Improving upstream information exchange protocols using value-adding techniques

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There are many opportunities in any manufacturing operation to improve efficiency, both in the main operationand in the various required support activities such as design and procurement. The challenges to be investigatedin this work include (1) mapping the current design and procurement process and flow of information; (2)analyzing the effectiveness of existing software tools and software interoperability; (3) analyzingcommunication and information exchange between departments; (4) identifying any causes of missinginformation or errors and proposing solutions to mitigate them; and (5) creating the capacity in the design andprocurement departments to support any improvements made on the production line. The industry partner isseeking to improve the performance of supporting operation such that balanced improvement can be achievedon the manufacturing and administrative aspects of the industry partner. In order to improve these front-endoperations, a four-step methodology is proposed that will be carried out over six months in collaboration withthe industry partner: (1) analyze the efficiency of the current state of supporting operations and processes,including defining underlying operations, investigating the current state of information exchange, buildingprocess mapping, and collecting analyzing data related to the process maps; (2) develop a framework forefficiency improvement, including building a systematic model that addresses shortcomings in the currentsystem; (3) test and improve the proposed framework, including aiding the industry partner in the early stagesof implementation; and (4) define further possible improvements and future research. This research will benefitthe industry partner and the construction manufacturing industry more generally by investigating how to reduceprocess waste in construction manufacturing beyond what is normally identified and focused on in currentpractice.