Robust control of cost impact on fast-tracking building construction projects

Abstract

The fast-tracking delivery method has received considerable attention in recent years. Its time saving feature has placed it as an alternative to the sequential method. Effective fast-tracking may shorten delivery time and lower project costs. However, it should be highlighted that fast tracking also inherits a greater potential for an unexpected cost increase due to uncertainty in planning and management. To handle such inherent risks, fast-tracking should be undertaken with proper planning and management in a systematic manner. A closer observation of the design and construction process reveals that all of the cost-increasing factors in fast-tracking are directly or indirectly related to non value-adding or corrective changes. These changes are mainly attributed to uncertainty that is rooted in the interdependency of project tasks. Consequently, reducing this interdependency and managing the undesirable interactions among project tasks hold a key to successful fast-tracking. To meet these challenges, a robust planning and control methodology is developed to provide a systematic solution. The proposed methodology is elaborated based on concurrent engineering and system dynamics. Concurrent engineering is applied to develop an overlapping framework for the construction processes and to enable the interdependency among them to be minimized. The system dynamics modeling approach helps analyze and quantify the effect of dynamic interactions among the design and construction processes. The final result of this research may help ensure that the fast-tracking approach achieves sizable delivery time reductions without driving up costs. The provision of an optimal overlapping strategy, workforce control policy, and schedule adjustments assists in satisfying this goal.