Uncovering and Visualizing Work Process Interruptions through Quantitative Workflow Analysis
Loading...
Access rights
openAccess
publishedVersion
URL
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
This publication is imported from Aalto University research portal.
View publication in the Research portal (opens in new window)
View/Open full text file from the Research portal (opens in new window)
Other link related to publication (opens in new window)
View publication in the Research portal (opens in new window)
View/Open full text file from the Research portal (opens in new window)
Other link related to publication (opens in new window)
Date
Department
Major/Subject
Mcode
Degree programme
Language
en
Pages
13
Series
Lean Construction Journal, Volume 2022, pp. 171-183
Abstract
Question: Continuous improvement requires visualizing process constraints which interrupt workflows. Production control from a management perspective often operates at lower levels of information granularity than required at operational levels to perform work without interruptions. How can workflow interruptions in plumbing work be analysed and explained? How can an analysis of workflow interruptions help to close the information granularity gap between operational and management levels? Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to evaluate methods for their fit in revealing and closing the information granularity gap between between operational and management levels. Research Method: The paper examines workflows of plumbing work from video footage. This video data is classified and analyzed for frequency, causes, and effects of work interruptions. Findings: Results indicate that value-supporting activities caused the largest proportion of interruptions. Moreover, the proportion of non-value-adding activities increases when durations of interruptions rise. Limitations: The analyzed and tested data includes one working day of one worker in one certain construction project, which limits the meaningfulness of these results and explanations. Implications: The conducted time-motion-study and its classified data set made it possible to develop an agent-based simulation model of construction workers behavior. Value for authors: This paper provides a framework to examine workflow interruptions in craft work so that the information gap between operational and management levels is closed.Description
Other note
Citation
Görsch, C, Al Barazi, A, Seppänen, O & Abou Ibrahim, H 2022, 'Uncovering and Visualizing Work Process Interruptions through Quantitative Workflow Analysis', Lean Construction Journal, vol. 2022, pp. 171-183.