A Construction Process Model for Implementing Constructability in Construction

In construction, failure of design professionals to consider how a builder will implement the design can result in scheduling problems, cost escalation, delays and disputes during the construction process. The integration of construction knowledge and experience during planning and design is termed here as ‘constructability’. Though many design professionals in the Netherlands may informally apply such concept in their works, most design firms however have no formal constructability programmes or procedures in their planning and design activities.

This paper describes a construction process model that has been developed for an engineering firm in the Netherlands in order to implement constructability as a formal programme during its design processes of urban construction projects. The paper describes current problems in urban construction projects and presents a new design model including a constructability programme. The usefulness of the model is validated using opinions of industry professionals. Conclusions on the usefulness of the process model for improving the design process are drawn.