The objective of this research project is to produce "an Interactive Modelling tool for Measuring the benefits arising from PRE-assembly and STandardisation within construction" – hence the acronym. The target is for a fully-tested CD-Rom covering m&e services, frame, envelope and internals by October 2003. Funding comes from the government and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and is undertaken in conjunction with 11 industrial partners.
A paper-based model covering m&e services has already been produced. This is being converted into an electronic version that is due for release in December. It is planned to initially test this prototype on three projects and then on six. An expanded version including data for frame and envelope is planned for production between May and November 2002, with data for internals to be added during the next six months.
The university recently held a workshop to update industry representatives on the project's progress and get their views on how they may use IMMPREST in their own businesses.
The use of interconnected laptop computers let the delegates add anonymous comments to those already in the system. Copies of these were then distributed at the conference close.
An underlying criticism of the model was that it is a tad too complex; but it is still in the development stage, and nobody expressed doubt that such a model will prove to be useful.
Model features
The purpose of IMMPREST is to enable the assessment of the benefits of standardisation and pre-assembly at any construction stage, for any element, stakeholder or team member, or for any particular purpose, such as the creation of a procurement plan. To do this, in addition to a large in-built database, the tool must be able to receive and process a large amount of information.
IMMPREST identifies the factors that must be considered to measure the benefits, the data needed to assess the effects of those factors, and where relevant data can be obtained from the supply chain.
The m&e model currently concentrates on pre-assembly and includes data on a variety of units, such as skid-mounted boilers, plantrooms, single and multi-service distribution units, fan coils and multi-service chillers. Data on on-site assembly of these units is also included.
The user selects the units to be evaluated and then adds information related to the project in which they will be used. This should include details about the building – its location, its use, features such as number of floors, details of its services, frame, roof, facade, internals, lifts and project value.
The IMMPREST database then identifies the factors that enable an initial assessment of the benefits of using pre-assembled components. Data on component and material supply chain companies can then be added for assessment of how these might be beneficial to the use of the units.
The model will provide comparisons between pre-assembly and the use of standardised components and conventional methods of construction. The comparisons go beyond costs and time. They are based on measurements of benefits related to logistics and operations, organisation, health and safety, sustainability, the environment and programming. Table 1, above, shows how some of these can be measured.
Focusing on how benefits can be quantified objectively and whether the information they are based on is readily available, they can be classified into one of four categories: hard/simple, hard/complex, soft/simple and soft-complex (see table 2, right).
Hard measures are those such as financial factors, which can be compared to other benefits and costs, and those that are non-financial but that can nevertheless be quantified objectively. Soft measures are those non-financial issues that are subjective, based on descriptive or verbal scales. Simple measures are those that are based on easily obtained information, such as project data that is complete but may need some analysis. Complex measures are those where information is incomplete.
Nick Blismas, research associate on the project, admits that assessing the benefits of the softer issues can be tricky. Scoring points is an easy approach, he says, but can result in too much loss of detail. He envisages a benefit measure for a soft issue being reached only after a series of questions have been answered or parameters considered.
Provision is made to filter all benefit measures, where required, to prioritise those with a cost benefit (or no benefit). This may be used by a quantity surveyor who is interested only in cost items, or the installer concerned about labour and logistics. It is a versatile and flexible tool.
IMMPREST is not the only research project of its kind. There are a number of others with the same aim of improving the performance of the construction industry. Most closely related are the MEDIC (Modular Engineering Design & Integrated Construction) project being undertaken by the School of Civil Engineering at Nottingham University, and research undertaken by the Construction Industry Research & Information Association (CIRIA).
It would be a great shame, as well as a waste of time and effort, if the construction industry doesn't make use of the techniques and practices to improve its performance that these and other projects are promoting. As Dr Christine Pasquire of Loughborough University's Department of Civil and Building Engineering explains, the built environment underpins every socio-economic activity – as long as there are people, there will be a need for construction. "This security is, however, a double-edged sword that leads people to feel there is no need for change and that there is no easy scope for improvement.
"Business improvement strategies can become corrupted into marketing ploys – conning the client. Secrecy and mistrust abound and knowledge is seen power.
"But knowledge isn't power; using it is," Dr Pasquire affirmed. "Decisions can be improved by recording how they were made. Sharing knowledge doesn't put you out of a job."
Dr Pasquire stressed the importance of companies sharing their knowledge and experience. Considerable benefits, she said, can be obtained from shared knowledge incorporated into the model. The model would then contain a framework within which users could enter their own value data. Sharing of commercially-sensitive cost data would be avoided.
What IMMPREST wants to do, Dr Pasquire said, is to provide the user with a knowledge framework that stops the user forgetting things, gives access to the experiences of others, standardises the approach so everyone understands and supports the decision-making process by giving auditable information trails, generating flexible reporting, and making the most of IT provision.
Source
Electrical and Mechanical Contractor
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