Method to Implement Delayed Product Differentiation in Construction of High-Rise Apartment Building Projects

Abstract

AbstractThe customization of apartments can add value and increase clients’ satisfaction. However, companies offering such a strategy often face problems in managing the construction process. Delayed product differentiation—postponing the tasks that customize a product as much as possible—is a principle applied in manufacturing that enables companies to better cope with customization. Yet, it has not been widely explored in the building industry. This paper proposes a method to implement this principle in the construction of high-rise apartment building projects using the line-of-balance technique. First, the method is described, followed by its application in a project developed by a construction company. A comparison between the long-term plan devised using the proposed method and the initial plan shows a postponement of the decoupling point (namely, the first task that customizes an apartment) of approximately 42 weeks. At the end, the potential benefits and difficulties in creating such postponement a...