Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

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The percentage of shop fabrication, including pipe spool fabrication, has been increasing on industrial construction projects during the past years. Industrial fabrication has a great impact on construction projects due to the fact that the productivity is higher in a controlled environment than in the field, and therefore time and cost of construction projects are reduced by making use of industrial fabrication. Effective planning and scheduling of the industrial fabrication processes is important for the success of construction projects. This thesis focuses on developing a new framework for optimizing shop scheduling, particularly pipe spool fabrication shop scheduling. The proposed framework makes it possible to capture uncertainty of the pipe spool fabrication shop while accounting for linguistic vagueness of the decision makers preferences using simulation modeling and fuzzy set theory. The implementation of the proposed framework is discussed using a real case study of a pipe spool fabrication shop. In this thesis, first, a simulation based scheduling framework is presented based on the integration of relational database management system, product modeling, process modeling, and heuristic approaches. Next, a framework for optimization of the industrial shop scheduling with respect to multiple criteria is proposed. Fuzzy set theory is used to linguistically assess different levels of satisfaction for the selected criteria. Additionally, an executable scheduling toolkit is introduced as a decision support system for pipe spool fabrication shop. / Construction Engineering and Management

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abstract: Project teams expend substantial effort to develop scope definition during the front end planning phase of large, complex projects, but oftentimes neglect to sufficiently plan for small projects. An industry survey administered by the author showed that small projects make up 70-90 percent (by count) of all projects in the industrial construction sector, the planning of these project varies greatly, and that a consistent definition of “small industrial project” did not exist. This dissertation summarizes the motivations and efforts to develop a non-proprietary front end planning tool specifically for small industrial projects, namely the Project Definition Rating Index (PDRI) for Small Industrial Projects. The author was a member of Construction Industry Institute (CII) Research Team 314, who was tasked with developing the tool in May of 2013. The author, together with the research team, reviewed, scrutinized and adapted an existing industrial-focused FEP tool, the PDRI for Industrial Projects, and other resources to develop a set of 41 specific elements relevant to the planning of small industrial projects. The author supported the facilitation of five separate industry workshops where 65 industry professionals evaluated the element descriptions, and provided element prioritization data that was statistically analyzed and used to develop a weighted score sheet that corresponds to the element descriptions. The tool was tested on 54 completed and in-progress projects, the author’s analysis of which showed that small industrial projects with greater scope definition (based on the tool’s scoring scheme) outperformed projects with lesser scope definition regarding cost performance, schedule performance, change performance, financial performance, and customer satisfaction. Moreover, the author found that users of the tool on in-progress projects overwhelmingly agreed that the tool added value to their projects in a timeframe and manner consistent with their needs, and that they would continue using the tool in the future. The author also developed an index-based selection guide to aid PDRI users in choosing the appropriate tool for use on an industrial project based on distinguishing project size with indicators of project complexity. The final results of the author’s research provide several contributions to the front end planning, small projects, and project complexity bodies of knowledge. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Construction 2015

