Design-and-build contractors' service quality in public projects in Singapore

In the construction industry, total quality comprises corporate service quality, project service quality and quality of the constructed facility. This study investigates the project service quality of design-and-build (D&B) contractors when undertaking projects for public sector clients in Singapore. Service quality is operationalized into five determinants: reliability, responsiveness, assurance, empathy and tangible. From these, 34 attributes that may affect project service quality in D&B projects are identified. A questionnaire is used to ascertain clients' service quality expectations of these 34 attributes. The clients were also asked the extent to which D&B contractors achieve project service quality. It is found that D&B contractors did not meet clients' expectations in all the five dimensions of service quality. This means that D&B contractors are not giving clients the satisfaction that they hope for. This study offers D&B contractors feedback relating to clients' expectations of their service delivery and the areas of service that need to be improved in order to provide quality service that will satisfy public sector clients.     

Evaluating D&B and TBM tunnelling using NTNU prediction models

Drill and Blast (D&B) and Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) are the two dominating excavation methods in hard rock tunnelling. Selection of the cost effective excavation method for a tunnel is a function of tunnel cross section area, rock conditions, tunnel length, availability of skilled labour and proper equipment, and project schedule. Over the past few decades, major technological development and technical advances have been achieved in both methods. Yet, in many tunnelling projects, choosing the excavation method is still a challenge and requires considering pros and cons of each method and estimating construction time, costs, as well as post construction and operation & maintenance, and related risk in the planning phase. In this study, the productivity and efficiency of the D&B and TBM options for excavating certain size tunnels have been examined. The analysis is based on recent NTNU prediction models for advance rate and unit excavation cost for given ground conditions and tunnel geometry. For excavation of large size tunnels in very hard rock, the D&B method seems to be the cost effective choice irrespective to tunnel geometry. This is compared to smaller long tunnels with good boreability were the TBM has higher advance rate. The tunnel size and rock conditions have higher impact on the TBM performance and costs than for D&B. This refers to lower risk of using D&B where the use of this method is otherwise justified.     

建筑智能化工程前期准备工作的几点意见

现代化建筑中的智能化工程前期的设计、招标、采购、施工等工作非常重要,其关系到项目最终是否能达到预期的目的。     

Theoretical comparison of alternative delivery systems for projects in unpredictable environments

A project delivery process simulation is presented based upon empirical studies in the design‐build environment of semiconductor fabrication facilities (‘fabs’). The model captures key tasks and decisions in design, procurement and construction, as well as design criteria changes along the delivery of a R&D fab utility system. Simulation shows that to involve the specialty contractor from the project start on average expedites project delivery since it prevents delays caused by bidding and by contractors' unfamiliarity with the design product definition. Yet, in unpredictable project environments – environments in which design criteria are likely to change irrespectively of the project progress status – simulation reveals that the averages of construction rework and waste increase if design is prematurely frozen. Assuming that work methods do not change and design criteria remain uncertain, results indicate that a system that combines early contractor involvement with judicious postponement of the design start reduces the average duration of the fab utility delivery in relation to the expected duration if competitive bidding was used, with limited increase in the averages of construction rework and waste. Additional efficiency is gained when specialty contractors relax conservative assumptions on anticipated site conditions. An economic model uses simulation results to assess the tradeoffs between alternative project delivery systems for the case of R&D fabs.     

Quantifying the difficulty of tunnelling by drilling and blasting

This study deals with industrial trends in tunnelling by drill and blast (D&B). We perform a statistical analysis of accumulated experience from the 1950s to the modern day to provide advice for proper project management in tunnel driving. The basis of the study is a wide database of tunnel blast schemes. This database is made of excavation parameters, and considers two main families of blasts: with parallel hole cuts and with inclined hole cuts. Such parameters are analysed by means of statistical regression. Correlations are shown. We present a general curve of correlation between tunnel sections and specific drilling and specific explosive consumption. We show how pull efficiency cannot be correlated to a single parameter, and how tunnelling by D&B needs to be treated as a complex system. Finally, we propose a method for quantifying and classifying the difficulty of tunnelling. The deviation of specific drilling (SD) from industrial average trend is used as an indicator of difficulty: easier when SD is lower than average, and more difficult when SD is higher than average. We show how such deviation can be preliminarily associated with lithotypes. This provides to designers and cost estimators a tool of a first approximation for D&B cost prediction at the pre-feasability and feasibility stages of a tunnelling project.     

