Streamlining production management in construction projects with ICT

The research aims to demonstrate the role of BIM and construction management tools as Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in enabling efficient production planning, monitoring, and control, which helps streamline construction project delivery. The research demonstrates the importance of effective communication through efficient information management by deploying digital technology that helps overcome inherent inefficiencies and wastes in the construction management processes. The research follows a case study-based approach to highlight the success of deploying ICT for efficient production management through improved collaboration and communication on an Instructional Building project in California. The research demonstrates the success of ICT in enabling efficient production planning by allowing accurate visualisation of the sequence of works to be executed. With accurate and timely updates from site, multiple trades have been able to communicate effectively, thereby enabling effective control of any issues or deviation. The result was a 6-weeks early completion of the project than initially planned. While ICT has played a crucial role in streamlining construction project delivery over the past few decades, this research dives deeper into understanding where the improvement stems from, i.e., the quality of information offered by technology and its best use towards driving efficiency and collaboration within the project teams. Inefficiencies are common across the construction industry stemming from inaccurate project planning and control. With ICT and its efficient deployment, project teams can define accurate production sequencing, visualise the flow of work, and take proactive decisions to control the impact on schedule. The research provides process-based key insights by focusing on the critical aspects of ICT for data visualisation, data sharing, and data analysis, that helped take informed planning and control decisions for efficient production management for successful early completion of the project.