Total Quality Management in Design and Build: Auditing report analysis to develop a monitoring protocol for infrastructural projects

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Total Quality Management in Design and Build: Auditing report analysis to develop a monitoring protocol for infrastructural projects

No abstract

Highway Procurement : Performance-based Contractor Selection

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The best criteria for the selection of contractors in the Dutch construction industry!

Selecting contractors in the Netherlands is often done by the criterion of lowest price. This leads to a lack of innovation and a loss of quality in the construction industry. From the field of Purchasing and Procurement, we learn that there are several theories and processes for finding the best contractor for the execution of a work. One of the steps in those processes is the assessment of the contractors on the basis of specific criteria. Which criteria have to be used depends on the wishes of the client. But what are, in general, the best criteria to use? Assessment on the basis of which criterion or combination of criteria really says something on the quality of the cooperation and the final product? In this research, a comparison is made between the criteria that were found in literature with the criteria that were found during a research in the Dutch construction industry. The aim of this research is to find the best criteria for the selection of contractors in the Dutch construction industry

Partner Selection Criteria for Participation-based Cooperation

The Dutch construction industry is under pressure. In order to answer the expectations set by society, innovations are necessary. The industry stands in need of clients and contractors who find common objectives and work in participation-based cooperation (such as partnering or alliance) in order to stimulate innovation development. On paper, public clients strive for innovative cooperation with their contractors. Yet, many clients and contractors still try to realise their conflicting objectives, which leads to difficulties in the relationship and counteract innovation. Underlying this lack of support for participation-based cooperation is the inadequate knowledge on the criteria public clients must and may set in order to select a suitable partner. This study describes and analyses the selection of a partner for participation based cooperation by a public client. Criteria for partner selection were assessed with a literature review in relation to participation-based cooperation. A hierarchical case study on five project alliances verified these criteria. The study shows that public clients have to reconsider the specification phase in the tendering process. The research indicates that certain additional criteria must be set if the selection of a partner is to succeed. In particular, criteria concerning the potential employees in the participation-based relationship are necessary. It is recognized by the Regieraad Bouw that public clients need wise applications in order to make clear decisions in the tendering process. The result of this study is a practical set of criteria, which can simplify the selection of a suitable partner and which can contribute to the support of participation-based cooperation in the Dutch construction industry

Transaction Costs for Design-Build-Finance-Maintain Contracts

This paper gives insight in how transaction costs arise and how in theory transaction costs can be reduced. A comparison between theory and practice has been made. A study of a case in the Netherlands, the Second Coentunnel showed how transaction costs in practice appear, in which stage of the purchasing process these cost arise and also how transaction costs can be reduced. Cost specifications, handed by the public and private parties, make clear that in every phase of the process the client makes expenses. The client spends the most money during the initiative phase. The private parties start making costs in the first phase of the tender (prequalification). For contractors the most expensive phase is the dialogue phase. Taking all the costs in overview, noticeable is that all of the costs are related to the duration of the different phases of the process and required capacity of personnel. Success factors from theory and practice have been identified in the process in which transaction costs arise. Theory and practice have been compared and resulted in a list of twelve success factors. By implementing these success factors in future projects the expectation is that transaction costs will not be unnecessary high

Risk Allocation in Joint Ventures

The method of risk allocation within joint-ventures differs from project to project. In a jointventure the division of responsibilities and risks is not always clear for the participating parties. At this moment there is no model which can lead the risk allocation to good results within a joint-venture. This study has been developed by conducting a literature study and a case study in order to find a suitable model for risk allocation in joint ventures. Using this model, the parties are more aware of risk allocation and it can serve as a guideline the process of risk allocation, as a result of which the participating actors will be able to get a handle on the process

The roots to conflicting interests among different partners in a dbfm consortium

The paper describes a theory for identifying the roots of conflicting interests in DBFM-consortia. The Theory that ha been developed analyses the possible conflicting interests based on three complementary tension fields, where for every tension field relevant aspects are defined from existing literature. By rating the individual aspects a statement can be made about the possibility that conflicting interests might occur in one of these three tension fields. Because of the fact that (some of) the aspects are controllable (like investments made, or possible future deals), the probability of conflicting interests to occur can be reduced. This should lead to more insight in the way a consortium should be managed with regard to conflicting interests. The principles described are not only applicable to DBFM-projects, but can also be used in other forms of collaboration

The roots to conflicting interests among different partners in a dbfm consortium

The paper describes a theory for identifying the roots of conflicting interests in DBFM-consortia. The Theory that ha been developed analyses the possible conflicting interests based on three complementary tension fields, where for every tension field relevant aspects are defined from existing literature. By rating the individual aspects a statement can be made about the possibility that conflicting interests might occur in one of these three tension fields. Because of the fact that (some of) the aspects are controllable (like investments made, or possible future deals), the probability of conflicting interests to occur can be reduced. This should lead to more insight in the way a consortium should be managed with regard to conflicting interests. The principles described are not only applicable to DBFM-projects, but can also be used in other forms of collaboration

Phenobarbital, midazolam pharmacokinetics, effectiveness, and drug-drug interaction in asphyxiated neonates undergoing therapeutic hypothermia

Background: Phenobarbital and midazolam are commonly used drugs in (near-)term neonates treated with therapeutic hypothermia for hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy, for sedation, and/or as anti-epileptic drug. Phenobarbital is an inducer of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A, while midazolam is a CYP3A substrate. Therefore, co-treatment with phenobarbital might impact midazolam clearance. Objectives: To assess pharmacokinetics and clinical anti-epileptic effectiveness of phenobarbital and midazolam in asphyxiated neonates and to develop dosing guidelines. Methods: Data were collected in the prospective multicentre PharmaCool study. In the present study, neonates treated with therapeutic hypothermia and receiving midazolam and/or phenobarbital were included. Plasma concentrations of phenobarbital and midazolam including its metabolites were determined in blood samples drawn on days 2–5 after birth. Pharmacokinetic analyses were performed using non-linear mixed effects modelling; clinical effectiveness was defined as no use of additional anti-epileptic drugs. Results: Data were available from 113 (phenobarbital) and 118 (midazolam) neonates; 68 were treated with both medications. Only clearance of 1-hydroxy midazolam was influenced by hypothermia. Phenobarbital co-administration increased midazolam clearance by a factor 2.3 (95% CI 1.9–2.9, p < 0.05). Anticonvulsant effectiveness was 65.5% for phenobarbital and 37.1% for add-on midazolam. Conclusions: Therapeutic hypothermia does not influence clearance of phenobarbital or midazolam in (near-)term neonates with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy. A phenobarbital dose of 30 mg/kg is advised to reach therapeutic concentrations. Phenobarbital co-administration significantly increased midazolam clearance. Should phenobarbital be substituted by non-CYP3A inducers as first-line anticonvulsant, a 50% lower midazolam maintenance dose might be appropriate to avoid excessive exposure during the first days after birth. © 2019 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger AG, Base