Enabling rapid prefab construction : a continuous improvement approach

Title data

Grenzfurtner, Wolfgang ; Gronalt, Manfred:
Enabling rapid prefab construction : a continuous improvement approach.
2017
Event: IUFRO Division 5 Conference , 12.-16.06.2017 , Vancouver, Canada.
(Conference item: Conference , Speech )

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The reduction of reworking non-conformities and realizing improvement potential enables great opportunities to increase the efficiency in industrialized housebuilding. An option to generate progress is the implementation of continuous improvement (CI). Despite of the broad application of CI in manufacturing industry, realization in construction industry failed largely. Project based manor of building industry, short term contracts with subcontractors and suppliers, segmented order fulfilment processes and additional topics are headed as concerns. However, gaining competitive advantages through incremental innovation is indispensable. To initiate implementation of CI, companies need case examples. A case study showing an application of Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) method in construction industry is presented. The aim of the underlying work was to reduce assembling time during structural work of prefabricated timber frame family homes. Depending on the degree of prefabrication the phase from assembling the first walls up to roof is the period where the time unit is most expensive. The applicability of PDCA method is investigated with failure reduction analysis. A simulation model which compares the initial and improved situation is developed in order to show the effects.