Claudio Mourgues

Modeling Virtual Design and Construction Implementation Strategies Considering Lean Management Impacts

Virtual design and construction (VDC) implementation remains a challenge as companies lack understanding of the implementation strategies and their relation with other important improvement efforts such as lean management. This article presents a performance modeling methodology that allows companies to assess VDC implementation strategies, including lean management as a moderator. The methodology is based on a conceptual model of the implementation variables that influence project performance and a mathematical method that uses partial least squares to explain the relationships among the multiple variables. The methodology was tested using data from an existing survey to identify the variables and quantify the relationships. A significant finding is that using lean as a moderator strengthens the connection between strategies and allows a better performance on companies. The results are exploratory but provide interesting insights into VDC implementation strategies and provide evidence of the methodologys power.

Identifying waste in virtual design and construction practice from a Lean Thinking perspective: A meta-analysis of the literature

In recent years, the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry has broadly expanded the use of Virtual Design and Construction (VDC), particularly Lean Construction methods, to deliver value to their customers. VDC includes the use of Production Management using Lean methods as an integral part of the defining theory and method, and multiple case studies have concluded that the greatest performance improvement is achieved by implementing both initiatives together. This paper reviews extensive literature of VDC and Lean Construction with the intent to show benefits in the application of Lean Construction in the actual practice of VDC and to provide examples of waste and opportunities for improvement in projects if Lean methods are applied. This study found that use of Lean methods can help to reduce waste within the VDC process, in the phase of information flow (process view). Specifically, our main finding from this study was that only five types of waste represent 80% of the referenced occurrence of waste in VDC processes, which suggests that if teams use Lean Methods and focus on elimination of these types of waste (i.e., motion (excess), inventory (excess), overproduction, waiting and employee knowledge (unused)), teams can improve VDC practices dramatically.

Criteria Used for Selecting Envelope Wall Systems in Chilean Residential Projects

AbstractBuilding envelope selection greatly influences the building’s performance. Specifically, the envelope wall system (EWS) definition is a critical part of this selection, especially for residential projects. This selection is a complex decision, as it depends on multiple considerations (e.g.,xa0cost, structural behavior, energy efficiency) and involves multiple stakeholders (e.g.,xa0developers, constructors, users). Simplified approaches considering only a few criteria are often used in the decision-making process, potentially leading to suboptimal solutions. The literature points out some relevant criteria; however, there is a need to present an integrated approach to the EWS selection problem. As an initial step, this research presents a case study that identifies and formalizes the criteria for selecting EWSs in Chile, and assesses the preference of Chilean decision-makers for these criteria via interviews and surveys. Results include thermal, acoustic, and structural behaviors, cost, complexity of c...

Reference Virtual Design Team (VDT) probabilities to Design Construction Project Organizations

This paper reports the results obtained from five virtual models of construction project organizations developed using the Virtual Design Team (VDT) method. The results were compared with the real project organization performance in each case and their probabilities inputs were calibrated to obtain benchmark reference inputs for future projects. The models were validated comparing their predictions with real results obtained in the projects and the predicted behavior of the organizations was subjected to the assessment and approval of technical experts of the companies in the study. The calibrated models obtained represent reality within appropriate margins given the variable nature of the problem, being able to predict the performance of projects with results generally less than 5% difference between the real performance and modeling results, achieving probabilities close to those from literature and well received by companies in the structured interview, with over 70% approval in the predicted factors covered. These results contribute to expand the uses of VDT methodology and to adapt this methodology to local companies, which enables to model organizations at the planning and design phase, achieving improvements in terms of cost, schedule and quality risks.

Impact of Machine-Failure Costs on Equipment Replacement Policies: Tunneling Company Case Study

AbstractFor those construction companies engaged in projects where production is controlled by equipment availability, with tunneling as maybe the most extreme example, equipment replacement policies affect not just the cost of a machine but have a decisive effect on overall project cost and achieved profit. Although equipment replacement models described in the literature suggest that the consequential costs of equipment failure are significant and should be considered in replacement decisions, most fail to explicitly include consequential costs or fail to provide methods to calculate the consequential cost in complex systems. This lack of consequential cost in a model seriously diminishes the effectiveness of a company’s equipment replacement policies and the company’s ability to earn a project. This work describes a case study that used simulation to quantify the consequential costs of equipment availability for a company engaged in tunnel-construction. The study includes the simulation of activities o...