects balance state-of-the-art reviews with details of the work being undertaken and, in many cases, the results that are being implemented within the companies.Construction Process Improvement deals with issues that matter to best practice companies and researchers in industry and universities. It covers, amongst other topics, modularisation for manufactured housing, life cycle methods in housing, commercial buildings and services installations, tools and techniques for performance prediction and diagnostics, coordination of design and production processes, novel use of traditional materials, new forms of procurement and the role of innovation, public private partnerships, partnering structures, learning organisations, management of major refurbishment, management information systems, TQM and continuous improvement, CAAD methodology, tools and 4-D CAD, and facilities management.This book analyses the way forward for improving the construction process, in particular the links between research and development and industrial competitiveness. The implementation of new methods and thinking in companies is examined and important advice for senior managers and researchers is offered.Content: Chapter 1 Introduction (pages 1–14): Brian Atkin, Jan Borgbrant and Per?Erik JosephsonChapter 2 Modularisation in the Customisation of Manufactured Housing (pages 19–32): Carina JohanssonChapter 3 Application of Integrated Life Cycle Design to Housing (pages 31–43): Mats ObergChapter 4 Life Cycle Costs of Commercial Buildings ? A Case Study (pages 44–55): Eva SternerChapter 5 A Life Cycle Cost Approach to Optimising Indoor Climate Systems (pages 56–67): Dennis Johansson and Anders SvenssonChapter 6 Performance Indicators as a Tool for Decisions in the Construction Process (pages 68–81): Veronica YverasChapter 7 Reducing the Risk of Failure in Performance within Buildings (pages 82–92): Stephen BurkeChapter 8 Physical Status of Existing Buildings and Their Components with the Emphasis on Future Emissions (pages 93–105): Torbjorn HallChapter 9 Co?ordination of the Design and Building Process for Optimal Building Performance (pages 106–117): Niklas SorensenChapter 10 New Concrete Materials Technology for Competitive Construction (pages 118–129): Markus PetersonChapter 11 Competitiveness in the Context of Procurement (pages 130–142): Fredrik MalmbergChapter 12 Encouraging Innovation Through New Approaches to Procurement (pages 143–153): Kristian WidenChapter 13 Public?Private Partnerships – Conditions for Innovation and Project Success (pages 154–167): Roine LeiringerChapter 14 Pros and Cons in Partnering Structures (pages 168–182): Anna RhodinChapter 15 Importance of the Project Team to the Creation of Learning Within and Between Construction Projects (pages 183–194): Fredrik AnheimChapter 16 Refurbishment of Commercial Buildings: The Relationship Between the Project and its Context (pages 195–210): Asa EngwallChapter 17 Improving Project Efficiency Through Process Transparency in Management Information Systems (pages 211–224): Christian LindforsChapter 18 Improvement Processes in Construction Companies (pages 225–239): Peter SamuelssonChapter 19 Design Research and the Records of Architectural Design: Expanding the Foundations of Design Tool Development (pages 240–254): Robert FeketeChapter 20 Communicating Project Concepts and Creating Decision Support from CAAD (pages 255–265): Jan HenrichsenChapter 21 Using 4D CAD in the Design and Management of Vertical Extensions to Existing Buildings (pages 266–277): Susan BergstenChapter 22 Importance of Architectural Attributes in Facilities Management (pages 278–291): Ulf NordwallChapter 23 Conclusions (pages 292–298): Brian Atkin, Jan Borgbrant and Per?Erik Josephson