Concurrent Construction and Life Cycle Project Management

Abstract

This paper investigates “concurrent construction” and its potential application in life cycle management of capital projects. The construction industry is under pressure to reduce project delivery times and costs despite increased uncertainties, ambiguities, and complexities that surround today's projects. Concurrent construction may well hold the key to success on this front. Concurrent construction is based on integrating all project phases into a single phase. It starts with the definition of a product model and division of the project into major parts or systems accordingly. Each part or system is entrusted to a team consisting of members drawn from the relevant disciplines as well as the contractor. The delivery of a specific part is carried out by the relevant team in an integrated fashion in a single phase. While the potential benefits of concurrent construction are beyond doubt, current contractual, organizational, and work method barriers militate against realizing these. However, there are workable solutions to these problems. This paper covers examples of approaches that could overcome these barriers.