Improving the Production Planning and Control System in a Building Company - Contributions After Stabilization

Alexandre C. Soares1, Mauricio M.S. Bernardes2 & Carlos T. Formoso3

1M.Sc. candidate (Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul), Planning and Control Coordinator, BSF Engenharia Ltda, Rua Portugal, 776, Higienópolis, Porto Alegre-RS, Brazil, CEP 90520-310, e-mail: [email protected]
2Associate Professor, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, School of Architecture, Rua Sarmento Leite, nº 320, sala 504, Porto Alegre - RS, Brazil, CEP 90050-010, [email protected]
3Associate Professor, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Building Innovation Research Unit (NORIE), Av. Osvaldo Aranha, nº 99, 3º andar, Porto Alegre - RS, Brazil, CEP 90035-190, [email protected]

Abstract

Several papers have discussed the importance of the Last Planner Method as a means of stabilizing the production process in building sites. After process stabilization, however, a continuous effort is necessary in order to maintain and perfect the positive results obtained from the implementation of production planning and control systems. This article presents the preliminary results from an ongoing research project undertaken in a construction company from the South of Brazil. The main objective of this investigation is to propose guidelines to maintain and improve production planning and control systems after process stabilization. A series of fifteen projects were studied, aiming to identify the main barriers and also factors that contribute to the success of planning and control systems in the long term. The main sources of evidence used were the PPC (Percentage of Plans Completed) indicator, causes of the non-completion of work packages and interviews with company directors, clients and site engineers. One of the major factors that contributed to the success of planning and control system was the realization of weekly meetings focussed on learning rather than problem solving. This meeting involves company directors, a planning and control coordinator, and all site engineers. The results achieved in different sites are periodically disseminated throughout the company, pointing out the main barriers for implementation. Also, a strong emphasis is given in those meetings to the discussion of the Last Planner Method underlying ideas.

Keywords

Production Planning and Control, Planning system, Last Planner Method, Learning, Implementation.

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Reference

Soares, A. C. , Bernardes, M. M. & Formoso, C. T. 2002. Improving the Production Planning and Control System in a Building Company - Contributions After Stabilization, 10th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction , -. doi.org/

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