Meeting the challenge of the digital revolution in the built environment: The case of digitalizing the Last-Planner®-System

The mission at Refine Projects AG is clear: Create a remarkable collaboration between trade sections and achieve the best results possible in today’s construction industry. It is a sustainable and practical understanding of... [ view full abstract ]

The mission at Refine Projects AG is clear: Create a remarkable collaboration between trade sections and achieve the best results possible in today’s construction industry. It is a sustainable and practical understanding of Lean Construction without the need for rework.

The company recognized early on that the challenge today was not just about revolutionizing the construction industry with its Lean Construction approach but also about embracing the digital revolution. Therefore, a pilot scheme was completed, aimed at learning and understanding more about the challenge of digitalizing the well-tried Last-Planner®-System of production control that enables lean construction projects. This system is used within the design and construction phase of projects. This whole new ‘Refine approach’ to the challenge implements lean construction and helps to ensure efficiency and reliability with the main goal of eliminating waste. In the design phase in particular, project teams mostly work geographically separated, planning within their ‘silos’. This leads to problems when analogue systems have to be implemented efficiently. Therefore, the question is: How can the analogue Last-Planner®-Systems be transferred and implemented into the digitalized world?

Together with an experienced partner the company not only managed to transfer the Last-Planner®-System into a digitalized environment but also created new tools and techniques to improve the processes within the design phase using the Last-Planner®-System. The company also encountered new challenges and gained valuable insight into the problems that occur when trying to transform an analogue system into a virtual one. It transpired that promises and agreements that were made via our virtual platform were more binding and successful when properly visualized and made transparent to all parties. Taking all these new and valuable insights into account, the company would like to present and share our knowledge of the advantages and disadvantages of the digitalized Last-Planner®-System. Refine Projects AG is convinced that the insights gained from our presentation will add value to your understanding of the digital built environment within the construction industry. In combination with its lean context our presentation will be an enriching experience for all attendees at the summit.