Optimizing Construction Input in Front End Planning
Constructability, one of the best practices of CII, has been defined as "the optimum use of construction knowledge and experience in planning, design, procurement, and field operations to achieve overall project objectives."
The benefits of constructability will be obtained through the effective and timely integration of construction input into the planning and design stages. Therefore, construction expertise that require for the entire life-cycle of projects should be involved in the Front End Planning stage to lead to project success. (RR241-11, p. 26)
This research included determining the level of construction input required during Front End Planning. A metric was developed that indicates an optimal level of construction input for a successful project was 70% for both Industrial and Building projects.
RT-241 research revealed that there remain three barriers to the involvement of construction input during the FEP process: (RR241-11, p. 89)
- Project Organization
- Contract Models
- Decision Aids
Primary stakeholders in a construction project, owner, designer, and constructor, work in separate domains based on their particular expertise. As the team member who has the best information about the project objectives, the owner becomes the party tasked with assembling the project team.
Traditional contract models for addressing design and construction processes reinforce the compartmentalization of owner, designer, and constructor.
Tools to aid the owner in making early stage decisions are not readily available. Often owner must rely on in-house resources that may not have in-depth knowledge of activities required to achieve the owner’s objectives.
