Due to the downsizing of capital facility engineering capabilities nationwide, owner organizations are outsourcing capital project functions in an effort to leverage contractor manpower and expertise. It is critical for owners and contractors to modify their core competencies to incorporate the skills required so their changing roles meet with success. This thrust area is an interdisciplinary study involving project management, economics, finance, social sciences and a broad range of engineering disciplines evaluating the changing nature of owner’s outsourcing of project-specific services and the implications of these changes on the industry.
Summary of Activities
To a strong degree, successful projects should make for both successful stakeholders and, in the long run, a successful industry. To further facilitate successful projects, the Project Execution Processes Thrust was established and many studies have been conducted:
PDRI for Buildings: This study developed a first-of-a-kind scope development tool for the commercial building industry called the Project Definition Rating Index. Extensive industry input led to a validated tool identifying 64 key elements that must be addressed in the pre-project planning of buildings. The tool has been widely accepted by industry.
Planning for Startup: The transition between construction and facility operations is highly risky and yet supported with few planning tools. This study resulted in a comprehensive toolkit that enables effective planning of startup activities.
Urban Freeway Reconstruction Constructability Challenges and Solutions: Dallas, Texas is currently at the midpoint of a 20-year program of projects to reconstruct and expand urban freeway facilities. In these projects, many constructability challenges are encountered and new solution processes are needed. Studies thus far have focused on expediting of bridge reconstruction, tunneling planning and construction strategies, efficient coordination and integration of adjacent projects, and 4D CAD simulation.
Prefabrication/Pre-Assembly/Modularization/Offsite Fabrication (PPMOF): Technology changes such as 3D CAD, the internet, robotics, and automated design software, along with changing labor conditions and supply chain configurations have led to a doubling of the use of PPMOF in industrial construction in the last 15 years to over 25% of the volume of a typical project. A tool was developed to facilitate implementation decisions regarding use of PPMOF on specific projects. It is already being used within the CII community and resulted in a CII research award.
Organizational Implementation: In examining knowledge implementation by 41 owner and contractor organizations, this study cataloged implementation processes, developed metrics of knowledge implementation, provided policy implications to participating organizations, and base-lined measurement of implementation for future studies.
Toolkit for Implementing Value Management Processes: Forty-Four Value Management Processes (VMP) have been identified that, in some way, can enhance projects. To support implementation of these practices, a Toolkit is being developed that will provide assistance in both selection and implementation of VMPs for a given project.
Methods for Expediting Highway Projects: A heightened awareness of the importance of timely completion of highway projects has resulted in a need for inventorying the various and numerous innovative expediting methods that have emerged. This study will also offer a tool for selection of most-appropriate methods for a given project.
Benchmarking Homeland Security Construction Practices: In conjunction with CII, CCIS researchers have begun identifying practices that enhance the security of capital facility projects. Follow-on work will assess the impacts of these practices on individual projects and the overall industry.
Development of Knowledge Structure: A structured process was developed to categorize CII research findings in a topological manner and to identify best practices. It has been widely accepted by the CII membership and helps facilitate knowledge sharing and implementation of practices.
Pre-Project Planning Metrics: This study benchmarked the pre-project planning process of a private sponsor in the institutional building sector. It analyzed 45 similar projects worth $250 million and developed improvement recommendations for the sponsor.
Cause and Impacts of Highway Design Consultant Delays: The highway design phase often suffers from tardy completion of consultant plans and specifications. This study provided a better understanding of the causes and effects of such delays along with new approaches to help ensure timely completion of consultants’ work products.
Productivity Rates and Drivers for Highway Construction Activities: Without reliable productivity rate data, state transportation departments continue to have difficulty in establishing construction contract durations. In addition, such departments can benefit from a better understanding of the drivers of productivity rates and associated variability.
Planning Issues for INS Facility in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV): The initial cost estimate for an INS facility was grossly over-budget, prompting both a study of the RGV construction labor market and a re-examination of the choice for the exterior wall system.
Estimating Construction Durations for Highway Projects: In the interest of better serving the traveling public, it is desirable for highway project contract durations to represent aggressive yet achievable timeframes. Establishing such durations in a short period of time is a challenging problem that requires improved approaches and more data than has been available.
Future Plans for CCIS Project Execution Thrust
The scoping of research topics associated with this Thrust will be significantly influenced by outside leveraged funding sources. Potential or likely topics include: 1) Facility security risk assessment, including HVAC-related threats; 2) Sustainable design and construction practices for the industrial sector (consistent with CII’s strategic plan); 3) Methods to accelerate right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation on transportation projects; and 4) Application of pre-project planning on transportation projects; in addition to continuations of studies funded by others.
