34th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC 34) - Singapore, Singapore - 2026

https://doi.org/10.24928/2026/0191

Metrics-based process mapping for MEPF design process efficiency analysis

Silambarasan C1, Ragavi Prabaharan2 & Ganesh Devkar3

1Student, Ranbir and Chitra Gupta School of Infrastructure Design and Management, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur , India, [email protected], orcid.org/ 0009-0000-5740-7846
2Assistant Manager, Department of Research and Development, URC Construction (P) Ltd, India, +919788933592, [email protected], orcid.org/0000-0002-2901-7047
3Sr. Associate Professor, Faculty of Technology, CEPT University, Ahmedabad – 380009, India, +919099010303, [email protected], orcid.org/0000-0002-5482-1221

Abstract

Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection (MEPF) design process in Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) project delivery faces process bottlenecks and coordination issues leading to delay and cost overruns. Yet, most existing research address these qualitatively without operational-level measurement frameworks. This research adapts the Metrics-Based Process Mapping (MBPM) framework for MEPF design, using swimlane diagrams to visualize cross-disciplinary workflows and to measure activity-level metrics. The classification and analysis of waste sources is carried out with a waste identification framework . A case study of the EPC healthcare project validates this approach across Fire Protection System (FPS), Public Health Engineering (PHE), Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC), and Electrical disciplines during the schematic and detailed design phases. Through process mapping, document analysis using Document Control Index (DCI) records, and stakeholder interviews, the study identifies how MEPF design effort is diverted to non-value-adding activities, such as waiting, rework from revisions, and extra processing due to complex workflows. This work identifies significant performance gaps and the sources of waste in design processes. The framework provides a simple yet quantitative approach that helps MEPF teams and EPC contractors identify the causes of design process bottlenecks and supports structured collaboration and early stakeholder engagement to enhance Lean implementation.

Keywords

Lean design, process mapping, design management, wastes, metrics-based.

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Reference in APA 7th edition format:

C, S., Prabaharan, R. & Devkar, G.. (2026). Metrics-based process mapping for MEPF design process efficiency analysis. In Hamzeh, F., Poshdar, M., & Garcia-Lopez,, N. P. (Eds.), Proceedings of the 34th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC 34) (pp. 1419–1429). https://doi.org/10.24928/2026/0191

Shortened reference for use in IGLC papers:

C, S., Prabaharan, R. & Devkar, G.. (2026). Metrics-based process mapping for MEPF design process efficiency analysis. IGLC34. https://doi.org/10.24928/2026/0191

 

Founded in 1993, the IGLC is an international network of researchers from practice and academia in architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) who feel that the practice, education, and research of the AEC industry have to be radically renewed in order to respond to the global challenges ahead.

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