P.E.D. Love

Concurrent engineering : a strategy for procuring construction projects

Abstract The construction procurement process has been heavily criticised for its fragmented approach toward the delivery of construction projects. This has affected project effectiveness inasmuch as current procurement practices do not effectively encourage the integration, coordination and communication between participants. In addition, there is an ephemeral shifting coalition of participants from which divergent goals and objectives often emanate. This inhibits the scope for creativity and innovation throughout the procurement process. To overcome the difficulties often associated with procuring projects, industry practitioners and researchers have turned to the manufacturing industry as a point of reference and a potential source of innovation. Accordingly, a concept known as Concurrent Engineering (CE) has become a focal point for research. Concurrent engineering is a holistic approach to the design, development and production of a product. A multi-disciplinary team approach is required, whereby participants are brought together during the design to determine how downstream issues may be affected by design decisions. This paper suggests that a CE approach in construction may significantly improve the way in which projects are procured. A simple model demonstrating how CE can contribute to project effectiveness is proposed.

An application of the Internet-based project management system

Abstract The great advance in information technologies (IT) and the availability of a wide range of software in recent years have brought many changes in the construction industry. The Internet, a new member of IT, offers a medium with new opportunities to manage construction projects. This paper describes an Internet-based project management system called “Total Information Transfer System” (TITS). TITS comprises six major functions including data exchange, information exchange, Internet chat, live video-cam, search engine and auxiliary services. TITS is demonstrated for project monitoring with a real-life project.

Co-operative benchmarking: a tool for partnering excellence in construction

Abstract This paper suggests that co-operative benchmarking should be used as a tool for achieving partnering excellence in construction projects. The paper presents an eight-stage process of a co-operative benchmarking approach which can be used to improve the performance of parties entering into partnering agreements (the COBAP process). It is suggested that the establishment of a COBAP team and effective management of the COBAP process, can stimulate a series of positive outcomes such as mutual trust, commitment, creativity and continuous improvement. The implementation of the COBAP can be used as a mechanism for collective learning, which can sustain a competitive advantage.

The propagation of rework benchmark metrics for construction

Australian construction organisations have generally refrained from implementing quality management principles. As a result, little is known about the costs of poor quality and the impact it has on an organisation’s performance and competitiveness. With respect to rework, it is suggested that most organisations have learnt to accept it as part of their operations, inasmuch as they have not realised its true extent or its influence on their own and a project’s performance. This paper uses a case study approach to develop a series of benchmark metrics for the causes and costs of rework, which were derived from two construction projects that were procured by the same contractor using different procurement methods. From the findings a conceptual model for benchmarking and reducing rework throughout the quality‐chain is presented and discussed.

Current and future directions of multimedia technology in business

A multimedia system is a typical application of time-critical computing. In a networked multimedia system such as video conferencing, real-time image communication is the key for system success. Multimedia applications have received significant attention from business after the emergence of Internet and World Wide Web (WWW). However, the application areas of multimedia have not been discussed in detail taking into account that there is no clear cut framework for the application of multimedia technology in business including commerce, community service, health care, education and manufacturing. Realising the importance of computers including electronic commerce in business, an attempt has been made in this paper to review the application of multimedia in various businesses together with various societal issues such as intellectual property, privacy and secure commercial transactions. A framework has been proposed to improve the application of multimedia in business. Also, future research directions are indicated to motivate the researchers in the multimedia application in business.

An e-commerce system for construction material procurement

This paper presents an e‐commerce system that is being used for construction material procurement. The paper identifies the limitations relating to information retrieving, recording and sharing in the traditional material procurement process. E‐commerce applications that can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the material procurement process in construction are then identified and described. Finally, the design and implementation of an e‐commerce system for construction material procurement for trading construction materials in China is presented and discussed.

Improving the competitiveness of manufacturing companies by continuous incremental change

Total quality management (TQM) is an approach to change that can respond to the needs of the organisation and customers and has become the raison d’etre of any organisation wishing to be competitive in an era of globalization. Since the introduction of a quality approach into manufacturing it has left its mark across the landscape of manufacturing industry. In some ways it is axiomatic that reacting to or initiating such a change has not led to improvement in business processes. Management has become disillusioned with TQM and has sought an alternative approach to change in an attempt to become more competitive, flexible and responsive to customer demands. Business process re‐engineering (BPR) has been advocated as an alternative to TQM. While BPR seeks radical performance improvements as an objective, the path that is taken is much more incremental. Therefore, change should be viewed as a continuous process. Argues that TQM is the foundation for BPR, but that only by implementing change progressively will BPR be potentially successful in the long term.

Developing a theory of construction problem solving

Construction problem solving characterizes much of construction management practice and thus is an important research domain. Nonetheless, research in construction problem solving has not yet crossed the threshold into a mature discipline as there is no universally accepted theory for construction problem solving research. In exploring the possibility of establishing such a theory, this paper reviews existing research works in two important research categories: cognitive science and decision support systems. A strategy for building a theory for construction problem solving, focusing on the existing models and techniques developed in the two research categories, is proposed. Future research needs and opportunities are identified.

Putting an engine into re‐engineering: toward a process‐oriented organisation

Process re‐engineering, a recently popularised phenomenon, has been advocated as a change management strategy that can be used to refocus organisational tasks into processes so that dramatic performance improvements in critical, contemporary measures of performance such as cost, quality service, and speed can be achieved. This paper suggests that before an organisation can re‐engineer its processes they must first be engineered. Inherent within the philosophy of total quality management (TQM) is the notion of being process oriented. This paper argues that a process should be engineered by utilising the philosophical foundations of TQM. Furthermore, both the technical and social inputs of a process must be designed simultaneously and be performed congruently. When engineered processes are no longer considered to be effective and efficient, and dramatic performance improvements are sought, then they should be re‐engineered, specifically encouraging breakthrough performance improvements and innovative ways of working and delivering products or services.

The propagation of quality management concepts in the Indian manufacturing industry: some empirical observations

Presents findings from a study that investigated the propagation of quality management practices among Indian manufacturing companies over a period of 16 years from 1980 to 1996. Reports the findings of a mail questionnaire survey conducted on 500 selected companies from 14 manufacturing sectors. The extent to which quality management practices have been implemented is reported and the obstacles to adoption are identified. The spread of quality initiatives in various functional areas is analysed and discussed. The paper will be of particular interest to practicing managers as it identifies a number of policies that governments may use to stimulate the adoption of quality management concepts in developing countries.