CONSTRUCTABILITY IMPLEMENTATION DURING CONSTRUCTION PHASE OF THE LARGE HIGH-RISE BUILDING PROJECT IN VIETNAM

By

Nguyen Anh Khoa

Abstract

Generally a construction project usually involves a heavy cost. So, time and resources to play a leading role in determining project costs. In general, the construction phase faces with many risks and uncertainties. As a result, the project could be delayed, cost overrun, and poor quality. In many previous researches all over the world, the constructability program was suggested to become the effective tools to help the project team control the project effectively. Although the constructability concept is not new with the developed countries, the constructability application in developing countries is still very limited. The study aims to identify the application of constructability during the construction phase in the large high-rise building projects in Vietnam.

Researcher uses two cases as the research design. The basic factors will be identified by literature review and they would be verified by the experts who have a lot of experience and management knowledge in construction. The data collection will be conducted in Hochiminh city to support for the data analysis activities to provide the understanding about the constructability application in Vietnam.

Executive summary

Rationale of research

This research has been conducted to study constructability to make efficient construction process for high rise building construction in Vietnam.

Objectives of study

To identify the factors affect constructability, to analyze and evaluate the constructability application. Providing recommendations to improve constructability.

Methodology  

In this study, researcher decided to use the qualitative method by using the case analysis as a key to obtain the objectives of the study. In general, there are three main approaches when using the qualitative method. (1) Participant observation (2) In-depth interview (3) Focus group.

The advantages when using the qualitative method is that participants have opportunities to response based on their opinions rather than selecting the fixed responses. Moreover, qualitative method provides the flexibility for the researcher by asking during the interviews. The opportunities to find out the answers for the study will be enhanced by getting the detailed information and data.

Findings and conclusion

Constructability concept is no longer a new concept especially for the countries which have the developed construction industries. In order to improve the constructability, many researchers put their efforts to achieve this purpose. Constructability application will become the powerful and effective tool to help the project teams implement their project successfully by increasing productivity, quality, and safety at construction site. Moreover, the risks and the conflicts between every parties involved in the project could be avoidable.

According to Vietnamese construction industry, constructability has been begun use as a tool to manage the project. Some contractors who have the big scale and reputations such as Coteccons and Hoa Binh Corp realized the benefits of implementing the constructability. As a result, constructability was used as a key tool to help them increase the efficiency and the profits.

Recommendation

• Involving finishing sub-contractors from the beginning:

In some cases, involving finishing sub-contractors from the beginning could bring many benefits such as reduce the reworks and avoid the interruption in finishing activities. However, the possibilities to apply seem incredible because of the long duration for tendering. Moreover, the traditional contract (DBB) is still used very common in Vietnam. As a result, few experts (3/7) agreed that involving finishing sub-contractors from the beginning is possible in reality.

However, the contractor and consultant should provide their finishing engineers in the beginning to join the project team. This action is also the good solution to consider.

• Capture and transfer lesson learned from previous project:

Setting up the lesson learn system (LLS) also enhance the constructability. The project would be managed better. Project team capacity and knowledge could be increased. The problems could be deal by using the learning captured from similar projects.

Action should be considered:

§  Provide seminar to train employees and transfer knowledge.

§  Record database, provide meeting to analyze the previous project and learn the experience.

§  Provide checklist about common mistakes.

§  Provide database of lesson learned for all employees.

• Consider possibilities about using pre-cast concrete
• Pay more attention to the innovative hand-tool and equipment usage.

Construction hand-tools:

§  Use automatic hand-tools

§  Use cordless power hand-tools

§  Use new hand-tools or modification of the available hand-tools

§  Portable hand-tools

• Construction equipment:

§  Use microprocessor control and diagnostics devices.

§  Automatic equipment.

§  Remote, non-destructive sensing and inspection system.

• Using the innovative in temporary facilities:

§  Consider tent cloth to enclosure the structure and workplace

§  Centralized supply network.

§  CCTV to control the site.

• Using the advance computer technology:

§  Building information modeling (BIM)

§  Advance software support for planning and control project or analyzing and simulating the site activities and structures.