Juha-Matti Junnonen

This conceptual study aims to produce rough analysis methods and visualizations for production data (formatted in time, location, and work) that can be collected from construction sites that utilize takt production. The scope is on creating methods for evaluating the soundness of the takt plan and its execution. Relevant production literature regarding takt production management and data collection are utilized in the production of the methods and visualizations. However, only imaginary production data are utilized in this study to keep the indicators as simplified and clear as possible. A total of seven indicators with varying levels of novelty are provided in the study. The proposed indicators emphasize punctual adherence to the takt schedule, homogenous production pace, avoiding trade overlapping in locations, steady work in process, and coherent short and long-term production targets. Both as-planned and as-built perspectives are considered. The proposed indicators are argued to be valuable for production management and research and development processes since they provide status information and document the progression of the production for later indicators purposes. This study also acts as a foundation for further empirical studies regarding takt production data utilization.

This study aims to provide a foundation for the development of subcontracts that suit takt production in construction. This is a non-empiric conceptual study, which integrates takt production and general construction literature into new proposals for subcontract clauses suitable for takt production in construction. This study uses literature reviews, from which proposals regarding takt production viable subcontract clauses are conducted via logical reasoning. A total of 13 proposals for takt production applicable subcontracts are provided in this study. The proposals emphasize detailed and collaborative planning, suitable payment methods and flexibility for takt plan modification. Previous takt literature has not properly addressed the development of subcontracts for takt production, despite regular attempts to use subcontracting in takt production. This study aims to aid main contractors to create fair and suitable subcontracts, so that adhering to takt schedules could be more viable in practice. This study also acts as a foundation for further empirical studies regarding the subject.

The use of the laser scanning technique has increased rapidly in the field of built environment, mainly because it produces highly accurate as-built data. However, the full potential of this technique is utilised only limitedly in building refurbishment projects. This research aims to investigate the barriers to the implementation of laser scanning in building refurbishment projects in Finland. Qualitative interviews were carried out to identify these barriers, and furthermore, to explore the current usage of the technique in building refurbishments. The study shows that many obstacles to implementations are related to challenges in laser scanning procurement, including a low level of competence in acquisition, limitations of the laser scanning technique in building refurbishments, and limitations and challenges in utilising the data in design work. This study is beneficial for building owners and practitioners as it presents the challenges and advantages that laser scanning can provide a refurbishment project. In addition, it offers suggestions to improve the early phase of a refurbishment project in order to achieve greater benefits with laser scanning. Furthermore, the findings may be utilised in the procurement process of laser scanning services in such projects, and the results may potentially solve practical challenges encountered in laser scanning work.

Construction production is steered with the help of monitoring task progressions and comparing them to the schedule. Construction monitoring is often imprecise. Especially in takt production, more detailed and systematic monitoring methods should be pursued. In takt production, production must be monitored frequently to make sure that the production follows the takt schedule. However, takt production monitoring methods have not been discussed in literature. In this study, a digital monitoring solution for takt production is developed and tested in a case apartment renovation project in Finland. At first, the production monitoring in the case project was done in paper format. This monitoring form was then developed into a digital monitoring application. The progression of production tasks was entered into the application manually. These entries were then automatically compared with a digital takt schedule. As a result, production status can be analyzed automatically and provide diverse information for the construction foremen. This information can be automatically visualized and used as a detailed status report for site meetings. Gathered information can also be revisited afterwards for development or reclamation purposes, for example.

Takt production has been of great interest in construction during the last few years. In this research, a case study was carried out to demonstrate how the scheduling of an apartment building renovation project that utilizes takt production can be done. Furthermore, the study defines what clarifications should be made into the existing takt production models in the context of apartment building renovation projects, and it also explains why. Based on the study, adhering to a uniform production rate is challenging in apartment renovation projects. Therefore, a total of five clarifications to existing takt production methods are suggested. (1) Production with short takt requires a highly detailed definition of tasks in order to avoid ambiguousness. (2) Some tasks carried out in takt areas may have to be excluded from takt production. (3) The sensitivity of a created takt schedule should be evaluated, and buffers should be added accordingly. (4) Emphasis must be put on coordinating takted and non-takted tasks. (5) Takt plan modification during production requires effective procedures, since there is little time to react.

