IS THE LAST PLANNER SYSTEM APPLICABLE TO DESIGN? A CASE STUDY

ABSTRACT The Last Planner TM system has been successfully implemented in construction to increase the reliability of planning, improve production performance, and create a predictable workflow. However, some practitioners question the function of the Last Planner TM system during design especially that design processes involve iterations and circular chains of interaction between different parties. The purpose of this paper is to report on research comprising the application of Last Planner TM system in design. The paper describes the developments and adjustments introduced to the Last Planner TM system to better suit design processes on a health care project in North America. Novel standardized planning practices used on the project are reported and analyzed. The study findings suggest that the Last Planner TM system principles account for both deliberative and situated action models. On one hand, deliberative planning 4 takes place at the master and phase scheduling level where a premeditated rigid course of action is undertaken in setting milestones and identifying handoffs. On the other hand, situated planning is performed at the lookahead planning and weekly work planning stages where planning takes into account changes in the environment and the uncertainty affecting inputs, processes, and outputs of design activities. KEY WORDS Lean design, last planner tm system, lookahead planning, production control, lean construction

Teaching lean construction: perspectives on theory and practice

This paper builds on the IGLC paper, “Different Perspectives on Teaching Lean Construction,” presented last year by Tsao et al. that documented teaching approaches from three different Lean Construction (LC) university course offerings. It aggregated the approaches taken by the course offerings, the Lean Construction Institute (LCI), and the Associated General Contractors of America to develop recommendations for learning modules, outcomes, and strategies for an introductory LC university course. This paper provides four additional distinct perspectives to continue the conversation about teaching LC in a university setting. It illustrates the authors’ differences in teaching approaches, experiences, and lessons learned from course offerings in the United States and Lebanon. The paper offers additional ideas for providing “proof of concept” to students and further illustrates how teaching LC effectively requires a combination of readings, lectures, discussions, simulation exercises, field trips, and guest speakers to mix theory with action. The paper then aggregates seven teaching perspectives in a single table to provide an overview of different approaches for teaching an introductory university-level course on LC

Role of formwork systems in high-rise construction

The selection of formwork systems in high-rise buildings is often governed by their competence in optimizing concrete activities in an isolated manner, without relating this choice to the entire construction workflow. This paper studies the role of advanced formwork systems in high-rise construction and analyzes this role in shaping not only the progress of concrete activities, but the entire construction sequence. In this context, known research efforts do not address this important aspect in analyzing high-rise formwork technologies, and formwork selection is usually left to constructors’ experience, and corresponding organizational knowledge. Employing process models, the paper investigates advanced high-rise formwork technologies versus regular ones to better advice scholars and practitioners. Results highlight the importance of advanced high-rise formwork systems in streamlining the workflow of concrete and other downstream activities, allowing for better resource allocation, more waste reduction, smaller work batches, less inventory, and safer working environment.Non UBCUnreviewedFacultyOthe

IS IMPROVISATION COMPATIBLE WITH LOOKAHEAD PLANNING? AN EXPLORATORY STUDY

ABSTRACT Short-term or lookahead planning is critical to the success of construction operations since detailed construction planning is more realistic and objective when performed closer to executing a construction activity. Lookahead planning requires more than simple interpretation of the project schedule, it involves breaking down activities into the level of operations, identifying constraints, assigning responsibilities, and making assignments ready by removing constraints. However, task execution sometimes proceeds without full removal of constraints due to uncertainty, lack of planning, lack of information, or pressure for fast action. In these circumstances, construction specialists revert to some sort of improvisation utilizing available material, information, space etc., and other resources to execute these tasks. The purpose of this paper is to present early results from a study that aims at assessing the performance level of lookahead planning in construction and evaluating how much, where, and when improvisation is utilized. Results from three exploratory case studies are used to identify the performance level of Lookahead planning, and the circumstances for reverting to improvisation. The results will help assess the threshold for planning efforts required before reaching diminishing returns versus the threshold for effective improvisation required to cater for breakdowns in planning efforts and uncertainty. Early results show many gaps in lookahead planning practices and sporadic cases of improvisation