Assignment Sample on Production Management
Introduction
Production management is a structured concept of the application of management principle in the production function of the construction industry. Production management involves the application of organizing planning controlling directing the production process. In the construction industry, the production management method is responsible for many successes and failures. The report has focused on different types of production management techniques and their application in the construction industry. The selection of one technique has been justified with the help of its failure and success in construction projects. The report aims to focus on the role of the production manager with the help of a theoretical presentation.
Concept of Production Management Techniques
There are different types of production management techniques that have been analyzed in this section:
Critical path method (CPM)
CPM is implemented as the extension of a bar chart for determining the sequence of activities which has been followed in the construction project for finishing in minimum time. Just the CPM network is included in all the activity dependencies and each of the activity has a focus on numerical identity and the estimation of duration. In the opinion of Broft and Koskela (2018), apart from determining the critical activities, it is mainly possible for calculating the total amount of float which would be used for the delay and non-physical activity impact on the overall program.
Another approach of the CPM method is known as the program evaluation and review technique (PERT) which tries to focus on activity duration and duration assessment for calculating approximate duration. As per the views of Osuizugbo (2020), CPM has become a popular method of project management and different software has been developed for analyzing data in a sophisticated way for allowing project monitoring.
Line of balance (LOB)
LOB has designed from the concept of the manufacturing industry to control the repetitive activities of the project. As per the views of Shirina et al. (2017), the method has been found in the UK for repetitive housing projects where the main focus is on resource-oriented scheduling. LOB is mainly focusing on different activities in the production industry to observe the progress of each activity for maintaining a rate of productivity.
There is a need to focus on typical unit work where the linear scheduling method allows the different balancing of operation. The major benefit of Allah is that it provides a duration information and production rate which is interpreted as a graphical format.
Critical chain
Critical chain project management derives the different theory of constraint for focusing on project management techniques in production planning. In the opinion of Pobegailovet al. (2020), the tendency is to focus on a reasonable degree of certainty to complete the project and relocate the safety time in a strategic position.
Time estimation may be reduced which focuses on the project schedule and the critical path. The time for the completion of the ongoing activities has been calculated based on the critical task. The critical chain has been defined as the longest chain which determines the necessity for taking account of any dependency between existing activities.
Last planner system (LPS)
LPS has developed for designing and the reliability of planning for improving project performance. The concept has focused on production control for the traditional project in the management system. As stated by Nettoet al. (2020), the phase scheduling technique is mainly implemented for specific and understanding the handoff between involvement rate in the construction phase. The method has been used for achieving the handoff between specialists specified in the most highly detailed project schedule.
Figure 4: Last planner system (LPS)
(Source: Nettoet al. 2020)
Effective team planning has involved all the construction organization within the face and team members are focusing on a paper brief description of work. The first step is to formalize the planning and phase schedule for understanding the logical network by adjusting and moving the sheets. In the views of Aboelmagd (2020), the main purpose of scheduling is to generate a complete plan which maximizes the value generation and involves all the support of scheduling activities. LPS has assumed an overall planning process for completing the project schedule and recognizes all the resource constraints. Different production management techniques are encouraged to influence construction activities for enhancing business growth and productivity. However, the study has enlisted effective ideas for business enhancement and infrastructure situation.
Concept of Construction Industry
The construction industry is mainly divided into three sub-sectors which include construction of building specialty trades and road highway and other infrastructure construction. The business has encompassed all the building and manufacturing of houses, highways, bridges as well as specialized work for plumber masons and electricians. As mentioned by Franco Duran and de la Garza (2020), the construction industry has a significant part in the economy which employs an overall 8% of all wage earners. In the United Kingdom, the overall construction output is more than 110 billion pounds per annum which contribute 7% to the overall GDP. Jay construction sector has employed more than 3.1 million people and 9% workforce in the country for enhancing business projects and schedules. The overall process of construction is mainly required planning finance and legal process for the completion of the project.
In the construction industry, the product management techniques and procurement have implemented design bid build and design-build technique for involving the customers and client’s communication for providing effective design. As stated by Lie and Edy (2019), product management has improved the performance by improving the reliability of design and the overall construction process. It has embedded the performance enhancement and focusing on the effective workforce accurate performance metrics. Production management techniques have their contribution to the construction industry for the completion of projects and understanding the flow of resources. In the case of onsite construction different designs of production, management has been appointed for understanding the construction technique and restrict the unauthorized access.
