Browsing by Author "Gonzalez, V."

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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    Investigating the relationship between planning reliability and project performance
    (TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD, 2008) Gonzalez, V.; Alarcon, L. F.; Mundaca, F.
    Variability is a well-known problem in construction projects, which leads to the general deterioration of project performance. During the last decade, the Last Planner System (LPS), a production planning and control system based on lean production principles, has been increasingly applied in the construction industry to improve planning reliability reducing the negative impacts of variability. LPS promotes actions to increase planning reliability, monitoring the percentage of plan completed (PPC) in a short-term period. However, there is limited research evidence about the relationship between planning reliability and project performance. In this paper, the authors report on a detailed research analysing this relationship during the construction phase of a home building project at activity and project levels. By doing so, two indexes are proposed: an activity planning reliability index called the process reliability index (PRI), and a project aggregate labour productivity index, called the project productivity index (PPI). Statistical analyses using the proposed indexes were conducted showing positive and strong relationships between planning reliability and performance at activity and project levels. Finally, the research findings provide the guidelines of a preliminary methodology to forecast the impacts of planning reliability over project performance, when lean production methodologies are applied in project planning and control.
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    Model for the evaluation of owner\'s management approach to third party relations: Lessons from the mining industry
    (2011) Palacios, J.L.; Gonzalez, V.; Alarcon Cardenas, Luis Fernando
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    Multiobjective design of Work-In-Process buffer for scheduling repetitive building projects
    (ELSEVIER, 2009) Gonzalez, V.; Alarcon, L. F.; Molenaar, K.
    Variability in production is one of the largest factors that negatively impacts construction project performance. A common construction practice to protect production systems from variability is the use of buffers (BF). Construction practitioners and researchers have proposed buffering approaches for different production situations. but these approaches have faced practical limitations in their application. A multiobjective analytic model (MAM) is proposed to develop a graphical Solution for the design of Work-In-Process (WIP) Bf in order to overcome these practical limitations to Bf application, being demonstrated through the scheduling of repetitive building projects. Multiobjective analytic modeling is based on Simulation-Optimization (SO) modeling and Pareto Fronts concepts. Simulation-Optimization framework uses Evolutionary Strategies (ES) as the optimization search approach, which allows for the design of optimum WIP Bf sizes by optimizing different project objectives (e.g., project cost, time and productivity). The framework is tested and validated oil two repetitive building projects. The SO framework is then generalized through Pareto Front concepts, allowing for the development of the MAM as nomographs for practical Use. The application advantages of the MAM are shown through a project scheduling example. Results demonstrate project performance improvements and a more efficient and practical design of WIP BE Additionally, production strategies based on WIP Bf and lean production principles in construction are discussed. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.