Advancing AECO Education: A project-Based Lean IPD Design Process and Design Management Course

Few construction companies apply the available lean tools and processes in an integrated manner when managing design. Additionally, lean design management tools and processes each have their own strengths and optimal phases in which they should be applied. Earlier approaches in lean design management have not explicitly included the level of detail of building information model (BIM) models in connection with planning methods. For example, the Last Planner System (LPS) uses collaborative social methods to obtain task dependencies and commitments from project stakeholders, but it does not provide any guidance regarding what those tasks should be in a BIM-based process. With regard to production, this guidance is provided by combining location-based methods, such as a location-based management system or takt planning, to LPS. In a similar manner, by combining information from various sources, this paper defines a location-based design management process using the concept of level of detail that can be integrated with LPS. The level of detail definition must be based on the requirements of the end-user in each stage of the construction project. The process was cocreated and validated in focus group meetings with design and construction companies and further evaluated and assessed by applying it in a case project.

PurposeThe application of integrated project delivery (IPD) in conjunction with building information modeling (BIM) and Lean Construction (LC) as the efficient method for improving collaboration and delivering construction projects has been acknowledged by construction academics and professionals. Once organizations have fully embraced BIM, IPD and LC integration, a measurement tool such as a maturity model (MM) for benchmarking their progress and setting realistic goals for continuous improvement will be required. In the context of MMs literature, however, no comprehensive analysis of these three construction management methods has been published to reveal the current trends and common themes in which the models have approached each other.Design/methodology/approachTherefore, this study integrates systematic literature review (SLR) and thematic analysis techniques to review and categorize the related MMs; the key themes in which the interrelationship between BIM, IPD and LC MMs has been discussed and conceptualized in the attributes; the shared characteristics of the existing BIM, IPD and LC MMs, as well as their strengths and limitations. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) method has been used as the primary procedure for article screening and reviewing published papers between 2007 and 2022.FindingsDespite the growth of BIM, IPD and LC integration publications and acknowledgment in the literature, no MM has been established that holistically measures BIM, IPD and LC integration in an organization. This study identifies five interrelated and overlapping themes indicative of the collaboration of BIM, IPD and LC in existing MMs' structure, including customer satisfaction, waste minimization, Lean practices and cultural and legal aspects. Furthermore, the MMs' common characteristics, strengths and limitations are evaluated to provide a foundation for developing future BIM, IPD and LC-related MMs.Practical implicationsThis paper examines the current status of research and the knowledge gaps around BIM, IPD and LC MMs. In addition, the highlighted major themes serve as a foundation for academics who intend to develop integrated BIM, IPD, and LC MMs. This will enable researchers to build upon these themes and establish a comprehensive list of maturity attributes fulfilling the BIM, IPD and LC requirements and principles. In addition, the MMs' BIM, IPD and LC compatibility themes, which go beyond themes' intended characteristics in silos, increase industry practitioners' awareness of the underlying factors of BIM, IPD and LC integration.Originality/valueThis review article is the first of a kind to analyze the interaction of IPD, BIM and LC in the context of MMs in current AEC literature. This study concludes that BIM, IPD and LC share several joint cornerstones according to the existing MMs.

All Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) organizations in Aerospace, Automotive and Electronics industries had to upgrade their functions. These organizations including suppliers and solutions providers are duty bound to improve their functions through strategic initiatives. One such initiative is Lean Process Management. Lean Process Management has proven to aid organizations in developing manufacturing and administrative management solutions and make the organization a leaner at the same time a ‘fitter’ one, achieving World Class standards in terms of production, quality, marketing, etc, etc. The issue or problem is, although a number of authors, experts, researchers have discussed the lean process management as part organization centric issues, they failed to provide an effective lean process management system. Besides the need to formulate an effective lean process as suggested by some authors, another important reason suggested is the employee’s development aspect regarding how to unlock the infinite potential of their workforce. This employee’s development is basically the problem solving capabilities of the employees while implementing the Lean through clear cutting protocols or processes of Lean Process Management. The employees need to be developed and equipped to contribute optimally to the process. Because of this scenario, the main objective of this study is to develop an employees development system which the author has acronym or trademark it as People Development System (PDS) to enhance problem solving capability among its employees while implementing the lean process management there. Although, the PDS can be implemented throughout the organization, if it is implemented in a particular department in an organization, it will be feasible to study and analyze its effectiveness in-depth. So, this study documents and analyzes the implementation of Lean process in the Kitting Department of the aerospace company, ABC Company. Qualitative and quantitative measures were also used to document the case study. The outcome of the people development system needs to be measured to understand its value in developing the problem solving capabilities among the employees. Only with developed and equipped employees, the Kitting Department can reduce its wastages, optimize its performance and thereby play a crucial role in making ABC Company a world class organization. As pertinent results of the PDS implementation, in general Kitting Department successfully achieved to meet their Department Key Performance Indicator and particularly the employees’ are also improve by practicing good lean behaviors and skill and knowledge in using lean tools which lead to better leanness level by improving employees’ problem solving capabilities in eliminating waste. On the whole, the lean process management and the resultant PDS is having positive applications, and importantly could also have positive applications in the future as well.

