| dc.description.abstract | Lean Construction is an innovative way of project management, with the objectives of expediting the delivery process, improving the cost effectiveness and quality. This study applies the concept of lean construction and studies the supply chain of steel erection projects. The objectives are to identify the non-value added (waste) activities and to streamline the supply chain by reducing those wastes. The scope of the analysis focuses on the time and cost perspectives of the supply chain.
Interviews with the major players in the steel erection supply chain, namely designers, general contractors, specialty contractors, and fabricators, are conducted. Seven control points (CP) are identified along the steel erection supply chain. They are CP1: initiation of the chain after the general contractor wins the bid, CP2: completion of shop drawings, CP3: placing orders after reviewing shop drawings, CP4: fabrication of the steel components, CP5: delivery of steel components on site, CP6: erection of steel components, and CP7: completion of the project. Six phases, with each in between two consecutive control points, are then established. Depending on different contracting formatting and organization of the projects, deferent configurations for conducting each of the six phases are further identified. Time duration and cost of the supply chain for different combinations of configurations in each phases are calculated and analyzed. As a result the better combination of configurations for the least time and/or cost of steel erection supply chain is obtained. The proposed operation is further compared with the real word practices for its feasibility. Findings and conclusions are reported. | en_US |