Week Recap & Assignment Q&A
Assignment brief
The assignment requires you to produce an analysis of a construction-related process of your choice
You should position your analysis with the context of a process improvement project with defined objective(s). Typically this will require you: identify a process; set objectives; analyse the process; identify problems; identify causes; propose solutions.
You have a choice about about what process you choose/define, exactly how you do the analysis, and what elements you focus on or emphasise. You will have opportunities to discuss these choices during the module week.
1. Identify explain the context/work environment of your process improvement project. Dont pick something too easy challenge yourself (SSM rich picture and CATWOE could be useful here)
2. Define explain the context in further detail, the use of BPNM to show the overall behavior of the system and how the selected process impacts it may be useful here.
3. Problem the stage at which you would most likely, though not exclusively, conduct an as-is study to understand the issues/problems with the selected process (DFD could work here).
4. Cause once youve understood the problem in greater detail you can then unpack the root causes of the problem (Ishikawa diagram is useful here)
5. Solution the point at which potential process improvement initiatives can be proposed. You may conduct a number a of to-be process analyses to ensure the solution fixes key causes but does not also result in other problems outside the immediate problem area in relate processes.
6. Implement the solution is still on trial until it is proven to work in practice. Consider what might be required to support the implementation of the improved process. Who are the key stakeholders in the immediate problem area and adjacent to it that might need to be consulted? What might you need to measure? Measurement of related processes?
Documentation? Training?
7. Review a chance to reflect on the analysis process (tools used etc.), solution determined, and implementation process.
8. Follow-up actions depend on the success of the implementation process, further roll-out of the process to the broader firm (depending on what it is), loop-back to previous stages for further improvements, capturing lessons learnt perhaps?
Identifying problems and their causes
Previous assignments (1)
Process of designing and installing underground tunnel walls
Developed a situation summary to identify problem areas mapped problem area processes with DFD described sub-processes and their associated solutions discussed
the implications of these solutions if they were to be implemented
Previous assignments (2)
Document management process for fabrication and construction
Described the context
Set objectives (to identify inefficient steps)
Described the process mapped the process using flow diagram critiqued/analysed the process gave/discussed potential solutions discussed the implications of
these solutions gave/discussed recommendations
Previous assignments (3)
Briefing process
Too vague
Didnt apply the techniques effectively
No structure to the report
Repetitive and lacked criticality
Boring but not because of the topic area
Previous assignments (4)
Overall cycle of main contractors process
Investigated overall flow of main contractor using DFD
Discussed the problems that may occur if one of the sub-processes fails
Narrowed focus to a sub-process using DFDto identify issues with length of time quality checking
Identified causes both onsite and upstream
Suggested a two alternative technical solutions and compared them (benefits and challenges)
Discussed the limitations and feasibility of each in terms of implementation
Previous assignments (4)
Overall cycle of main contractors process
Formatting
Your assignment should be formatted and presented as a consultancy report
You are limited to 2,000 words of your own writing for description and discussion. This is because you are expected to produce and use diagrams to perform and present your
analysis. (You might also choose to perform a numerical analysis).
Note: Your analysis might generate unstructured textual information in the form of lists and tables these do not count toward your word limit.
The precise content of your report will depend on how you choose to perform your analysis.
Use the assessment criteria as a checklist
Clarity of objectives have you defined the context sufficiently to come to identify the objectives?
Collection and presentation of information have you drawn on enough information to define your context and objectives? Is this presented logically and coherently?
Effective application of techniques think about the appropriateness of techniques and the information you are trying to convey.
Interpretation and discussion think about the whole process improvement and the implications associated with it.
Structure and presentation this is a consultancy report.
Tutorial/workshop
You will have the opportunity to discuss your assignment with me at a later date:
Contact me via email when you have a draft of your work or at least a physical document to provide something we can talk around
Minimum of two weeks prior to submission
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