Improving industrial project constructability (productivity, value engineering)

Constructability is the ability of project conditions to enable the optimal utilization of construction resources. Constructability improvement may heighten the construction-sensitivity of designs, render the communication of engineering information as more effective, optimize construction-originated construction techniques, increase the effectiveness of construction management policies, improve vendor/subcontractor services, or identify need for designer-constructor communication during the project. This dissertation investigates both the causes of constructability problems or sub-optimal conditions and the effects of constructability solutions. Industrial project constructability problem causes are analyzed from several perspectives. Collected improvement ideas are analyzed for content, and classification frequencies are observed. Analysis of engineering rework exposes the causes and costs of that rework which occurs as a result of constructability problems. Relationships between characteristics of construction work and constructability problem-type frequencies are investigated. Analysis of the effects of constructability improvements provide additional insights. Since most constructability improvements require a trade-off in the utilization of construction resources, an analysis of such impact trade-offs reveals those additional resource expenditures required in order to enjoy certain benefits. In addition, the cost-significance of these impacts are assessed and strategies and methods for achieving desirable impacts are presented.