Understanding uncertainty is an important part of any scientific measurement process and the ability to evaluate and understand uncertainty is a requirement of the International Standards for quality control. The basic uncertainties relating to the measurement of airborne sound insulation in the field can be assessed using the methods in BS5725. However, identifying the components that contribute to the total variability is beyond the scope of the standard and more detailed information requires a more advanced approach. Recent developments in the “Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement” (GUM) suggest an approach can be used where identification of the input variables and their likely contribution will result in a solution that can be modelled providing enough information is available. However, recent research on uncertainty in sound insulation using GUM has identified problems involving the correlation between frequency bands, which leads to an overestimate of uncertainty. An empirical approach is used in this thesis, which incorporates advanced analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a specific model called Gauge Repeatability and Reproducibility (GRR). It enables the components of variance in the measurement system to be partitioned and provides an estimate of their contribution. In addition, ANOVA highlights any interaction between factors. In the GRR, carried out on a lightweight timber floor and a heavyweight concrete floor, significant interaction was detected between the operator and part. Good agreement is obtained in the repeatability and reproducibility calculated for each construction and the samples are combined with measurements of test elements that provide a wider range of sound insulation performance. The uncertainty associated with the instrumentation, operator, interaction and part are calculated in each case. It is shown that the interaction component is important and should be contained in any approach evaluating uncertainty. Further evidence reveals that the total uncertainty in the measurement process is dependent on the construction being measured.

As per the UKCIP 09 climate change projections the United Kingdom is very likely to experience increased sea level rise, increased winter rainfall, heat waves and an increase in frequency and severity of extreme weather events. Such inevitable impacts of climate change will require adaptation measures to be implemented for the management of existing commercial built assets if they are to continue to fulfil their primary function and support every organisation’s business operations. However, it is not clear as to how far adaptation solutions are effectively integrated into facilities or built-asset management planning? While seeking the answers to above questions, this thesis develops an approach for facilities and built-asset management, which will improve the resilience of existing commercial built assets to future physical climate-change impacts. The study undertakes a participatory study with a large commercial organisation and a questionnaire survey of UK facilities managers. The participatory study involved selective team of facilities management and operational (FM&O) professionals from a commercial organisation that managed around 3,400 built assets valued at £370 billion in 2003–05 in the United Kingdom. By working closely with the organisation, an approach to built-asset management was developed which integrated the existing UKCIP decision-making framework and UKCIP02 climate-change projections. In developing this approach, the strategic risk perception and managerial attitude to climate change were identified and included as important factors affecting the decision-making process. To test the wider applicability of the decision-making framework that was developed in the participatory study, a questionnaire survey of the wider facilities management community was undertaken. It was deduced from the survey results that the intent and process of decision making remains constant amongst FM professionals in commercial settings – for example: (a) The experience of a financial loss due to an existing climate-related extreme event is the initiation point for strategic stakeholders for considering future action regarding climate change; and (b) The operational adaptation measures are restricted to securing insurance deals and making renewed disaster-recovery and business-continuity plans. Additional outcomes from participatory and survey study covered logistic models describing the adaptation and mitigation approaches within a commercial setting. Taken as a whole, the findings from this study show that mitigation efforts which are supported by legislation and have well defined targets achieve a strategic importance within an organisation, while an absence of such targets and external drivers means that adaptation is viewed as an operational activity and, , as a short-term activity that has to compete for funds within annual budgets. To raise the profile of adaptation within commercial organisations requires a shift in the perception of climate change as risks amongst FM&O professionals and ability to better recognize climate change impacts on the business and built asset functions. This requires action to be initiated at both governmental and organisational level. However, such action needs to consider other constraints, such as the time span of the climate change projections. In particular, as FM&O professionals consider adaptation as an operational issue for which the planning period is normally short term (3–5 years), while the long-term projections associated with climate change are for 20–30 years as a minimum. In order to support decision making, this ‘temporal scale’ discrepancy needs to be addressed. The study has demonstrated that although decision-making frameworks and projections are useful tools to the adaptation of existing commercial built assets, they need to be synchronised with the short-term business planning and operational time line. The mitigation approach due to legislative and market-performance forces is quantified and gains a strategic importance, securing substantial financial support. In contrast to this, the adaptation agenda is taken into account only in the presence of an extreme event-related financial and functional loss. In this case, adaptation to climate change remains a reactive rather than a planned process and lacks legislative drivers. In the absence of legislative impetus and a standardised quantitative assessment method, it is difficult to derive short term or long-term targets according to which maintenance management interventions can be planned and strategic support can be achieved. In addition, the perception of built-asset managers about climate change risk is also found to be affecting the adaptation and mitigation agenda for built-asset maintenance and management.

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M.Com. (Business Management) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Ing. / The purpose of this investigation was to develop a double concrete pole which could be used as an angle- or terminal structure for overhead power lines. To act as a double pole, shear flow must be transferred effectively between the two single poles to create the new stronger section. The method to transfer the shear flow must also be practical and economical...

