Abstract
Construction productivity has been stagnating and declining for decades. Thus, developing continuous improvement processes is crucial. The aim of this research has been to explore if the 3rd step “analyse” in the 5-step activity analysis continuous improvement process could be further developed to, in one workflow, set targets, identify improvement areas, unveil root courses and create motivation for change in an integral way fitting the existing five-step process. An exploratory single case study was used to collect data through the methods of activity sampling, semi structured interviews and observations. The research showed that a workflow called the Feedback Loop, involving craftsmen, foremen and an activity analysis analyst, could set targets, identify improvement areas, unveil root causes and create motivation for change. This was done by empowering craftsmen and foremen, in collaboration with the activity analysis analyst, to analyse the activity sample in a 7-step Feedback Loop fitting the existing 3rd step “analyse”. The implications of this research are that we could adjust the already well proven activity analysis continuous improvement process to improve future results. The conclusion is that the Feedback Loop worked in this project and trade, but further research is needed in other contexts.
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Acknowledgements
This research is part of the REVALUE research project, a USD 3.4 million research project on refurbishment of social housing buildings sponsored by The Innovation Fund Denmark.
Furthermore, the support and openness from the case contractors and sub-contractors, and the help from engineering students to collect data have been highly valuable.
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Neve, H.H., Wandahl, S., Lerche, J. (2020). Feedback Loop—The Missing Link in Activity Analysis. In: Panuwatwanich, K., Ko, CH. (eds) The 10th International Conference on Engineering, Project, and Production Management . Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-1910-9_38
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