En fungerade erfarenhetsåterföring leder till effektivare och lönsammare processer. Det är i synnerhet viktigt för Skanska och Ikeas industrialiserade bostadskoncept BoKlok, där samma typ av arbeten ständigt upprepar sig. Skanska har ett verktyg för erfarenhetsåterföring som de kallar Normallägen och beskriver olika arbetsmoment i text och video. Arbetet pågår med att utvidga innehållet för Normallägen och i dagsläget finns inga för markarbeten inom BoKlok. Syftet är att undersöka hur erfarenhetsåterföringen fungerar idag och vad som fungerar mindre bra i projekten. Finns det erfarenheter som kan användas som underlag till framtida Normallägen. Arbetet bygger på intervjuer, litteraturstudier och information från Skanska och BoKloks intranät. Resultaten visar att den erfarenhetsåterföring som sker idag oftast är muntlig mellan arbetsledningen på olika projekt och där kunskapen är personrelaterad. Det ska enligt Skanskas arbetssätt genomföras ett erfarenhetsåterföringsmöte efter avslutat projekt men så är inte alltid fallet. Projekteringen har visat sig vara bristfällig och ofta har arbetet påbörjats utan färdigställda bygghandlingar. Handlingarnas innehåll och kvalitet varierar vilket orsakar högre kostnader i slutändan. Flera lösningar har presenterats som underlag till fler Normallägen. Det finns dock ett behov av att på ett smidigt sätt samla in idéer och erfarenheter då få lösningar idag kommer Normallägesgruppen till handa. / Well‐functioning knowledge transfer leads to more efficient and profitable processes within organizations due to the establishment of “best practicises” serving as guidelines for present and forthcoming projects. Within the industrial construction concept BoKlok, an assembly line process where the same construction is constantly repeated, Skanska and Ikea share this particular need. The tool presently used by the Skanska organization for knowledge transfer is Normallägen, describing “best practice” work processes in video and text. This concept is now set to expand to the BoKlok ground planning which currently lacks proper knowledge transfer. This thesis aims to identify/investigate the knowledge transfer process within the BoKlok concept. Is there any “best practices” to be used as future references so called Normallägen? The thesis is built upon a case study and a theoretical study of literature in conjunction with information from the Skanska and BoKlok intranet. The case study consists of interviews with organization members with a variety of positions at Skanska. Our results show that the current transfer of knowledge within BoKlok projects’ mostly is passed on by word of mouth between the management at different projects where knowledge is limited in person. According to the Skanska regulations every finalized project should have a final meeting regarding the follow up of knowledge transfer but this isn’t always the case. Construction planning is shown to be inadequate and most often the construction is started without the final construction plans. These plans also vary in substance and quality resulting in higher expenses in the end. Several suggestions/solutions have been given as a foundation for more “best practices” (Normallägen). There is however a need for a seamlessly integrated way of collecting all these ideas, experiences and “best practices” since few are reaching the “best practice” group within Skanska (Normallägesgruppen).

Den här rapporten är en sammanställning av ett gestaltningsarbete där ett bostadshus i 5 våningar projekterats fram. Huset i fråga har anpassats till att kunna byggas med prefabricerade volymelement och enbart i stommaterialet trä. Prefabricerade volymelement är färdigbyggda rumsenheter, tillverkade på fabrik. Dessa kan vara så pass färdigställda att de levereras till en byggarbetsplats med färdig fasad och fast inredning. Eftersom arbetet baserats på volymelementsbyggande, har projektering skett efter de villkor och den byggteknik som då tillämpas. Ett praktiskt exempel som påverkat lägenhetsutformningen är transportkraven vad gäller lastbredd och lasthöjd. Detta har i sin tur påverkat hur stora volymelementen får vara och som en följd lägenheternas utformning. Rapporten behandlar teorin bakom industriellt byggande i trä, men framförallt de praktiska utmaningar samt möjligheter som uppstått som en konsekvens av att bostadsprojektet designats enligt en modulprincip. / This report is a compilation of the planning of a 5-storey residential building. The building in question has been designed to be built entirely in a wooden frame mainly consisting of a modular building system. Modules also referred to as prefabricated volume elements are room units that have been constructed through industrial means. These room units can be developed enough to be delivered with complete facades or even fixtures. Since the planning of the residential building has been made based on a modular building system, adaptations to the project has had to been made as to accommodate necessary requirements. A practical example of this is how the apartment plan has been affected based on laws concerning the maximum amount of allowed width/height during transportation on public roads. These laws control the size of how big volume elements can become and as a result the apartment layout. The report consists of a study into the area of industrial wood construction, but foremost it treats the practical challenges and possibilities that have surfaced as a consequence of planning residential housing based on a modular basis.