Concurrent engineering: a strategy for procuring construction projects

The construction procurement process has been heavily criticised for its fragmented approach toward the delivery of construction projects. This has affected project effectiveness inasmuch as current procurement practices do not effectively encourage the integration, coordination and communication between participants. In addition, there is an ephemeral shifting coalition of participants from which divergent goals and objectives often emanate. This inhibits the scope for creativity and innovation throughout the procurement process. To overcome the difficulties often associated with procuring projects, industry practitioners and researchers have turned to the manufacturing industry as a point of reference and a potential source of innovation. Accordingly, a concept known as Concurrent Engineering (CE) has become a focal point for research. Concurrent engineering is a holistic approach to the design, development and production of a product. A multi-disciplinary team approach is required, whereby participants are brought together during the design to determine how downstream issues may be affected by design decisions. This paper suggests that a CE approach in construction may significantly improve the way in which projects are procured. A simple model demonstrating how CE can contribute to project effectiveness is proposed.     

Analysing the novated design and construct contract from the client's,design team's and contractor's perspectives

The novated design and construct (ND&C) contract is one of the increasingly preferred options among developers of large commercial and residential projects across Australia. As a consequence of novation, the design team's obligation to the client gets transferred to the contractor who becomes responsible for carrying out the detailed design work at a later stage of project life cycle. Subsequently, there are some inherent factors that can depict the effectiveness of how all parties in the process interact leading to a successful delivery of project through ND&C contracts. A common set of 31 influencing attributes have been identified through a systematic research approach and their relative significance and impacts have been determined based on a structured questionnaire survey in selected construction projects. By performing the factor analysis, a total of eight factors significant to ND&C contracts were extracted, namely (1) impact of initial design; (2) client's involvements in post novation design; (3) selection of design team; (4) contractor's obligation; (5) morale in post novation; (6) experience of design team; (7) relationship between contractor and design team; and (8) expertise of DT in ND&C projects. With a clear understanding of the roles of clients, design team and the contractors, these findings could potentially contribute to develop a company's procedures or enhance existing knowledge in relation to the ND&C procurement approach.     

建设工程交易方式设计分析

在分析建设工程交易成本构成及将工程交易方式设计分解为工程发包方式和交易合同设计两个方面的基础上,探讨了影响建设工程交易方式设计的因素,提出了工程交易方式的设计概念框架和设计步骤,并重点分析了工程产品模糊程度变化对建设工程发包方式和合同类型设计的影响,可为建设工程交易方式设计提供科学依据。     

Analysing construction project coalitions: exploring the application of social network analysis

The construction industry is currently in transition as a result of innovations in procurement and project management approaches, in particular, the utilization of supply chain management, and technology or work clusters in the context of partnering relationships between project coalition actors and the client organization. These new strategies require an analytical method that deals with actor interdependence and provides an appropriate level of detail and quantitative data in relation to the non‐linear, complex, iterative and interactive process that construction projects comprise. The construction project is conceptualized as a number information exchange networks, classified according to the principal project functions and supported by performance incentive and contractual relationship networks. The point centrality of the project actors within these various networks provides quantitative data and graphical representation of the governance of construction projects and the changes brought about by innovations in procurement and project management techniques. Social network analysis (SNA) provides an important new quantitative approach in the comparative analysis of procurement and project management of construction projects. SNA enables traditional project coalition management approaches to be compared with those associated with innovative management approaches. Quantitative analysis relates to the appropriateness and effectiveness of both financial incentives and contractual conditions involved in the governance of construction projects.     

寒地建设工程项目采购风险规避研究

?将风险概念引入到建设工程项目的材料采购过程中,分析寒地建设工程项目材料采购过程中的各种风险,采用模糊综合评价法构建了两级评价模型,以哈大齐工业走廊基础设施建设中某一工程项目为例,对项目采购过程中的风险进行综合分析评价。评价结果表明,该项目的采购风险维持在适中水平,根据评价结果,结合项目特点,进一步提出针对采购过程中存在的风险进行规避的多种策略,为寒冷地区建设工程项目采购风险应对提供参考,对于保证寒地工程项目建设的有序进行具有重要意义。     

The institutional drivers of social procurement implementation in Australian construction projects

