33rd Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC 33) - Osaka and Kyoto, Japan - 2025

https://doi.org/10.24928/2025/0129

What are the Main Causes of Discontinuous Work?

Asitha Rathnayake1, Danny Murguia2, Ashan Senel Asmone3, Aritra Pal4 & Campbell Middleton5

1Research Associate, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, UK, [email protected], orcid.org/0000-0002-1389-7801
2Senior Research Associate, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, UK, [email protected], orcid.org/0000-0003-1009-4058
3Research Associate, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, UK, [email protected], orcid.org/0000-0002-2173-3890
4Research Associate, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, UK, [email protected], orcid.org/0000-0002-1644-7400
5Professor, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, UK, [email protected], orcid.org/0000-0002-9672-0680

Abstract

Discontinuous work in construction refers to periods without resource or work continuity, leaving workers without designated locations to perform their tasks. Studies show in many activities idle durations are a significant portion of total work. Caused by poor production system design in projects, discontinuous work is a major cause of low trade productivity. This paper aims to identify factors affecting discontinuous work and quantify their impact. 346 datapoints (including 46 superstructure crews across 75 building levels in 10 multistorey buildings in London) were analysed using correlation and regression techniques. Data included crew size, batch size, activity type, work start and end dates. Results showed that reducing the batch size by increasing slab concrete pours per level minimised discontinuities by ensuring more available work locations. Synchronising the production rates of successive crews also reduced discontinuities by limiting idle time for faster crews. Surprisingly, although often considered a cause of discontinuities, out-of-sequence work had no statistically significant relationship with discontinuities. Possibly due to the constraints of superstructure work limiting the out-of-sequence work. Additionally, offsite construction methods exhibited greater variability in discontinuities compared to in-situ methods, likely due to clashes between in-situ activities happening at a different rate of work to offsite activities.

Keywords

Resource continuity, flow, productivity, location-based management (LBM), out-of-sequence work

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Reference in APA 7th edition format:

Rathnayake, A., Murguia, D., Asmone, A. S., Pal, A. & Middleton, C.. (2025). What are the Main Causes of Discontinuous Work?. In Seppänen, O., Koskela, L., & Murata , K. (Eds.), Proceedings of the 33rd Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC 33) (pp. 376–387). https://doi.org/10.24928/2025/0129

Shortened reference for use in IGLC papers:

Rathnayake, A., Murguia, D., Asmone, A. S., Pal, A. & Middleton, C.. (2025). What are the Main Causes of Discontinuous Work?. IGLC33. https://doi.org/10.24928/2025/0129

 

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