Submitted by Igor Matos (igoryure.rm@gmail.com) on 2017-02-03T11:59:45Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DISS_2015_Paulo Lima da Silva Filho.pdf: 1826830 bytes, checksum: 7e9047eecf9c810b697d3767ae49d13f (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Jordan (jordanbiblio@gmail.com) on 2017-02-06T11:02:05Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DISS_2015_Paulo Lima da Silva Filho.pdf: 1826830 bytes, checksum: 7e9047eecf9c810b697d3767ae49d13f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-02-06T11:02:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DISS_2015_Paulo Lima da Silva Filho.pdf: 1826830 bytes, checksum: 7e9047eecf9c810b697d3767ae49d13f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-07-24 / Introdução: O ambiente dos canteiros de obras é um local repleto de substâncias químicas que estão associadas às doenças respiratórias apresentadas pelos trabalhadores. Pelo fato de o estado de Mato Grosso ter sediado jogos da Copa do Mundo e o subsídio do governo federal para construção de moradias, vários canteiros de obras foram gerados e vários trabalhadores foram expostos a situações que favorecem ao surgimento de doenças respiratórias. Objetivo: Conhecer a prevalência e fatores associados aos sintomas respiratórios em trabalhadores da construção civil em Cuiabá. Métodos: Trata-se de uma pesquisa de corte transversal realizado com trabalhadores da construção civil. Nas análises descritivas, para as variáveis nominais foram construídas tabelas de frequência absolutas e relativas, já as variáveis quantitativas foram avaliadas através de médias, medianas, desvio padrão e valores máximos e mínimos. Na análise bivariada verificou-se associações entre variáveis independente (características sócio demográficas, características do ambiente de trabalho e os riscos laborais) e sintomas respiratórios. A análise multivariada foi realizada através da regressão de Poisson. Resultados: Dos 545 trabalhadores entrevistados, 91,74% eram do sexo masculino e com média de idade de 32 anos, 45,14% possuíam ensino fundamental incompleto. A prevalência de sintomas respiratórios foi de 44,40%. As variáveis que demonstraram associação com os sintomas respiratórios foram: ter idade maiores de 30 anos (RP 0,78; IC 95% 0,65 – 0,94), exposição a fumaça (RP 1,41; IC 95%1,04 – 1,93), termo de interação entre ocupação e renda (RP 1,79; IC 95% 1,07 – 3,01) e hábito tabágico (RP 1,5; IC 95% 1,26- 1,84). Em relação à tosse, as variáveis associadas foram jornada de trabalho maior de 8 horas (RP 1,34; IC 95%1,01 - 1,79), exposição ao frio (RP 1,55; IC 95%1,15 – 2,08), exposição lugar úmido (RP 1,47; IC 95%1,07 – 2,01), exposição a substâncias químicas (RP 1,55; IC 95%1,12 – 2,13) e hábitos tabágico (RP 1,76; IC 95%1,31 – 2,37). Quanto a expectoração as variáveis de exposição ao frio (RP 1,76; IC 95%1,40 - 1,69) e termo de interação entre ocupação e renda (RP 1,44; IC 95%1,17 – 1,77). As variáveis associadas ao chiado foram ter feito espirometria admissional (RP 1,06; IC 95%1,01 – 1,11) e hábito tabágico (RP 1,06; IC 95%1,01 - 1,12). Conclusão: A prevalência de sintomas respiratórios foi elevada, sendo verificada associações entre faixa etária menores de 30 anos, fumaça, hábito tabágico, além da interação entre ocupação e baixa renda em trabalhadores da construção civil / Introduction: The environment of the construction sites is a place full of chemicals that are associated with respiratory diseases presented by the workers. Because of the state of Mato Grosso having hosted the World Cup games and the federal government subsidy for housing construction, several construction sites were created and several workers were exposed to situations that favor the emergence of respiratory diseases. Objective: To determine the prevalence and factors associated with respiratory symptoms in building workers in Cuiabá. Methods: This is a cross-sectional survey carried out with construction workers. In the descriptive analysis, for nominal variables absolute and relative frequency tables were constructed, since the quantitative variables were assessed using mean, median, standard deviation and maximum and minimum values. In the bivariate analysis it was found associations between independent variables (sociodemographic characteristics, work environment characteristics and occupational risks) and respiratory symptoms. Multivariate analysis was performed by Poisson regression. Results: Of the 545 workers interviewed, 91.74% were male and mean age of 32 years, 45.14% had incomplete primary education. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms was 44.40%. The variables that showed association with respiratory symptoms were: age greater than 30 years (RP 0.78, 95% IC 0.65 to 0.94), exposure to smoke (RP 1.41, 95% IC 1.04 - 1.93), interaction term between employment and income (RP 1.79, 95% IC 1.07 to 3.01) and smoking habits (RP 1.5; 95% IC 1,26- 1,84) . In relation to the cough associated variables were higher working day of eight hours (RP 1.34, 95% IC 1.01 to 1.79), exposure to cold (RP 1.55, 95% IC 1.15 to 2.08), moist place exposure (RP 1.47, 95% IC 1.07 to 2.01), exposure to chemicals (RP 1, 55, 95% IC 1.12 to 2.13) and smoking habits (RP 1.76, 95% IC 1.31 to 2.37). The expectoration exposure to cold variables (RP 1.76, 95% IC 1.40 to 1.69) and interaction term between employment and income (RP 1.44, 95% IC 1.17 to 1.77). Variables associated with wheezing were to have made admission spirometry (RP 1.06, 95% IC 1.01 to 1.11) and smoking habits (RP 1.06, 95% IC 1.01 to 1.12). Conclusion: The prevalence of respiratory symptoms was high, and we found associations between age group under 30, smoke, smoking habit, as well as interaction between occupation and lowincome construction workers

