Planning and Follow-Up Processes in Production and Its Influence on Productivity - A Case Study of Two Projects in the Swedish Construction Sector

Abstract

The construction industry is behind other sectors in terms of efficiency improvements and has low productivity levels. Swedish construction projects are often delayed, which is usually related to low productivity and inefficient working methods. The current methodologies used for the planning and follow-up processes in production have been shown to be difficult to apply in practice, with limited support to examine productivity. Since there are multiple different definitions of productivity, the overall development of productivity has slowed down and created difficulties in measuring and using the term in the construction sector. This study has therefore narrowed its focus down to efficiency and effectiveness when referring to productivity. The aim of this study was to examine how planning and follow-up processes were conducted, whether there are standardised approaches or if each project has its own approach. It further investigated what challenges existed related to those processes and in turn how they affected productivity and what improvements could be done to enhance it. To achieve the aim of this study, an interview study and a case study were done where two ongoing building projects in one company in the Swedish construction industry were examined. The conclusions that can be drawn based on this study were that the planning and follow-up were conducted with varying approaches of the Last Planner System (LPS). The chosen approach in the projects varied depending on the individuals involved and relied on their knowledge, priority and focus on these processes. Another factor that influenced how planning and follow-up were carried out was the lack of clear structure and requirements on a project level. A significant challenge which impacted the outcome was collaboration between those involved in the planning process. The study showed several ways that the planning and follow-up processes could be improved to potentially enhance productivity in production. It highlighted the need of securing a general knowledge level and implementing clear requirements and guidelines for how to work with planning and follow-up on a project level to be able to enhance productivity. The study further made it visible that the culture and priority on planning and follow-up varied between the projects and was highly dependent on individuals but also affected by how the company relates to them. Establishing a culture that promotes the importance of planning is essential to accomplish a project environment that enables proper planning and follow-up processes, allowing projects to focus on improving productivity.