Facilitating Building Information Modelling (BIM) using Integrated Project Delivery (IPD): A UK perspective

PurposeThe amalgamation of integrated project delivery (IPD) and building information modelling (BIM) is highly recommended for successful project delivery. However, IPD lacks an accurate cost estimation methodology at the “front-end” of projects, when little project information is available. This study aims to tackle this issue, through presenting analytical aspects, theoretical grounds and practical steps/procedures for integrating target value design (TVD), activity-based costing (ABC) and Monte Carlo simulation into the IPD cost structure, within a BIM-enabled platform.Design/methodology/approachA critical review was conducted to study the status of cost estimation within IPD, as well as exploring methods and tools that can enhance the cost estimation process for IPD. Thereafter, a framework is developed to present the proposed methodology of cost estimation for IPD throughout its entire stages. A case project is used to validate the practicality of the developed solution through comparing the profit-at-risk percentage for each party, using both traditional cost estimation and the proposed solution.FindingsAfter applying the proposed IPD's cost estimation framework, on a real-life case project, the findings demonstrated significant deviations in the profit-at-risk value for various work packages of the project (approximately 100% of the finishing package and 22% of openings package). By providing a precise allocation of overhead costs, the solution can be used in real-life projects to change the entire IPD cost structure and ensure a fair sharing of risk–rewards among the involved parties in IPD projects.Practical implicationsUsing the proposed methodology of cost estimation for IPD can enhance the relationship among IPD's core team members; all revealed financial deficiencies will be considered (i.e. compensation structure, profit pooling), hence enhancing the IPD performance.Originality/valueThis paper presents a comprehensive solution for integrating BIM and IPD in terms of cost estimation, offering three main contributions: (1) an innovate approach to utilise five-dimensional (5D) BIM capabilities with Monte Carlo simulation, hence providing reliable cost estimating during the conceptual TVD stage; (2) mathematical models that are developed through integrating ABC into the detailed 5D BIM to determine the three IPD's cost structure limbs; and (3) a novel mechanism of managing cost saving (rewards) through distinguishing between saved resources from organisation level, to daily task level, to increase trust among parties.

The Lean technology and process management theory and system were researched. The Lean technology and process management was defined. And the contemporary Lean technology and process management theory system model was proposed. The contemporary Lean technology and process management system platform was set up.

The Building Information Modelling (BIM) implementation is to create a centralised knowledge sharing resource that contains all the necessary design and operational information about the project. BIM is a collaborative approach and integrated project delivery to design and delivery embraced by various construction teams in the construction projects. In the context of the most suitable project delivery to be used, with regards to the use of BIM, the Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) approach is highlighted as the best method which correlates building procurement of the design-to-construction business process through literature review analysis. IPD is developed as project delivery system that integrates people in effective collaborative approach between the key players in the project. IPD is going to be particularly beneficial for BIM because the contracts relation between the contractor, designers, consultants, constructors, sub-contractors and suppliers were binded and expressly determined at earlier stage. This relationship between these two subjects will helped the project team to achieve the project goals in terms of timely schedule, life cycle costs, quality and sustainability in construction project. Therefore, this study investigates on the propensity of the best methodology of project delivery system which can correlate with procurement adoption for projects adapt BIM concept. This is a descriptive study and the method used is based on review of the literature in relation to BIM and IPD. The analysis revealed that propensity of adopting IPD project delivery and the adoption of BIM are based on these factors: improve the communication, closer collaboration; liability and legal relationships are specifically determined, the best quality outcome; and lastly with reductions in design and construction period, it provides a cost effectiveness and a saving in overall construction period.

