Constructability Improvement During Engineering and Procurement
Constructability is the optimum use of construction knowledge and experience in planning, engineering, procurement and field operations to achieve overall project objectives. This report is an investigation into how construction knowledge and experience may be most effectively utilized during the engineering and procurement phases of projects. A primary purpose of the study is to develop constructability enhancement tools for project management and middle management. These tools are presented in the form of major constructability concepts and useful applications of the concepts.
Research activities consisted of an investigation into the state-of-the-art, data collection, and formulation of constructability concepts, and applications.
Industry concern for cost- and schedule-effectiveness has drawn attention to project constructability. Many of those with previously unorganized efforts are now initiating constructability programs, and those with programs continue to increase their effectiveness. Constructability is also receiving attention from the research community. The Business Roundtable, The University of Texas, the Electric Power Research Institute, and Heriot-Watt University have conducted extensive studies on the nature of constructability and ways in which it may be enhanced. The state of constructability continues to be advanced.
Beyond investigations of the state of the art, constructability data was collected in various ways. Project personnel were interviewed at both construction sites and home offices, topical discussions were held with panels of experts, and CII constructability task force members discussed their own experiences. In all, hundreds of constructability ideas were collected and analyzed for the purpose of abstracting concepts. The result is seven constructability concepts for execution during the engineering and procurement phases of projects.