Municipal building refurbishment projects are carried out under conditions of high uncertainty and complexity, which often result in unsatisfying outcomes. In this research, a case study approach is used to provide a holistic presentation of the sources of uncertainties in the early phase of a municipal school refurbishment project in Finland. The study also explores how these sources are treated in the case project. It is considered that the uncertainty in the case study originated from three key sources: from the project due to the characteristics of existing buildings; from the organization due to the separately operating municipal units; from the municipal environment due to the municipal policy, and decision-making process. This study shows that more emphasis should be laid on the sources of uncertainty in the early phases of a municipal building refurbishment project for reaching proper decisions. In addition, the study presents suggestions for improving the municipal process.

Purpose: Public authorities are required to organise new facilities to respond to changed user demands in terms of a public-owned school. The number of pupils attending the case study school will increase in the following years, as will the number of children attending a day nursery located on the present campus. In addition, the users of the campus have complained of building-related symptoms. This study aims to understand the municipal decision-making process in organising the school’s facilities, in particular, the factors used for decreasing uncertainty around a project. Design/methodology/approach: This study is a case study undertaken through an action research approach. The researchers participated in the project planning meetings concerning the future activities to take place in the building. Findings: Over a 13-month period, multiple stakeholders participated in the project planning meetings providing a deeper understanding of the space demands posed, current challenges and opportunities offered by the existing building. In addition, the alternative solutions generated were evaluated. The problem identification and information gathering periods lasted over nine months, which was far longer than predicted. Thus, generating alternative solutions and evaluation of the solutions also delayed. As the entire process was delayed substantially, the final decision on organising the facilities was not made during this research. Practical implications: This research may be of practical value for a property owner and a project team for decision-making concerning changed facility demands. Originality/value: This paper provides information about how public authorities are making decisions on facility organisation during conditions of uncertainty.

We noticed that the Figures 2 and 3 have become the same in the final version of this paper

The construction industry has suffered from low growth in recent decades. Motivated by the economic importance of the industry, we revisit the construction productivity puzzle by analyzing the construction value chains of 12 European countries with data from the World Input–Output and EU KLEMS databases. We decompose construction-related value-added and productivity contributions to the construction industry and the rest of the value chain, and show that the traditional focus on the construction industry is restrictive. There is a substantial amount of construction-related value-added generated in other industries, and the productivity growth in the construction value chains has, for the most part, been seen in them. Furthermore, we show that there is a strong, long-term relationship between construction-related patents and the improvement of total factor productivity in the value chains, but the value chains typically suffer from low efficiency in the use of information technology.

This study aims to present property management challenges that municipalities have encountered regarding a public building with noted building-related symptoms. The study goes on to provide reasons for the failure of attempts to manage the symptoms and discusses the current challenges concerning the process. A participatory case study was used as the research methodology to identify the current challenges concerning a municipal approach to managing the building-related symptoms in a case-study building. The researchers scrutinised the history of the health symptom management process and attended the project planning meetings focused on the investigation of the condition of the building. Multiple challenges concerning maintenance and omitted or postponed repair actions, as well as vagueness in the management process were found. In addition to this, it was noted that the complexity of the initial design of the building and vandalism have resulted in challenges for the maintenance and moisture performance of the building structures. According to the study, more orderliness and a more systematic process is needed when managing a municipal property. The identified property management challenges may be of practical value for the facility managers and the property owners, especially when managing the building-related symptoms and a damaged building. This study highlights the importance of having an in-depth understanding of condition assessments as well as proper maintenance and timely repairs for the successful management of the building-related symptoms in a municipal building. This is a pilot project in a larger project of management of building refurbishment.