Last planner and critical chain in construction management: comparative analysis

Koskela, LJ; Stratton, R; Koskenvesa, A

Abstract

This paper endeavours to compare the Last Planner System of production control and the Critical Chain production management method. This comparison is carried out in the context of construction management. The original prescription and the evolution of the practice are examined regarding both approaches, and the similarities and differences are noted. Based on these considerations, gaps in the two approaches are identified and the potential of a synthesis of them is explored.

Citation

Koskela, L., Stratton, R., & Koskenvesa, A. (2010, July). Last planner and critical chain in construction management: comparative analysis. Presented at 18th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction, Haifa, Israel

• Presentation Conference Type: Other
• Conference Name: 18th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction
• Conference Location: Haifa, Israel
• Start Date: Jul 14, 2010
• End Date: Jul 16, 2010
• Publication Date: Jul 14, 2010
• Deposit Date: Aug 19, 2010
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 5, 2016
• Keywords: Production management, Last planner, Critical chain
• Publisher URL: https://iglc.net/Papers/Details/680
• Related Public URLs: https://iglc.net/
• Additional Information: Event Type : Conference; References : Alsehaimi A., Tzortzopoulos P. and Koskela L. (2009). "Last Planner System: Experiences from Pilot implementation in the Middle East." Proc., 17th IGLC conference, Taipei, Taiwan. Ballard, G. (1994). "The Last Planner." Spring Conference of the Northern California Construction Institute, Monterey, CA. Ballard, G. and Howell, G. (1998). "Shielding Production: Essential Step in Production Control." Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 124(1),11-17. Ballard, G. (1997). "Lookahead Planning, the missing link to production control." Proceedings 5th IGLC Conference, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia. Ballard, G. (2000). "The Last Planner System of production control", PhD thesis, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK. Ballard, G. and Howell, G. (2003). "An update on Last Planner", Proc., 11th IGLC Conference, Blacksburg, VA. Concerto Case Studies (2009). <http://www.realization.com/> (Mar. 24, 2010). Goldratt, E. (1997). "Critical Chain", North River Press, MA. Goldratt, E.M. (2007). Viewer Notebook: The Goldratt Webcast Program on Project Management. Hopp W. and Spearman, M. (2000). "Factory Physics", 2nd Edition, Singapore, McGraw Hill. Harris, F. and McCaffer, D. (2006). "Modern Construction Management", 6th Edition, Blackwell Science, London. Junior, A., Scola, A. and Conte, A. (1998). "Last Planner as a Site Operations Tool", Proc., 6th IGLC Conference, Guaruja, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Koskela, L. (2000). "An exploration towards a production theory and its application to construction." Espoo, VTT Building Technology, 296 p. VTT Publications 408. Koskela, L. and Ballard, G. (2006). "What is Lean Construction – 2006." Proc., Construction in the XXI Century: local and global challenges, ARTEC, Rome. Koskenvesa, A. and Koskela, L. (2005). "Introducing Last Planner: Finnish Experiences." Proc., CIB Symposium, Helsinki, Finland. Mossman A. (2009). "Last PlannerTM: Collaborative conversations for reliable design and construction delivery." <http://www.thechangebusiness.co.uk/TCB/collaborative_programming_and_programme_compression_files/LastPlanner2009-05-21.pdf> (May 4, 2010) Schregenheim, E. and Detmer, W. (2001)." Manufacturing at warp speed." CRCPress. Seppänen, O. (2009). "Empirical Research on the success of Production Control in Building Construction Projects". Helsinki University of Technology, Structural Engineering and Building Technology. Helsinki, 187 p. Shen, Lijun and Chua, David K. (2008) "An Investigation of Critical Chain and Lean Project Scheduling." Proc., 16th IGLC Conference. Manchester, UK. Srinivasan, M., Best, W. and Chandrasekaran, S. (2007). "Warner Robins Air Logistics Centre Streamlines Aircraft Repair and Overhaul" Interfaces, 37(1), 7-21. Stratton, R. (2009). "Critical Chain Project Management – Theory and Practice". Journal of Project Management and Systems Engineering, TOC Special Issue, 4, 149-173. Stratton, R., Koskela, L., Alsehaimi, A. and Koskenvesa, A. (2010). "Applying manufacturing flow theory to construction management." Proc,. 17th International Annual EurOMA Conference, Porto.