Few construction companies apply the available lean tools and processes in an integrated manner when managing design. Additionally, various lean design management -tools and -processes have each their own strengths and optimal phases in project when to apply them. Earlier approaches in lean design management have not explicitly included level of detail of BIM-models in connection with planning methods in an appropriate manner. For example, the Last Planner System (LPS) is a planning and control system that uses collaborative social methods to get task dependencies and commitments from project stakeholders, but it does not provide any guidance what those tasks should be in a BIM-based process. On the other hand, location-based methods such as Location-based Management System and takt planning have provided guidance for scheduling production by using (LPS). Thus, by combining information from various sources we were able to define a location-based design management process using the concept of level of detail that can be integrated with LPS. The level of detail definition must start from the end-user of the information in each stage of the construction project. The model was co-created and validated in focus group meetings with design and construction companies. In future research we will run case-studies to test the model in real-life settings.

New Product Development (NPD) is concerned with the ability of companies to fulfil customers’ requirements and translating them into product specifications and finished products. This has also been of concern to the construction industry. This chapter discusses NPD in manufacturing and how its development influenced Lean design and construction. Lean design management issues presented in the literature, such as difficulties in requirements management, are highlighted. Aiming to portray an overview of NPD and design management in Lean Construction, this chapter synthesises design related developments presented at the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC). As part of this, brief descriptions of the main topics related to Lean design management are presented, some of which are further discussed in subsequent chapters of the book. The chapter concludes by proposing areas for future research.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study the rent-seeking behavior of stakeholders in construction projects and to provide a reference for further studies on collaboration in China, which could thus improve the collaborative management in construction and reduce the waste of resources.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper, the authors discuss and analyze the current situation of rent-seeking behavior in infrastructure construction projects, integrated project delivery (IPD), and the application of a building information model (BIM) in China. The authors analyze the collusive behavior between the supervision department and the contractor via the rent-seeking model on the basis of the game theory and present that BIM and IPD have a positive impact on rent-seeking activities of construction projects. The key factors influencing the rent-seeking activities from the perspective of the owner are studied via a questionnaire survey.FindingsThe research status of IPD in China includes the application of IPD, IPD collaborative management and the combination of lean construction (LC), IPD and BIM. The enthusiasm of the adoption of BIM and IPD is higher for design institute, construction units, research institutions and universities. The findings indicate that the owner appears to have a significant influence on stakeholders in construction projects, such as supervising efficiency, rewards and punishment. Therefore, the results also demonstrate that the construction project based on BIM and IPD can effectively avoid the rent-seeking activities of the participants.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings are primarily based on questionnaire data originated from Central China; hence there are some limitations that are worth noting.Practical implicationsFirst, it provides compelling data evidence for the adoption of BIM and IPD in China. Second, it paves a solid foundation for the behavior of stakeholders in construction projects based on BIM and IPD.Originality/valueIn this paper, a game model of contractor, supervisor and owner is established, and a preliminary attempt is made to introduce BIM and IPD into the model for the behavioral research of participants.

The importance of managing the early design phases effectively and efficiently is relatively well appreciated, although how best to do this is not so clear. The successful use of lean management in the construction phase, using the principles largely developed by Toyota, has opened up the possibility of using lean design management, thus helping to establish a systematic approach to the creative design phase. This study explores the interpretation and application of lean design management in architecture, engineering and construction (AEC). A survey questionnaire was used to obtain an understanding of current design management processes and practices in the UK. Findings from 125 responses indicate that inefficiencies are related to ineffective design management processes (e.g. management of briefing, design, etc.) as well as problems with procurement. The main conclusion drawn is that lean design management appears valid for implementation in the AEC sector, but needs to be customised according to the project context in order to achieve the desired value for all stakeholders.

