Integration of Lean Con. and Building Information Modelling (0)

Ergo Pikas
Integration of Lean Construction and Building Information Modelling DISSERTATION
Tallinn 2010 2 UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES
Author : Ergo Pikas- Civil Engineering student , Faculty of Construction , Tallinn University of Applied Sciences Supervisor: Rafael Sacks- Associate Professor , Faculty of Civil and Env. Engineering, Technion ­ Israel Institute of Technology Consultant: Roode Liias- Professor and Dean , Faculty of Civil Engineering, Tallinn University of Technology Title: Integration of Lean Construction and Building Information Modelling Archived: University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Construction
ABSTRACT
This research can be divided into two. The first part investigates the current state of the construction industry, while the second part looks at new emerging business models ­ in particular , Lean Construction (LC) and Building Information Modelling (BIM), as well as an integration of these two.
Given that the construction industry does not have a particularly good reputation among the public, the first part of this thesis focuses mainly on this problem and its sources . It is the reason why we need new and better business models, like LC and BIM, or even an integration of the two models.
Both LC and BIM have been shown to have a profound impact on improving construction processes and therefore , project outcomes, as discussed in the third and the fourth chapters. Different studies and practical experience show that a combination of these originally independent approaches can ensure even better processes. Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), which is discussed in the fifth chapter , is an example of this. In conclusion , a recommendation supported by research is made for improving the Estonian construction industrys performance .
Key words : Lean Construction (LC), Building Information Modelling (BIM), Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), Design- Build (DB), Design-Bid-Build (DBB), etc. (see also 1.4).
3 TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................................................3
CHAPTER 1- INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................7
1.1 PROBLEM FORMULATION ..................................................................................................................7 1.2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ...............................................................................................................8 1.3 RESEARCH STRUCTURE .....................................................................................................................9 1.4 ABBREVIATIONS ...............................................................................................................................9
CHAPTER 2- PROBLEMS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY ...........................................10
2.1 PROBLEMS ......................................................................................................................................10 2.2 CAUSES OF THE PROBLEMS .............................................................................................................12 2.2.1 Structural: contractual systems ...............................................................................................12 2.2.2 Management in construction ...................................................................................................15 2.2.21 Conventional production management theory in construction..........................................16 2.2.22 Conventional project management theory in construction ................................................17 2.2.23 Learning and improvement ...............................................................................................19 2.2.3 Lack of technological exploitation ..........................................................................................19 2.3 EMPIRICAL STUDIES: SUMMARY OF RESEARCH CONDUCTED AMONG THE MAIN CONTRACTING COMPANIES IN ESTONIA ........................................................................................................................20
2.3.1 Research summary ..................................................................................................................21 2.4 CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................................................24
CHAPTER 3- LEAN CONSTRUCTION ...........................................................................................26
3.1 REQUIREMENTS FOR A PRODUCTION SYSTEM ..................................................................................27 3.2 THE TOYOTA PRODUCTION SYSTEM (TPS) .....................................................................................30 3.3 PHILOSOPHY OF LEAN CONSTRUCTION ...........................................................................................34 3.3.1 TFV views as the foundation for Lean Construction ..............................................................35 3.3.11 Value in construction projects ...........................................................................................36 3.3.12 Flow in construction ..........................................................................................................38
4 3.3.13 Waste identification in construction ..................................................................................40 3.3.2 The Lean Construction principles driven by the TFV model .................................................42 3.3.3 Management theory in construction........................................................................................44 3.3.31 Predictability in flow and processes (LPSTM) ...................................................................45 3.3.311 Levels of the Last Planner System ..............................................................................46 3.3.4 Discussion ...............................................................................................................................49 3.4 CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................................................49
CHAPTER 4- BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING ...........................................................50
4.1 DEFINITION OF BIM: PARAMETRIC MODELLING ..............................................................................50 4.1.1 What BIM is not......................................................................................................................51 4.2 INTEROPERABILITY .........................................................................................................................51 4.3 IMPLEMENTATION OF BIM ..............................................................................................................52 4.3.11 Collaboration.........................................................................................................................52 4.3.12 Planning use of BIM .............................................................................................................53 4.3.13 BIM functionalities/uses .......................................................................................................55 4.4 CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................................................58
CHAPTER 5- INTEGRATION OF LEAN CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING .........................................................................................................59
5.1 THEORETICAL WORK OF INTEGRATING LEAN CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING ..........................................................................................................................................59 5.2. INTEGRATED PROJECT DELIVERY (IPD) ........................................................................................60 5.2.1 Definition of IPD ....................................................................................................................61 5.2.2Principles of IPD ......................................................................................................................62 5.2.3 Organization, operating system and commercial terms ..........................................................64 5.2.31 Project organization...........................................................................................................64 5.2.32 Operating system ...............................................................................................................66 5.2.33 Commercial terms .............................................................................................................68 5.2.4 Legal relationships ..................................................................................................................68 5.2.5 Discussion ...............................................................................................................................69 5.3 EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FOR LC AND BIM SYNERGY.........................................................................69
5 5.3.1 Crusell Bridge case study ........................................................................................................69 5.3.2 Discussion ...............................................................................................................................71 5.4 CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................................................73
CHAPTER 6- CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................74
6.1 ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ................................................................................................................74 6.3 SOLUTION FOR ESTONIAN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY .....................................................................77 6.4 ACKNOWLEDGMENT .......................................................................................................................77 6.5 SUMMARY IN ESTONIAN .................................................................................................................78 6.6 BIBLIOGRAPHY ...............................................................................................................................93
APPENDIX 1: CRUSELL BRIDGE CASE STUDY .........................................................................97
6 CHAPTER 1- INTRODUCTION
Over time the Architecture , Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry has become more complex and demanding . Clients are no longer expecting only to meet schedule , cost and quality objectives but also to guarantee safety , human satisfaction and minimal negative environmental impact (Vanegas, DuBose and Pearce 1996). Traditional construction project delivery methods and models have failed to satisfy the expectations of both contractors and clients. The main problems and their causes are analysed in the second chapter of this thesis. Thus people in the AEC industry, including scholars and practitioners, have come together to find new solutions for delivering projects and fulfilling high requirements.
1.1 Problem formulation
The construction industry makes up a great share of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in many countries all over the world and provides employment to a great number of people. Thus, it is important to conduct research in this field , with a view to making it more productive, safe and free of waste. This can all happen only with a better understanding of the concepts, principles and physics of the construction industry. Therefore, many academics , academic institutions and even companies have started to work together to propose solutions for the problems occurring in the construction industry.
LC and BIM are fundamentally different approaches and ordinarily implemented independently. Their great positive impact on the industry in general has been noted by a variety of parties . Moreover , there are also significant attempts to combine these two models to achieve even better project outcomes, as in the case of IPD.
7 For the Estonian construction industry these are fairly new models. Thus the following questions drive the present research in its goal of gaining a better understanding of these new business models:
1. What are the main problems connected with the construction industry and what are their causes? 2. Which problems have been arising in the Estonian construction industry? 3. What is LC: the concept , its principles and tools ? 4. What is BIM: the concept, the process and its functionalities? 5. Can LC and BIM be integrated and what are the results ? 6. What is IPD? 7. Are LC and BIM applicable to the Estonian construction industry?
1.2 Research methodology
At the highest level, the present research can be divided into the following two functions : literature review and empirical study.
Literature review. This is based on available publications, articles and white papers from the International Group for Lean Construction, etc. (see also Bibliography).
Empirical study. This is based on the following three sources: first, the Crusell Bridge 1case study