Journal of Management in Engineering 36 (3), 04020004 Abstract: This study applies empowerment theory to production planning at the level of frontline managers in a construction project. Using structural equation modeling, we investigate how empowering frontline managers impacts their planning performance. In contrast to prior studies, we find that although psychological empowerment of frontline managers has no direct effect on their production planning reliability or scheduling performance, it has an indirect effect on planning reliability and scheduling performance, as long…
Category: Research
Impact of Make-Ready Process on Project Cost Performance in Heavy Civil
Production Planning & Control 30 (13), 1064-1071 Abstract: The research investigates the relationship between the production plan reliability and the project cost performance using project data in the heavy civil construction sector. The research also investigates the attributes of a make-ready process using statistical analysis. This study shows that production planning reliability (i.e. Per cent Constraint Removal (PCR) and Per cent Plan Complete (PPC)) and project cost performance (CPI) are significantly correlated in the heavy construction projects. The findings show…
Prevention through Design (PtD) for Solar-Ready Houses
Supported by CPWR–The Center for Construction Research and Training (https://www.cpwr.com/), a UW CM research team recently completed a funded study regarding Prevention through Design (PtD) for Solar. The team consisted of Prof. Hyun Woo “Chris” Lee (PI), Prof. John Gambatese (Co-PI, Oregon State University), and Yohan Min (UW PhD student researcher). The study aims to support designers to apply PtD to new solar-ready houses by providing an easy-to-use PtD design checklist and BIM models. More information can be found in…
Digital Fabrication for Concrete Formwork
Project Funded by: Turner Construction CERC Applied Research Fellowship Faculty Advisor: Carrie Sturts Dossick Ph.D. Canddiate: Sadra Fardhosseini Turner Partners: Renzo DiFuria, Sean Beatty “Digital fabrication is an emerging approach to transforming design to physical products. While a number of studies have been carried out to highlight the use of digital technologies in construction, there is still a dearth of studies focused on design-to-fabrication workflows for concrete formwork in construction projects. In response, the overarching goal of this study is…
Lean and Safety Manual
On June 6, Professor Chris Lee presented a “Lean and Safety Manual” to AGC (Associated General Contractors) member companies at the AGC-WA Building. Funded by WA State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), the manual is the final product of his research project, entitled “Develop a Lean Practice Manual for Improving the Safety of Electrical Construction Workers”. This project specifically aimed to identify best practices when implementing lean construction techniques and tools to improve worker safety, as applicable to electrical contractors. View the…