There is a need for focusing on control points as well as contractor choice for influencing construction mechanisms to understand the permanent structure. In the views of Hutapeaet al. (2020), commissioning is the process of verification of the new building and the subsystem work to achieve the project requirement which has been designed by the engineer. Effective maintenance and improvement is needed for machinery and building infrastructure to support the overall utilities by the government and residential.
Selection of Production Management Technique
In this study the product management techniques CPM has been selected for the discussion concerning the construction industry. The method is widely used for scheduling the technique and referred to as critical path scheduling. In the views of Perdana and Rahman (2019), the technique has used the planning and controlling of the project to calculate the minimum completion time and assuming the start and finish time of the project activities. Apart from the above construction management technique, this method has been used for understanding critical scheduling which enhances the finishing time of the project activities. The critical path method has in mind all the relevant information in the single clan for determining the duration of the operation and focusing on the work element.
In the construction industry, the CPM method has been used for effective decision making and focusing on overall waste which includes overmanning rework unnecessary transport and discontinuous task execution. The production management techniques have maximized value and focus on business operation for improvement of the overall technique. There is a need to focus on all the aspects of the production system for maintaining business strategy and efficiency. As per the opinion of Liu et al. (2021), CPM has focused on the integration of all the aspects for enhancing production management who is a resource supply chain. However, there is a need to focus on the improvement and construction operation for enhancing business management and understanding the relevant activities. There is a need to focus on the design of production management systems for improving the construction industry with the development of construction requirements.
CPM method is powerful for understanding the estimation of construction projects and understanding the planning schedule which saves money and time. The CPM method has focused on project timeline which is utilized by delaying the activities and focusing on project activities. In the opinion of Steinmetz and Torralba (2019), the CPM method has utilized for The breakdown of planning activities and understanding the construction without compromising the task. There is a need for an effective understanding of construction management scheduling for influencing the critical path segment and dragging down the planning process of the construction material.
A critical path has been identified for the longest path to lead the project completion and focusing on activity-based resources. There is a need for an effective understanding of ERP planning influencing project management as well as construction project management. Different elements of production management have been followed for a better understanding of the product and design. Production control and quality planning have been designed with the help of the CPM method to focus on maintenance and replacement of machines. As mentioned by Karabulut (2017), there is a need to enhance production control and estimation of the overall cost of the project to select the right production capacity with the help of the CPM method. PERT is an effective method for examining the critical path method variation for completing the task in the construction industry. However, the effective selection of the method has illustrated the minimum time for the completion of the overall project.
Theory and Models
Production theory
The explicit theory of production explains the behavior of the observer which has a contribution to the understanding level. The theory has provided an effective prediction of future behavior and construction tool for analyzing the framework in a collective undertaking. In the views of Husinet al. (2019), there is a need to focus on the knowledge and theoretical assumptions about production management which has a constant focus on innovative practice and technology and management. In production management, there is a need to focus on the idea of the CPM method influencing the business decision-making process for influencing construction projects. Production theory has implications on construction management for effective enhancement of business decision making processes. In the views of Hendradewa (2019), the theory is concerned with production management techniques that help for effective influence and the maintenance of data management for the understanding of CPM methods.
Critical path analysis is crucial in production management which dealt with the scheduling of project and understanding of project starting and finishing time. In the construction industry, it is very crucial to maintain effective project deadlines however the theory is focusing on project management technique. As mentioned by Habibiet al. (2018), the overall understanding of managing projects is related to the need for production and the planning and designing phase. Production theory has consisted of different designing techniques for understanding Business which decide the commodity and component of supply chain management. The theory of production has depicted the relationship between the physical output of the production process and its implication with physical input.
The theory has demonstrated the process of production by combining radius raw material input for consumption in construction projects. In the views of Harjantoet al. (2019), according to the theory, there are mainly three types of production chess primary production secondary production and tertiary production. Primary production is focusing on extraction from the industry and understanding the activities in the manufacturing industry.
5 M’s of production management
The model of production management is focusing on managerial responsibilities which are summarized as men, machine, material, methods and money. In construction, industry men refer to the human element in the operating system. As stated by Cynthia (2020), manufacturing personnel have a focus on the construction of goods where people management is the foremost activities and responsibilities. The production manager needs to focus on effective methods and machines by selecting the effective technology and equipment for business direction and manufacturing. Effective planning and control are encouraged by the production manager for influencing construction activities and effective management of production.
