Constructability Concepts File
This publication is based on the experience of the owners and contractors represented on the CII Constructability Task Force and on the findings of research programs directed by the task force. The research convincingly shows that major cost savings and schedule improvement can result from the effective implementation of the principles of constructability. The task force defines constructability as “the optimum use of construction knowledge and experience in planning, design, procurement, and field operations to achieve overall project objectives.”
Thirteen constructability concepts are presented in this report, along with sample applications of the concepts. The first six concepts relate to the conceptual planning phase of a project. The remaining seven relate to the design and procurement phase. Concepts relating to field operations will be distributed at a later time.
Collectively, the concepts and their applications present representative good practices in a manner that will enable practitioners in any organization to take advantage of the lessons learned by others and apply them in their organizations and on their projects. While the reader may find that some of the concepts or applications will be directly applicable to their projects, the primary purpose of the Concepts File is to stimulate thinking about constructability and how to make it work. This is not a checklist, nor is it a cook book. Experienced people will have to study the concepts and the sample applications to determine which will be best for their company and their projects.
Conceptual planning involves defining functional and performance requirements, evaluating project feasibility, and studying criteria for preliminary engineering. The decisions made during this phase have a major impact during the remainder of the project, particularly on construction. The concepts concerning the benefits of construction involvement in project planning, development of the contracting strategy, and selecting major construction methods that influence the design approach clearly indicate the need to involve those who will build the project as it is being defined.
Design and procurement is the phase in which most serious practitioners of constructability have previously addressed their efforts. In comparison to the preceding phase of conceptual planning, the cost impact of decisions here is still very high and many opportunities exist for enhancing constructability. The nature of these improvements, however, can be quite different. While conceptual planning constructability tends to focus on project objectives, organization, and execution plans, design/procurement constructability is manifested in the form of drawings, specifications, purchase orders, and schedules.
The task force research also identified the best practices in organizing for constructability among many companies. These practices are presented in Guidelines for Implementing a Constructability Program, which will help the reader begin the development of his own company specific programs. It will also be helpful in thinking through the nature of the constructability efforts that may be appropriate for a given company in the formulation of a policy statement, in the development of the constructability organization, and in the establishment of the basic procedures to be followed.
The task force believes that the adoption of new technology such as three-dimensional computer aided design/drafting (CADD), robotics, and automation in construction will have a revolutionary impact on construction methods and techniques. Constructability personnel must be prepared to adapt to these new approaches and provide the appropriate planning input to all the participants who will impact directly and indirectly on the construction process. This publication is designed to assist in the dynamics of that important process.
The initial publication by the task force, Constructability: A Primer, and its second publication, Guidelines for Implementing A Constructability Program, are included with this notebook. Future research results on constructability will be forwarded by CII as additions to the notebook.