Byggindustrin har länge tampats med en undermålig produktivitetsutveckling i förhållande till andra industrier och då speciellt processindustrin. Det har gjorts många försök att industrialisera byggandet för att dra nytta av standardiserade produkter och processer, i Sverige mest utmärkande under 60-talets miljonprogram vilket var kraftigt influerat av dåtidens rådande produktionsfilosofi - massproduktion. För närvarande  baseras  industrialiseringsarbetet  på  koncept  från  lean  production  där  fokus  ligger  i  att eliminera alla former av slöserier via det som kallas industriellt byggande. Syftet med denna rapport är att med hjälp av filosofier från lean production undersöka hur koncept från industriellt byggande appliceras i produktionen av bostäder där prefabricerade betongelement används. Anledningen till att  detta  perspektiv  väljs  baseras  i att ett  konceptuellt  ramverk deriverat  från lean production  lämpar  sig  ytterst  väl  för  att  undersöka  och  analysera  värdeflöden,  speciellt  i  en produktionsmiljö. Ett av Sveriges största byggbolag, NCC AB, använder sig för närvarande av tekniska plattformar och konceptuella produkter för att industrialisera sin process vid upplåtandet hyresfastigheter med  minimering  av  produktionskostnad  och  tid  som  huvudmål.  En  av  huvudkomponenterna   i produktionen av dessa bostäder är prefabricerade betongelement vilket gör att företaget lämpar sig ytterst väl för en fallstudie. Några av de huvudresultat som denna rapport utmynnat i är att det studerade företaget och i förlängningen hela byggbranschen dras med ett kraftigt eftersatt förbättringsarbete - continuous improvements vilket kan vara en av huvudförklaringarna till sektorns låga produktivitetsutveckling jämfört med processindustrins dito. Vidare har tre fokusområden tagits fram baserat på den utförda fallstudien som sedan ställts i relation  till  teori  inom  industriellt  byggande.  Dessa  tre fokusområden  har  givits  epitetet  pelare för industrialisering  och  det  argumenteras  för  att  dessa  pelare  måste  beaktas  för  att  möjliggöra  en framgångsrik industriell byggprocess. / The  construction  industry  has  during  a  long  time  suffered  from  poor  development  in  productivity compared to other industries, especially the manufacturing industry. Many initiatives for industrialization have been made during the past decade in order to benefit from standardized products and processes, in Sweden most notably through "Miljonprogrammet" in the 1960s. This era was heavily influenced by the prevailing production philosophy in the manufacturing industry at the time - mass production. Today the industrialization  initiatives  are  based  on  concepts  from  lean  production  where  the  focus  is  upon eliminating all forms of waste through what is related to as industrial construction. This report is based on the purpose to, using lean philosophies and tools, investigate how concepts from industrial construction is applied in the production of residential buildings using prefabricated concrete elements. The perspective of lean production is chosen because it is suitable for the study of value flows, especially in a production environment. One of the largest  Swedish construction firms  - NCC  AB, currently deploys technical platforms and conceptual products in order to industrialize the processes used to construct rental housing with production cost and time reduction in focus. One of the key components used are prefabricated concrete elements which means the company is suitable as a case study. Some of the main results extracted through this research is that the studied company and in extension the entire construction industry performs poorly in terms of continuous improvements. This could be a main explanation for the industry’s productivity development in comparison with other industries, especially the manufacturing industry. Further, three areas of particular importance are derived from the case study and compared to theory within industrial construction. These areas are, in this report, labeled pillars for industrialization and it  is  argued for  that  these pillars  needs  to be considered  in order  to  enable a successful industrialized construction process.

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