The flexibility in the production process needs to adapt to effective scheduling and equipment for enhancing the production management phase. Production managers need to focus on effective responsibilities of material which consist of the flow process both information and physical for enhancing resource movement. In the opinion of Ba’Itset al. (2020), the managerial concern is to deal with asset utilization in the organization which allows excessive invention is for achieving the level of production. Money is another concern of production manager witches who influence the overall financing in construction projects for managing business ideas and concepts. There is a need to focus on the competitive advantage which has been obtained from a direct relationship with business management
Impact of Production Management Technique in Construction Industry
There is a huge positive impact of the CPM method in the construction industry as it has helped to schedule the construction for several years through various activities. Major benefits of CPM scheduling have improved the project to run smoothly. CPM schedule has a wide acceptance of construction and individual project managers need to determine the critical path for developing the scheduling concept. As argued by Kehindeet (2017), there is a need to spread the project towards completion with less problem and the CPM method is enlisted the project method for completing on time. Critical path analysis helps to define the project logically and define the actual start date for each of the chapters by understanding the phase of the project. Accurate scheduling information has illustrated the relationship between different tasks and maximizes the effectiveness of the project schedule.
However, the method has determined the lag time which exists on the project and allows flexibility for preventing wasting time. There is a need to schedule the program and understand the identified risks which cause complex and ambiguous situations. As opined by Nascimentoet al. (2017), CPM analysis has demonstrated multiple critical paths and implement a long-range plan which involves a better understanding of project management. This is a resource utilization algorithm that has been used for project scheduling and maintaining its set of activities. An essential technique that has been used by the project manager for focusing on business management and understanding of tasks dependency.
CPM method is useful for defining the project scope and consists of the longest sequence of activities for ensuring project criteria. CPM method has focused on critical path analysis and determines the project schedule for enhancing project parts and focusing on business success. Another approach of CPM is related to PERT which is focusing on job schedules and minimizing the production delay. In the opinion of Ghiselliniet al. (2018), unnecessary conflict and interaction need to be omitted from the project timeline for enhancing job satisfaction and acid composition on project time. CPM method has encouraged logical discipline in scheduling, controlling and planning of projects and focusing on effective overview for the overall understanding of project scenarios. CPM has provided a standard method of documentation and communication in the project plan schedule and understand the cost performance. There is a need to identify critical elements and focus on management attention to evaluate the technological change in an overall project schedule.
Application of Production Management Technique
There is a huge application of CPM methods in production management techniques to enhance performance in the construction industry. In the production management of the organization operation research is an analytical tool for decision making and problem-solving. As stated by Goh and Goh (2019), in the case of operation research different problems are broken down into basic components and focusing on knowledge innovation and technology to improve business decisions and focusing on the CPM method. CPM method is a technique that follows the step-by-step process for non-critical and critical task analysis and preventing the time frame problem.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Production Management Technique
Advantages
The main advantages of the CPM method in construction include effective scheduling and planning.
- The use of the CPM method is varied from user to user and it is effective for effective time planning of the project.
- The product management technique has enhanced decision making and effective scheduling has been developed with the help of this diagram during the project life cycle (de Lourdes Marques et al. 2018).
- The method has encouraged a logical discipline for scheduling and controlling the project. All the working personnel get a detailed overview of the project schedule by providing complete documentation and communicating project plans.
- CPM has identified the most critical element in the project by focusing management attention and providing any easy method for the evaluation of porosity oral and technical changes in an overall project schedule.
- The method is responsible for the most economical planning in the overall operation for the meeting project outcome. This is an open-ended process that has permitted different involvement by the higher management for me ticketing business needs and objectives. The method has been used to focus on construction needs and enhance the business paradigm (Mavi and Standing, 2018).
Disadvantages
The method CPM has the following disadvantages:
- The critical path is always not clear for project management and scheduling. For bigger projects, the network is too ambiguous and complicated.
- It is difficult for the estimation of completion of project time and inactivity and a critical path has been needed to calculate precisely.
- CPM method is enabled for handling the scheduling of effective resource allocation. The method is difficult and inactive while it is not well maintained and stable (Hendradewa, 2019).
