Singularity Functions for Early Warning Guidance in The Last Planner System®
2019
Download PDFDOI: https://doi.org/10.60164/56d8e7f2i
Authors: Lynn G. Shehab, Ali M. Ezzeddine, Farook R. Hamzeh, Gunnar Lucko
Citation:
Shehab, L., Ezzeddine, A., Hamzeh, F., & Lucko, G. (2019). Singularity Functions for Early Warning Guidance in the Last Planner System®. In Lean Construction Journal pp. 76–90.
Abstract:
Question: Q1: How to enhance the control aspect of LPS be enhanced before during the execution week? Q2: Can a metric be developed to quantify the ability and reliability of crews to implement required within-the-week improvements to their production rates?
Purpose: To improve the execution of Weekly Work Planning by monitoring project progress on a daily basis to have enough time for corrective measures, catch up to the planned schedule, and minimize waste in time and resources.
Research Method: Design Science Research (DSR) is the research methodology for this study, where a numerical example demonstrates the functionality of the developed tool over different scenarios.
Findings: The research offers a user-friendly tool that fits within existing LPS philosophy and whose graphical output is simple enough for most site personnel to understand. A new metric that quantifies the ability of crews to implement improvements in their production rates is developed.
Limitations: The new approach should be tested on construction projects to prove its efficacy. Further development could transform the proposed computer tool into an interactive mobile application of lean concepts to support process monitoring and controlling.
Implications: The Proposed tool and metrics can aid planners in managing production and introduce within-the-week adjustments to reduce the impact of variability.
Value for practitioners: The research offers a practical tool to aid the control aspect within the LPS for CPM, TTP, and LBS schedules. Moreover, it aims to provide a proactive approach in control, where LPS metrics are predicted based on execution progress.
Keywords: Singularity functions; Last Planner System (LPS); Lean Construction; Percent Plan Complete (PPC); Process Reliability Index (PRI); Weekly Work Plan (WWP)
Paper type: Main paper