WorkPlan: Constraint-Based Database for Work Package Scheduling

• Published in: Journal of construction engineering and management 1999-05, Vol.125 (3), p.151-160
• Main Authors: Choo, Hyun Jeong, Tommelein, Iris D, Ballard, Glenn, Zabelle, Todd R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Buildings. Public works; Construction works; Exact sciences and technology; Project management. Process of design; Site organization; TECHNICAL PAPERS
• ISSN: 0733-9364; 1943-7862
• DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(1999)125:3(151)

A database program called WorkPlan has been created to systematically develop weekly work plans. Such work plans are used by crew foremen in scheduling work packages and allocating available labor and equipment resources. WorkPlan adopts the Last Planner methodology, which implements several lean construction techniques. A week prior to conducting work, WorkPlan guides the user step by step through the process of spelling out work packages, identifying constraints, checking constraint satisfaction, releasing work packages, and allocating resources; then at the end of the week, collecting field progress data and reasons for plan failure. This systematic approach helps the user create quality work plans and learn from understanding reasons for failure. The lean planning philosophy underlying WorkPlan and the functionality of the computer program implementation are detailed in this paper. Various ways of displaying work package data are illustrated. WorkPlan's job-shop scheduling view complements the view traditionally adopted by project management, as is reflected in scheduling tools using the critical-path method.