Precast workflow productivity measurement through BIM adoption

Abstract

Building information modelling (BIM) is acknowledged globally as a key computer-aided technology that expedites construction productivity enhancements. Consequently, the utilisation of BIM has been gaining precedence in Singapore’s construction industry during the past few years, aiding enhanced project management. Productivity improvement has been a concern for the construction industry in Singapore in the last decade, and the method of measuring productivity improvement is one of the major issues. This study adopts a quantitative research and development approach to determine the impact of BIM on the productivity of Singapore’s precast industry. On the basis of the observations of the authors on the workflows followed by three precast firms in Singapore, this study aims to propose and apply a fuzzy mapping technique to measure productivity improvement; furthermore, it also identifies the constrictions in the present workflow and proposed an improved workflow to address the prevalent constraints to facilitate the transition of the precast firms towards enhanced productivity. In this paper, the productivity gains obtained through the change in the workflow for specific activities were identified and recorded, and the critical activities deviating towards a lower percentage in terms of productivity were deemed essential to be diligently taken into account by the precast firms.