Papers by Paulo Napolitano
Open Building and Lean Construction are concepts that can be described in generic terms. Their pr... more Open Building and Lean Construction are concepts that can be described in generic terms. Their practical applications depend on different circumstances, such as differences in culture, economy, project type and size, location, and moment in time. This paper explores the application of Open Building and Lean Construction in the Brazilian context. First the generic aspects of Open Building and Lean Construction are characterized as complementary concepts. Open Building aims to structure the process of constructing and managing the built environment along lines of decision-making, thus creating capacity for future change. Lean Construction aims to reduce waste by focusing on creating value for the customer. A building project typical for the Brazilian construction industry is analyzed. Per project different clients can be identified, all demanding their specific values to be created. For example, the investor is the contractor's client, whereas the end user is the client of the investor. An Open Building inspired breakdown of the process and building costs suggests that the base building can be built for 57% of the total construction costs. Decisions about the remaining part can be postponed, thus saving on interest costs and can be built according to the end user's demands, thus saving on reworks. In the final analysis the paper suggests to identify different Lean Construction inspired values that can be connected to different Open Building inspired decision-making parties. They in turn connect to sets of building parts, such as base building, fit out and furniture.
This paper addresses seven pilot projects in the implementation of Last Planner System® (LPS) in ... more This paper addresses seven pilot projects in the implementation of Last Planner System® (LPS) in Mexico initiated by one general contractor. The work concerns reflections during nine months in the construction process. Firstly, applying action research, preliminary data is presented from Lean Approach Process® (LAP) and LPS implementation. All the data has been gathered through various methods including surveys, interviews and observation. Secondly, benefits of the LPS implementation in terms of improving production planning and control process are presented. However, barriers and difficulties exist that prevent the implementation of the system. Finally, proposals are identified for further improvements in the implementation of LPS in Mexican culture.
Lean companies’ growing difficulty to detect their customers’ needs and values are rendered even ... more Lean companies’ growing difficulty to detect their customers’ needs and values are rendered even more complex by their constantly changing economic, social, political, technology and cultural contexts. In no few cases, the companies’ adaptability and reacting strategies are much lower than expected to cope with such circumstances. The implementation of meta-organizational strategies within lean companies aims at improving their core working systems by means of integrating a number of firms within an individual one. As a company made up of a myriad of different companies, meta-organizational tactics enable an accurate discernment and identification of inner and external issues so as to provide a holistic vision of the context and a more qualified response to occasional problems. This paper is based upon a case study resulting from three years’ work conducted at a lean construction company based in the US. The work carried out by the company exemplifies the transition from a classic l...
Open Building and Lean Construction are concepts that can be described in generic terms. Their pr... more Open Building and Lean Construction are concepts that can be described in generic terms. Their practical applications depend on different circumstances, such as differences in culture, economy, project type and size, location, and moment in time. This paper explores the application of Open Building and Lean Construction in the Brazilian context. First the generic aspects of Open Building and Lean Construction are characterized as complementary concepts. Open Building aims to structure the process of constructing and managing the built environment along lines of decision-making, thus creating capacity for future change. Lean Construction aims to reduce waste by focusing on creating value for the customer. A building project typical for the Brazilian construction industry is analysed. Per project different clients can be identified, all demanding their specific values to be created. For example, the investor is the contractor's client, whereas the end user is the client of the inv...
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Papers by Paulo Napolitano