Innovation & Technology

Question 1

Full contents

Answer 1

Innovation (stages, framework, culture)
Case studies (Burj etc.)
Design thinking, Kaizen, System engineering
Agile (user centric, managing uncertainty)
Lean (reducing waste, managing processes and delivering value) / TIMWOOD
JIT
TVD

Question 2

Important Tip

Answer 2

Standardize process of innovation
Over 70% of contractors believe advanced technologies can increase productivity, improve schedule and enhance safety

Question 3

Types of innovation

Answer 3

Product innovation / self repairing concrete
Process innovation / Continuous Improvement, Value Creation, Systems Engineering
Services innovation / design thinking
Project delivery innovation / integrated project delivery

Question 4

How innovation happens

Answer 4

Problem driven - reactive and aims to resolve a problem
Constraints driven - deal with certain constraints
Opportunity driven - proactive

Question 5

Components of innovation framework

Answer 5

Innovation framework provides tools, skills, resources and structures to enable them to innovate

Innovation strategy - goals etc.
Innovation methods
Effective communication
Innovation metrics
Rewards and recognition

Question 6

Stages in standardization of innovation process

Answer 6

Identify need for innovation
Select innovative solutions for development
Develop selected innovative solutions
Assess if the solutions work
Transfer to future projects

Question 7

Characteristics of innovative culture

Answer 7

Freedom
Risk-taking
Commitment and trust
Diversity
Curiosity

Question 8

03 components of innovation culture

Answer 8

Innovation framework
Engagement
Diversity

Question 9

Barriers to innovation

Answer 9

Risk aversion
Regulation
Aging workforce
Complexity and fragmentation
Lack of structure and focus
Waterfall mindset

Question 10

Trends in innovation

Answer 10

Innovation in materials - translucent wood, self-healing concrete, breath bricks; light generating cement
Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA)

Question 11

Burj Khalifa case study

Answer 11

Read from notes

Question 12

A453 road widening case study

Answer 12

Read from the notes

Question 13

Methods to support innovation

Answer 13

Design thinking
Buzz sessions (3 to 6 people groups for innovation)
Coopetition (move away from a zero-sum game)
Kaizen
Systems engineering

Question 14

Design Thinking

Answer 14

Design thinking is an extension of innovation that allows you to design solutions for end users with a single problem statement in mind. A 04 step structured, unbiased and user-centric way to solve problems

Clarify (user centric and defines the problem)
Ideate
Develop
Implement

Question 15

Kaizen

Answer 15

A continuous improvement process.
Consists of 03 steps
Pre-event: Define the event; establish goals, select team, ensure adequate training on Kaizen
Event: Document current process; identify bottlenecks; root cause; define new process; implement solution; establish metrics
Post-event: Track metrics and KPIs; follow the plan - do - check - act (PDCA) cycle

Question 16

Systems Engineering

Answer 16

A multidisciplinary approach towards designing a whole system rather than just individual elements

Question 17

Agile construction management - key principles

Answer 17

Define clear goals
Align deliverables with goals
Break project into smaller packages
Continuous improvement
Skilled and experienced team

Question 18

Agile during design

Answer 18

Most applicable to this stage
Iterative work process that adapts to changes
Collect initial and regular client feedback
Break up scope into small packages
Greater use of prefabrication

Question 19

Agile during execution

Answer 19

Breakdown into smaller manageable pieces
Continuous improvement
Regular management reviews
Feedback from employees/workers on execution
Increased collaboration

Question 20

Why lean construction

Answer 20

50% of effort in built environment is non-value added or waste
Labor productivity has not improved in 50 years
Labor shortfall

Question 21

06 principles of lean

Answer 21

Respect for people
Optimize the whole (avoid siloed optimization)
Continuous improvement
Removal of waste
Generation of value (defined via CoS)
Focus on processes (production based project delivery by optimizing processes)

Question 22

Lean deployment plan

Answer 22

A formal plan that outlines

Conditions of Satisfaction
Selected methods
Each method’s plan
Consolidated project plan

Question 23

04 stages of Lean deployment planning

Answer 23

Initiate
Select
Plan
Integrate

Read more from notes

Question 24

Methods to identify waste in lean

Answer 24

Observations
Ohno circles
First run studies / videos
Value stream maps
Spaghetti diagrams
Constant measurement

Question 25

08 types of waste in lean (TIMWOOD)

Answer 25

Transportation - unnecessary movement of people or goods
Inventory - unnecessary inventory
Motion - unnecessary motion or movement of people or goods
Waiting - time when WIP is waiting for next step in production
Over-processing - design in detail more than necessary
Over-production
Defects
Underutilized talents

Question 26

Just in Time

Answer 26

Lean methodology
For materials with high risk of damage
Every part must fit as intended first time as there are no other parts available in stock
Engagement of all stakeholders is critical

Question 27

TVD

Answer 27

Based on target costing philosophy from manufacturing
Delivery projects at a determined cost
Design to cost and not design and then cost
TVD requires lean philosophy, organizational integration and shared risks and rewards
Tends to work better with Integrated Project Delivery
Varying success on DBB and DB delivery
TVD projects should use lean methods such as:

Set-Based Concurrent Engineering SCBE (considers different alternatives with different teams concurrently working on the alternatives)
Choosing by Advantages - defer cost until advantages have been agreed
Value Engineering
Big Room
A3 Thinking
Evidence based design
Last Planner System