Abstract:
Advancements in construction project management have necessitated a
comprehensive rethink of construction project processes. Gantt charts and critical
path analysis have been produced to create a work breakdown structure which can
identify challenges and crucial infrastructure development activities which can have
an adverse impact on the project. However, they do not improve the construction
process. Integration Definition Language 0 (IDEF0) models present an opportunity
for construction project managers to identify essential workflows during construction
and improve them. The improvement process is continuous. Hence, kaizen, which is
part of lean construction, can be implemented. This study demonstrated the use of
IDEF0 in a building construction project in Nigeria where the construction
companies have issues with cost, overruns, low competitive advantage and
unsatisfied clients. The build up to the challenges identified post-contract cost
controlling techniques as an important variable in establishing the challenges above
in the construction industry. With the aid of Kendall’s coefficient of concordance, the
analysis was carried out to determine the techniques which are most important and
effective in managing construction costs during the execution phase. Monitoring
building material cost was identified to be the most important technique. The
recognised significant and effective techniques were used to build a continuous
improvement model with accompanied drivers such as the working budget and
monitoring of overheads. The output of the findings was presented in an IDEF0
model with some written guidelines. The model designed in this study can be used on
construction sites by cost and project managers to reduce and maintain current costs
from the working budget through continuous improvement.