As a kind of manufacturing technology, Lean manufacturing can not only greatly reduce the switch time, idle time, but also can improve the product quality, reduce inventory, shorten the product development cycle of design. Process management is the basis of enterprising management and the important guarantee of improving the quality of products stably and improving production efficiency. Now the modern process management combines with Lean manufacturing to realize Lean process management. At the same time, with the rapid development of the Internet applications, the has become a hot in the field of information, it has changed the way obtain information, share resources and communicate with each other. This paper will describe the cloud technology in the application of Lean process management.

The benefits of adopting collaborative approaches in the construction industry, such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), and Lean Construction (LC), in an integrated manner are widely acknowledged in academia and industry. Once organizations have embraced BIM, IPD, and LC integration (BIL), a measurement method for evaluating their progress and planning for continuous improvement is required. However, there is no widely accepted capability assessment model, such as Maturity Models (MMs), to effectively assess productivity improvements in organizations adopting all three approaches based on the interdependencies between them. The first step in the process of BIL MM development is identifying the critical attributes of BIM, IPD, and LC integration. This research investigates the interrelationships of BIM, IPD, and LC for use in the maturity models, determining how BIM and IPD can support the application of LC principles. The mixed methods approach was adopted, and a literature review and a two-round Delphi survey were conducted for the data collection. The findings revealed a number of complementarities between BIM, IPD, and LC. The panel of experts agreed upon the five major attributes and 24 sub-attributes of BIM, IPD, and LC, which formed the structure of the presented integrated BIL framework. The significance of this study is to provide the basis for organizations that intend to implement BIM, IPD, and LC in an integrated manner. Interrelating these attributes in a maturity framework also supports the planning and evaluation of organizations’ progress towards realistic goals for continuous improvement.

The utilization of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) by the construction industry and transformations in work practices, such as implementation of Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), have proven to increase construction productivity and efficiency in the delivery of building projects. The education of the construction professionals has now instigated the use of highly collaborative teaching methods reinforced by extreme utilization of ICT to increase the efficiency of information distribution and knowledge development. Building Information Modeling (BIM) methodology, which integrates advanced ICT with stakeholders’ collaboration, has emerged as one of the most effective project development and delivery methods currently available within the AEC industry. Increasingly, construction managers become involved in BIM methodology due to its capabilities of simulating and assisting the project management processes. The technology portion of the BIM methodology integrates software usage design, analytical and simulation capabilities to produce interoperable information outputs for productive use by project stakeholders. The collaboration instigated by the BIM methodology enables integration of modeling information and stakeholder ideas in order to produce a Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) platform. This paper introduces learning methodology based on BIM concept and IPD philosophy in regards to its higher education application within the construction project management discipline. The usage of the Learning Management System (LMS) utilized as the learning dissemination platform was compared between comparable learning units to evaluate the contribution of BIM methodology to effectiveness of the learning processes and its impacts on expected outcomes. The paper concludes that BIM methodology supplemented by IPD provides unique opportunities to develop and manage knowledge.

Building Information Modeling (BIM), Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), and Lean Construction (LC) are individually gaining increasing penetration in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. Existing maturity models for each of these areas allow organisations to assess their current capability and guide their future pathways to increasing competence. There are significant mutual dependencies among these approaches; hence it would be useful for organisations to understand how to apply them to maximise the benefits across all three initiatives. An integrated BIM-IPD-LC (BIL) maturity model (MM) would break the silos among the initiatives by supporting this synergy. However, there is no comprehensive study on integrated organisational BIL maturity model design and development. This article presents the analysis of BIM maturity models as the starting point of research toward BIL MM development. BIM MMs are more widely cited and used within the construction industry compared to MMs for LC and IPD. This study uses the compatibility of BIM with IPD and LC in the context of MMs to identify how these three concepts can be synchronised. Comparative analysis is conducted using ten accessible, free, research-based, and frequently cited BIM MMs.They were then compared with a number of existing LC and IPD MMs. The results show that VDC Scorecard and BIM2FR are the most compatible BIM MMs with LC, and both the BIM Maturity Matrix and the VDC Scorecard closely correlate with the IPD characteristics compared with other BIM MMs. The findings of this study can be used as a basis for establishing the structure of a future integrated BIL maturity model.