Value Stream Analysis of Construction Supply Chains: Case Study on Pipe Supports Used in Power Plants
Roberto J. Arbulu1 & Iris D. Tommelein2
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Abstract
Waste is omnipresent in construction supply chains. It often occurs at the interface between processes, disciplines, or organizations. To illustrate several causes of waste, this paper focuses on a case study that documents the most common configuration of the supply chain for pipe supports used in the power plant industry. Using value-stream mapping across organizational boundaries, this paper illustrates how work flows throughout the design, procurement, and fabrication phases of pipe supports. Industry data obtained through tens of interviews helps to evaluate value-added and non-value-added times, batch sizes, and lead times for this particular supply chain configuration. The paper provides considerations for eliminating waste in order to reduce the total delivery lead time of pipe supports and thereby improve supply chain performance. It concludes by summarizing the case study findings and identifying additional research opportunities to achieve further improvement.
Keywords
Supply chain management, construction supply chain, waste, value-stream mapping, value-added time, non-value-added time, lead time, batch size, multi-tasking, pipe support, power plant.
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Reference
Arbulu, R. J. & Tommelein, I. D. 2002. Value Stream Analysis of Construction Supply Chains: Case Study on Pipe Supports Used in Power Plants, 10th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction , 183-195. doi.org/
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