Social procurement policies are becoming an increasingly popular tool for construction project clients to meet their corporate social responsibility objectives. This research employs New Institutional Theory to investigate the coercive, mimetic and normative drivers behind the adoption of social procurement policies in Australian construction projects. It presents a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with sixteen social procurement actors in the Australian construction industry who are responsible for implementing these policies at a project level. Results contribute new theoretical and practical insights into the nascent and under-theorized body of social procurement research in the field of project management. They indicate that coercive isomorphism is the most powerful driver of social procurement adoption in Australian construction projects, followed by mimetic isomorphism and normative isomorphism. It is concluded that the effective implementation of social procurement policies in construction projects requires project supply chains to shift from a compliance and mimicking mindset to one which normalizes social procurement. This will require institutional change based on the legitimisation of new social procurement professionals, roles and practices and the development of new project-based intermediaries to mitigate the risks and maximize the opportunities that social procurement presents.     

Developing a procurement path determination chart SEM-based approach

The choice of an appropriate procurement system is crucial to construction project success. Procurement selection is largely based on path determination charts, with at least eight key criteria needing to be weighted by decision-makers. Including certain criteria whilst ignoring client-borne transaction costs (TCs) resulting from environmental uncertainties simplifies this process. TCs are ‘unseen’ costs associated with pre- and post-contract work. The effects of uncertainties in the transaction environment and procurement systems on TCs are investigated, comparing the traditional and design-build procurement systems. A cross-sectional sample approach was deployed, involving survey questionnaire and results verification through ‘real-world’ cases. Data was sought from construction professionals in management, design and operation of construction projects. The research participants evaluate their time spent on procurement activities using a five-point Likert scale. Hypotheses of the relations between environmental uncertainties, procurement systems, and pre- and post-contract TCs are tested using a structural equation modelling (SEM) approach. The study found that TCs account for about 46.75% and 42.88% of the daily time spent by project managers in traditional and design-build procurement systems in New Zealand respectively. The study concludes that the TC concept is a useful framework for determining objective instead of subjective opinions for procurement decisions.     

Low carbon housing refurbishment challenges and incentives: Architects’ perspectives

The UK has a legally binding commitment to reduce CO₂ levels by 80% by 2050 relative to the 1990 emissions baseline. The existing housing stock, which accounts for approximately 30% of total UK energy demand, has the potential to provide significant opportunities for this reduction; however, currently there are no legislative measures driving widespread low carbon housing refurbishment (LCHR) design and construction. Architects have a decisive role to move forward the LCHR agenda owing to their leadership and significant involvement in the initial briefing, conceptual and design development phases of a project, regardless of project procurement types and project sizes. Hence, the aim of this research is to investigate the key challenges and incentives for achieving LCHR in England from architects’ perspectives.     

推动以设计为龙头的工程总承包模式

任何工程的勘察设计(以下简称设计)是项目建设的纲领性文件,是项目的出发点和起源点.所以说,设计是龙头,工程总承包(EPC)模式是全过程的管理,即设计、设备采购、施工设计,因此,工程总承包的龙头是设计.任何项目的实施必须从龙头开始,从“设计”这个龙头做起,它是从技术到技能的落实,是把复杂劳动变为简单劳动,是理论指导实践的全过程,是系统的、全面的和完整的工程管理.本文从工程建设活动的各阶段特点出发,介绍以设计为龙头的工程总承包,从而积极推动云南的工程总承包模式.     

Statistical analysis of causes for change orders in metropolitan public works

The fragmentation of design and construction processes increases the likelihood change orders in conventional project procurement methods. According to the related literature and practical experience, the causes for change orders are greatly varied, thus making the task of change management difficult for most clients. In consequence, cost and time overruns are often the direct outcome of mismanagement of changes. This paper, however, argues that this undesirable situation can be minimized or avoided as long as a mechanism for handling change orders can be understood and built into project management. This paper reviews the recorded change orders in 90 metropolitan public work projects completed before the year 2000 in Taipei, Taiwan. Based on this database, the chains of events are identified and the causes for change orders are categorized. Statistical correlation and variance analysis are used to find the connection among layers of events or causes. This study further provides preliminary recommendations about project management for change orders. The finding of this paper can be used as a reference for clients in developing their project procurement strategy.     

