22nd Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction - Oslo, Norway - 2014

Simplean: An Effective Tool for Optimizing Construction Workflow

Mazen Faloughi1, Wissam Bechara2, Joy Chamoun3 & Farook Hamzeh4

1Undergraduate Student, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, American University of Beirut, Lebanon, [email protected]
2Undergraduate Student, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, American University of Beirut, Lebanon, [email protected]
3Undergraduate Student, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, American University of Beirut, Lebanon, [email protected]
4Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, American University of Beirut, Beirut Riad El-Solh 1107 2020, Lebanon, Phone +961 1 350000 Ext: 3616, [email protected]

Abstract

Achieving continuous information flow and effective coordination between construction teams is becoming increasingly difficult with the increase in complexity of construction project organizations. Information has to travel through a busy bureaucratic structure and is often distorted, delayed or even deliberately hidden. The aim of this paper is to develop a solution to this problem that consists of a visual information software platform. The proposed software -SimpLean- allows easy and simple coordination of activities, staff and resources. Live information would be exchanged between construction teams via hand held electronic tablets. The software operation mechanism enables the application of Lean Construction concepts and the Last Planner® System (LPS®) with minimal training and adaptation time. Such software could be considered as a transition tool for contracting firms looking to implement Lean concepts, without requiring deep and radical process changes. The effectiveness of implementing the software in the construction environment is tested using computer simulation.

Keywords

SimpLean, visual information systems, Lean Construction, transparency, Last Planner System.

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Reference

Faloughi, M. , Bechara, W. , Chamoun, J. & Hamzeh, F. 2014. Simplean: An Effective Tool for Optimizing Construction Workflow, 22nd Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction , 281-292. doi.org/

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