- The allocation of the resources is not properly monitored and the project manager needs to spend a lot of time on estimation.
- For the determination of a critical path, it is crucial to find a similar duration path in the project for the existence of many paths.
- There is a lack of flexibility in this method as CPM does not always focus on effective results which help the managers to compile substantial data (Habibiet al. 2018).
- There is a deck of simplicity in the CPM method where project estimation time needs to be broken down by the manager for completing the project. CPM estimation does not provide accountability for the project manager for developing new systems in the specified project.
Role of Production Manager in Construction
The role of production manager in constructions project are listed below:
Effective planning
The construction project production manager has ensured all the compliance with company policies agreement and rules for supervising the field staff as well as subcontractors. In the opinion of Harjantoet al. (2019), the production manager evaluated the quality of the product in each production step by documenting company procedure and training individual employees. The manager has supported all the management activities and project management staff for enhancing the project schedule.
Time management
Time management is another skill of a production manager where they need to focus on the cost breakdown as well as field checking off the job. The production manager has checked all related costs, the determination of job performance and the satisfactory conclusion for gaining specified profit in a strict deadline. As per the views of Cynthia (2020), once the job has been accepted by the organization, the production manager sets up the job for another construction. Effective resource allocation has been done based on construction needs as well as negotiating the prices of all the raw materials.
Risk management
The production manager is essential that before the start of work he will meet all the assigned week and developer jobs by ensuring all the specifications. In the views of Ba’Itset al. (2020), the production manager and all the subcontractors meet with the clients as well as the past awards about the construction project and the detail of potential problems. An effective decision has been made by the production manager based on the need for production to ensure the project success.
Distribution of resources
A production manager is responsible for the effective communication between subcontractors and customers about the distribution of resources among all the computers. The manager has been issued all the routine changes and estimation in the construction project which involve substantial work that has been handled by the contractor and labor. In the views of Kehindeet (2017), any kind of changes has been prioritized by the production manager for enhancing the sale of the product. Effective coordination between the team members has been initiated for the business productivity and the production manager has maintained an adequate workforce for the needs of the organization.
The manager is responsible for all the tools and equipment in the construction site and takes responsibility for the individual supervisor including their health and safety. As opined by Nascimentoet al. (2017), the production manager is solely responsible for the standardization of product and system by developing a healthy relationship with subcontractors and suppliers at every stage. The strategic brand partnership has been maintained for training and technical support as well as in delivery and pricing. The production manager proposed effective scheduling and physical requirements of raw materials for completing the activity.
Ease and suitability of the Application
There is huge flexibility and scalability of using CPM in the construction project for the completion of individual activities. The technique is mainly based on the probabilities of the composition of individual activities in the effective schedule and suitable for the project like research and development, design and investigation. In the computer-based system, there are a lot of calculations involved in construction projects. In the opinion of Ghiselliniet al. (2018), the CPM method is mainly demonstrated in the construction industry based on experience and knowledge about past projects to predict accurate time requirements for various activities. The hierarchy of the construction project has been well defined by the effective completion time which has been estimated based on project technique. CPM is an activity-oriented system where individual instruction activities have been estimated accurately.
CPM is mainly used for definable activities by minimum the overall cost of construction project management. The suitable application of CPM consists of a well-defined collection of jobs and there is a need to focus on the given sequence in a continuous flow process. The jobs are performed in a technological sequence for maintaining effective activities within the time limit. As mentioned by Goh and Goh (2019), the construction tool has guaranteed the desired outcome of the project by maintaining flexible management problems. CPM network afforded effective time management and decision making skill for improving the responsibilities of the production manager to complete construction projects within stipulated deadline and cost.
Conclusion
It can be summarized from the above study that the main focus is on the production management techniques in the construction industry. The study has underlined all the production management techniques such as CPM, critical chain, line of balance and last planner system. In this study, the CPM technique has been used for enhancing the construction project and competition of different activities. Theory of production and 5 m’s of production management are clearly defined for an understanding of production management technique and the development of construction projects. The benefits of the CPM method in the construction industry have been clearly defined with the help of an application. The challenges of the CPM method has broadcasted by the scheduling activities and the role of production manager stated effective planning and time management. This study has defined the flexibility and scalability of production management techniques with an effective justification of the CPM method in construction projects.
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