国外EPC 总承包项目的工程费用控制

论述国外大型建设项目,在EPC总承包方式下,保证设计、采购、施工环节中的费用控制,避免项目超支,为同类项目建设提供有效的借鉴经验。     

Effects of the law reforming public works contracts on the Italian building process

The Italian construction industry was rocked by the scandals regarding procurement by the public sector during the early 1990s. Although not confined to construction, the role of the state in construction demand meant that it was one of the most heavily implicated sectors. Known as 'tangentopoli', the scandals have prompted a major reform of public sector procurement in the Italian industry which, combined with changes required to conform with EU directives, is leading to a profound cultural change in the industry. This paper provides an authoritative review of the changes in the procurement codes and the roles and relationships within the construction industry. It shows how the project management of public sector programmes is being strengthened, and how the procurement of the design and construction processes is being separated to provide greater transparency in the process. Although it is too soon to tell what the actual impact of these changes will be upon construction industry practice, some suggestions are made in the concluding comments. En Italie, le secteur de la construction a ete secoue par les scandales concernant les approvisionnements par le secteur public au debut des annees 1990. Bien que n'etant pas limitee a la construction, la part de l'Etat dans la demande pour les travaux de construction temoignait que c'etait bien l'un des secteurs les plus impliques. Connus sous l'appellation de 'tangentopoli', ces scandales ont declenche une vague de reformes qui a touche les approvisionnements par le secteur public qui, combines aux changements necessaires pour se conformer aux directives de l'UE, conduisent a un profond changement culturel de cette industrie. La presente communication constitue une etude documentee des changements qui affectent les codes d'approvisionnement ainsi que les roles et les relations qui s'etablissent au sein de l'industrie de la construction. Elle montre comment la gestion de projets, lorsqu'il s'agit de programmes du secteur public, se trouve renforcee et comment la fourniture de prestations d'etudes et de travaux de construction joue en faveur d'une plus grande transparence du procede. Bien qu'il soit trop tot pour dire quel impact auront ces changements sur les pratiques dans le secteur de la construction, l'auteur conclut en faisant certaines recommandations.     

Achieving best value in private finance initiative project procurement

The wherewithal of achieving best value in private finance initiative (PFI) projects and the associated problems therein are documented. In the UK, PFI has offered a solution to the problem of securing necessary investment at a time of severe public expenditure restraint. In PFI schemes, the public sector clients must secure value for money, while the private sector service providers must genuinely assume responsibility for project risks. A broad‐based investigation into PFI risk management informs the discussion in this paper. It is based on 68 interviews with PFI participants and a case study of eight PFI projects. The research participants comprised of contractors, financial institutions, public sector clients, consultants and facilities management organizations. The qualitative software Atlas.ti was used to analyse the textual data generated. The analysis showed that the achievement of best value requirements through PFI should hinge on: detailed risk analysis and appropriate risk allocation, drive for faster project completion, curtailment in project cost escalation, encouragement of innovation in project development, and maintenance cost being adequately accounted for. Factors that continue to challenge the achievement of best value are: high cost of the PFI procurement process, lengthy and complex negotiations, difficulty in specifying the quality of service, pricing of facility management services, potential conflicts of interests among those involved in the procurement, and the public sector clients' inability to manage consultants.     

Contract strategy for design management in the design and build system

Project team members in design–build system, including owner’s representatives, design–build (D/B) contractors and architects/engineers, have to adopt new roles in managing the design of large-scale projects. The design responsibility is transferred from the owner’s organization to the D/B contractor who is responsible for the design management in the projects to be delivered by the design–build procurement system. However, there remains the concern of design management between the designer and the constructor within the D/B organization, or between the joint venture parties of a D/B project. This paper presents a study, which reviews the issues concerning the design liability and contractual provisions for design management between the designer and D/B contractor in the said contractual arrangements of design–build system. It disseminates the results of a questionnaire survey and structured interviews of three groups of project participants: owners, designers and D/B contractors. The roles and responsibilities of the parties involved in design and design management are less than clear in their respective engagement contracts. In order to improve the design management of design–build projects, this paper recommended some strategic items to be considered in drafting contracts between owners/D/B contractors, D/B contractors/designers and owners/independent checkers to address the issues.     

基于BQ计价模式的项目承接流程再造研究

BQ计价模式是中国建筑业发展史上的一次深刻的行业市场化革命,它的施行导致建筑企业实施业务流程再造变得必要而且紧迫.为了适应新的市场模式,建筑企业的管理人员必须对企业的组织结构和管理流程进行根本的再思考和彻底的再设计.本文详细阐述了作为建筑企业关键流程的建设项目承接流程的再造理念和方法.