ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses more recently developed lean project delivery (LPD) systems based on relational contracting principles. There are several methods for the process of designing and constructing facilities. They include:
1. Design-bid-build 2. Design-build 3. Engineer-procure-construct 4. Design-construction management (CM) contracts 5. Design-agency CM contracts 6. Fast track 7. Partnering/alliances 8. Lean project delivery methods
Methods 1 through 6 have existed for many years and have been used with varying degrees of success, depending on the type of project and the skills required. The pros and cons of these delivery methods were discussed in Chapter 1. Essentially, their effectiveness is limited by the fragmentation that has occurred in the construction industry. Designers minimize construction details in order to shift risk to contractors; so-called constructability reviews attempt to reduce the knowledge gaps between designers and constructors, but in practice tend to occur far too late to make optimal improvements to the design and construction processes. Construction documents often lack adequate information because (a) owners press for reduced budgets, or (b) designers may not fully understand builders’ information needs, due to an absence of communication. The design-build method of project delivery integrates design and construction activities as a single responsibility for a scope of work defined by the owners’ project requirements (OPR) and basis of design (BOD) through design criteria. However, this method often minimizes the owner’s input once the owner has provided these documents and obtained a GMP from the contractor.
