Shuzo Furusaka

A model for the selection of the optimum crane for construction sites

This paper presents a method of locating a crane on a construction site using mathematical techniques. The optimum location and choice of the crane on a site is seen as one of the most important parts of construction planning. It proposes the algorithm which can define the least expensive cranage cost (the total cost of the hire, assembly and dismantling) by calculating the combined use of different cranes, such as truck crane, crawler crane, travelling based tower crane or fixed base tower crane. Conclusions are drawn as to the relevance of the application of the model to construction projects.

Process Model of Design and Construction Activities of a Building

This article presents a new method to represent the design and construction process in a systematic way and to develop a support system of management for concurrent engineering. We define activities included in the total process of a standard project, make an adjacency matrix about the relationship among activities, and structure the activities with a reachability matrix. As a result, the process consisting of several complicated interactions among activities was found. These interactions can be classified into three patterns. We constructed a new process model by dividing the information flow into nine categories. Moreover, the effectiveness of the model as a tool for concurrent engineering is discussed from four points of view, and the rellationship between concurrent engineering and project objectives is analyzed. This article shows the results matrix calculation first and then describes its contribution to concurrent engineering.

Development of Risk Analysis Method for Building Projects

abstract In the past decade, both inside and outside of Japan, a lot of studies and researches have been done on the problems concerning the risk management process, the contract relation, and the development of risk analysis technique. But, there are very few studies discussing the project risk from the viewpoints of jobsite engineers. Especially, risk management, which has been usually processed in the empiricism, is not considered deeply on the construction sites in Japan. However, it is necessary to understand the quantitative mechanism of project risk to proceed risk management in the construction site properly, and set up the risk strategies by trade-off of risk and cost to reduce the project risk. This study started with using FTA to develop a quantitative analysis method, and using the data from the stakeholders of project to prove this method is useful. And, 650 risk occurrence causes in concrete description were emerged in a discussion with 40 project managers by brainstorming. Then, 32 risk occurrence causes were extracted by the method of two-dimension evaluation. Finally, the decision support system of risk management in a dialogue way was developed.

Drop shipment-type wooden housing projects utilising locally-produced lumbers: determination of project leaders

In recent years, wooden houses which utilise domestic lumbers have been built in many parts of Japan through drop shipment-type projects. However, it is questionable whether this type of project greatly contributes to the revitalisation of local forest and housing industries, for in many cases, such projects largely rely on the voluntary initiatives of participating actors. This paper will discuss the system of local wooden housing production in terms of supply chain management which is a chain of sequential interdependences over lumbers. It will also attempt to select actors who can effectively lead projects, and evaluate their potential as well as overt leadership by the system theories and social network analyses. How the difference between leading actors can influence the progress of each project within the community will also be discussed from the standpoint of overcoming the immobilisation of the project members.

Overview of BIM Implementation in Singapore and Japan

This paper aims to overview BIM (building information modeling) implementation in Singapore and to clarify the problems concerned with BIM in Singapore and Japan. The Singapore BIM Roadmap and related policies developed by BCA (Building and Construction Authority) are introduced at first along with the background and environment in Singapore. Despite of the assessment from Japan, BIM implementation in Singapore is not always perfect and well-equipped according to the authors’ interviews to Japanese general contractors operating in Singapore. Japanese general contractors have ability to produce and coordinate design drawings and shop drawings by hiring in-house architects and engineers. The client and the architects can reduce project risk concerning design and drawings by transferring it to the general contractor. The authors discuss the problems on project management to show the strategy to develop the new version of BIM, hoping to share the value with all of the stakeholders of the project.

Investigation of Production Progress Monitoring to Respond to Change Orders in Steel Fabrication Projects

Abstract The development of an effective decision-making system for change orders is necessary when considering a steel production management system, including efficient production progress monitoring and automatic data collection. This paper introduces the detailed decision-making processes and verification of the information required to make appropriate decisions to deal with change orders in steel fabrication projects. The study was performed based on a Japanese steel fabrication project, with components produced by a large-scale steel fabrication plant in Thailand. Firstly, the authors analyzed the detailed response process for order changes, and the information referenced in order to make those decisions. Secondly, we studied the monitoring methods of production progress in the factory. Finally, we introduce an implementation case, as a production management system for steel fabrication to support decision-making, this includes assignments remaining, such as the limitation of identification technology in harsh environments, delayed input information dependent on monitoring timing and input method.

THE OPERATING AGREEMENT OF MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

This is a comparative study on the operating agreement of the management services for building construction projects. Five operating agreements of building construction projects are analyzed by the viewpoint of roles, tasks and responsibilities between stakeholders of each project. As a result, three findings are presented in this paper. 1. An operating agreement affects other operating agreements. 2. There are thirteen important operating domains for the management services. 3. It is very important in a building construction project to interlock two or more operating agreements.

Development of Information System for Large-Scale Structural Steel Fabricator’s Production Management

This paper deals with the development of information system for steel fabricator to manage its production and delivery works. Each fabricator has different production and quality management capabilities. However, most of the proposed information models for steel construction management have focused upon the construction site for delivery and erection of structural steel members. Moreover, each fabricator’s individual properties have never been appropriately considered in the development of information system. In Japan, steel fabricators developed their specialization depending upon new projects contracted through their general contractors and their fabrication capabilities. Therefore, the development of information systems to support steel fabricator’s work should take in to consideration, the type of fabricator involved and their work process. In addition, interoperability with stakeholders, such as the client, the designer, and the general contractor should also be taken in to account. Introducing the surveyed results of large-sized fabricator’s works and their information systems based upon barcodes, to support steel fabricator’s production work, such as material tracking, inventory management, and performance measuring, we discuss fabricator’s information systems and developmental assignment to extend the applications throughout the fabricator’s overall work stages for steel member production.

Education System for Japanese Construction Site Engineers in Quality Management

In Japan, over the last 50 years, quality management of construction projects has come to involve many important issues. Moreover, it is now emphasized in all area of manufacturing. However, it may prove difficult or impossible to assure satisfactory quality, relying only upon laws and regulations concerned with quality measurement. In practical terms, construction projects involve a complex interplay of material and human resources in order to complete projects. The wide variety of construction site engineers have expert knowledge and experience as concerns their work. Thus, it is necessary to teach the fundamentals of site work and techniques as well as safety rules, in order to achieve high quality by performing their work accurately. But the education system for site engineers in Japan has been changed several times over past decades taking in to account social and economic movements, and technical evolutions. This paper introduces the historical variation of the education system for site engineers in Japan as compared with issues and responses, such as historical construction accidents, revised regulations, and the changing education system for site engineers from the 1960s to the present.

THE PROPAGATION PROCESS AND MEANING OF THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION PROJECT OF SOUTH KOREA

In Korea, the construction industry played major roles to develop the country in the past. But now its roles tend to reduce in Korea industry moreover the construction industry was treated as a fading industry because the construction market size continuously reduce, and the construction accident rate increase. And then Korean government seriously recognized those problems effect for the construction industry. Accordingly they decided on applying a lot of strategies, contained the CM(Construction Management), in order to improve the construction industry and resolve the problem. As the CM system applied in Korea, initially it took some problems because already the supervision system has been operated in Korea construction industry. However, those difficult problems are in the construction industry, many universities and technical institutes start to study and educate the CM system which is a useful and popular method to manage the construction project.