A Framework to Assess the Costs and Benefits of Utilizing Advanced Work Packaging (AWP) in Industrial Construction

• Author / Creator

  Halala, Yonas

• The emergence of large mega projects in industrial construction has necessitated the development of more sophisticated construction planning and project control methods. One of the methods developed by the construction industry institute (CII) is advanced work packaging (AWP). The term advanced work packaging refers to a disciplined process for project planning and execution; it was developed to address challenges such as cost and schedule overruns in the industrial construction sector. AWP aims to minimize potential productivity losses stemming from poor coordination and planning by utilizing early project planning, which integrates work packaging with engineering, procurement, construction, and project controls. Furthermore, AWP was designed to reduce the burden of work packaging on field supervision by dealing with constraints as early as possible. Case studies conducted on AWP report a number of benefits in the areas of productivity, cost, safety, and schedule. However, since there is no clear method to assess the costs and benefits of AWP implementation, a significant challenge in AWP adoption is the lack of quantitative evidence to support these reported benefits.
  
  This research presents a structured framework to assess multiple aspects of AWP implementation, which will enable the quantification of both its costs and benefits. Moreover, this framework will allow for projects in which AWP has been implemented to be assessed against those that do not use AWP. The framework provides a systematic approach for measuring AWP maturity, AWP additional costs, workface planner qualifications, foreman and crew characteristics, problem sources, and performance metrics. In addition, the research presents a methodology for the analysis of data collected using the framework in order to help construction organizations assess the costs associated with implementing AWP, and to identify the levels of AWP implementation leading to improved project performance. This research makes a contribution to the industrial construction sector by providing a first-of-its kind framework and methodology to assess various aspects of AWP implementation and to quantify the benefits associated with implementing AWP in practice.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Workface planning
  • Project planning and execution
  • Advanced work packaging
  • Work packaging

• Graduation date

  Fall 2018

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3319SJ64

• License

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