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Purpose: Time and resources are wasted away when efficiency within construction is stagnating. Despite being a generally developed industry, there is still light to shed upon the methods and implementation of norms and routines, resulting in unnecessary waste at the work sites. This report aimed to provide with further data in order to argue for a work place with reduced waste and a greater awareness around how a complex work site can be studied with the help of Muda theory. Method: A qualitative study with semi-structured interviews and a literature study as data collection methods. A total of nine interviews were accomplished with two foremen and seven carpenters. Foundation and understanding of the phenomenon were initially sought through literature. This to have an adapted form of interviews through the use of a custom template for the respondent and also to give the analysis theoretical foundation. Findings: The report shows three types of waste that come back more frequently, these are defects (rework), movement and waiting. To prevent waste, and primarily to discover it, the organization must make the clarity for Lean and Muda clearer for all employees. The project phase needs to prioritize where planning awareness about the schedule and building only after construction documents are essential. Furthermore, there is a great potential to improve the knowledge transfer between the projects where major entrepreneurs can benefit from their number of previous projects to systematically evaluate and improve their workplace. Here, a digital platform is proposed for this purpose. Implications: Compiling the analysis established that there are deficiencies within the work with Lean in production. Wastage that occur is caused by many different reasons and are often based upon inadequate planning within the organization. There are also external factors like delays and inefficiency to account for, although it is usually up to the contractor to optimize and adapt best way possible based on the current circumstances. A great emphasis has through this analysis been put on the work with planning with the help of The Last Planner System. It has also been concluded that a working system of knowledge transfer within an organization needs to be established in order to be a leading participant in Swedish building production. Limitations: This report has been angled so that the problem within production is illuminated. This since much of the wastage can be reflected to the design stage and future work can resume with such an angle. The validity of the report is lowered as a result of only screening one company although the report is limited to one Swedish, bigger contractor. In order to further confirm the reality of the problem, other forms of research could have been added, more than just literature studies and interviews, such as observational investigation. Keywords: Waste minimization, Lean Construction, Muda, Lean Production, The Last Planner System, Knowledge transfer

Vid dagens byggprojekt blir bristande utrymme på byggarbetsplatsen allt vanligare då det oftabyggs i tätbebyggda områden. Detta innebär att den traditionella lagerföringen påbyggarbetsplatsen blir svår och nya lösningar behöver hittas för att upprätthålla effektivitet ochgod arbetsmiljö.Just-in-time (JIT) har sitt ursprung i Lean och innebär att rätt material levereras tillbyggarbetsplatsen i rätt tid. Materialet lyfts sedan direkt in på sin slutliga plats i byggnadenistället för att lagras på byggarbetsplatsen.Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur företaget YIT Sverige arbetar i dagsläget och hurföretaget skulle kunna ha nytta av JIT vid byggnationen av en friidrottsarena i Gällivare.Friidrottsarenan byggs i tätbebyggt område och utrymmet är begränsat vilket innebär vissaproblem. Dessutom är Gällivare beläget i Norrbottens inland och avstånden till andra städer ärstora.Vid studien framkom att vissa problem som materialskador och bristande kommunikation frånleverantörer förekommer i olika projekt som YIT Sverige genomför. Dessa problem skullekunna undvikas genom användande av JIT. Det är dock svårt att beräkna de kostnader ellerkostnadsminskningar som JIT skulle kunna innebära då det aktuella projektet inte är genomförtännu och studien har en tidsbegränsning.Det finns även fler möjligheter för att förbättra effektiviteten och arbetsmiljö såsom metoden5S och att skapa långsiktiga relationer med leverantörer. Detta är en förutsättning för attanvända sig av JIT men även något som kan användas vid traditionell bygglogistik. Dessutomkan mellanlager vara ett alternativ om det inte finns möjligheter att fullt ut implementera JIT,det skulle innebära fördelar för effektiviteten och arbetsmiljön på byggarbetsplatsen även omalla fördelar med JIT inte nås. / During today’s construction projects lack of space on the construction site is becoming acommonly occurring problem since projects often are placed in urban areas. This means thattraditional storage on the construction site becomes difficult and new solutions need to be foundto maintain efficiency and good working environment.Just-in-time (JIT) originates from Lean production and means that the right material is deliveredto the construction site at the right time. The material is then directly placed in its final locationin the building instead of being stored at the construction site.The purpose of this study is to analyse how the company YIT Sweden is currently working andhow the company could benefit from JIT in the construction of an athletics stadium in Gällivare.The athletics arena is being built in an urban area and the space on the construction site islimited, which causes some problems. In addition, Gällivare is located in Norrbotten and thedistances to other cities are significant.The study showed that certain problems such as material damage and lack of communicationfrom suppliers occur in projects that YIT Sweden is managing. These problems could beavoided by using JIT. However, it is difficult to calculate the costs or cost reductions that JITcould bring as the current project is not yet finished, and the study has a short time frame.There are also other possible ways to improve efficiency and work environment such as themethod 5S and to create long-term relationships with suppliers. This is a prerequisite for usingJIT but also something that can be used in combination with traditional construction logistics.Another possibility is to use interim storage for material. It can be an alternative if there are nopossibilities for YIT Sweden to fully implement JIT. It would mean benefits for the efficiencyand working environment at the construction site even if the full potential of JIT is not fulfilled.

The construction industry is labour intensive in nature. People often work long hours in relatively disagreeable environments, far from their families. Even if workers are not happy to be working in a particular environment they find themselves obliged to work. Fearing reprimands from their superiors, they often find it difficult to express their ideas. It is therefore difficult for management to identify the factors of motivation that affect their workers productivity in a work environment. The aim of this study was to identify and evaluate motivational factors that affect the productivity of workers on construction sites in South Africa, focusing on skilled workers. For this, the scientific management approach and quantitative research methods were used. The findings from this study revealed that the motivational theories apply to construction sites, and management needs to apply these theories wisely in order to achieve improved productivity.