IGLC.net EXPORT DATE: 28 March 2024 @CONFERENCE{Kalsaas2014, author={Kalsaas, Bo Terje and Gundersen, Mariann and Berge, Truls Olav }, editor={Kalsaas, Bo Terje and Koskela, Lauri and Saurin, Tarcisio Abreu }, title={To Measure Workflow and Waste. A Concept for Continuous Improvement }, journal={22nd Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction}, booktitle={22nd Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction}, year={2014}, pages={835-846}, url={http://www.iglc.net/papers/details/1078}, affiliation={Professor, Dr.Ing., Department of working life and innovation, University of Agder, 4879 Grimstad, Norway, Phone +47 97082582, e-mail: bo.t.kalsaas@uia.no ; MSc student, Faculty of Engineering and Science, University of Agder, 4879 Grimstad, Norway, Phone +47 91722935, e-mail: marg07@student.uia.no ; MSc student, Faculty of Engineering and Science, University of Agder, 4879 Grimstad, Norway, Phone +47 40492000, e-mail: trulsb12@student.uia.no }, abstract={Measuring workflow applied in a strategy for continuous improvement can be an imperative method for making production of buildings leaner. This paper sums up a research project, which has spanned 3-4 years, aiming to find a method to measure workflow with a continuous improvement approach. Two main methods are documented, one based on data gathering by observation and one by individual reports by the workmen. Workflow in site production is conceptualized as “all types of work conducted within available working hours – except obstructions such as downtime, rework and other forms of waste subtracted”. To complement the findings from the research project, the paper further addresses the method to measure workflow as handover of work between trades, which lays the foundation for the Last Planner System (LPS). The research project delivers extensive empirical material as to how time is used on construction sites. The empirical results show a notable amount of waste in several construction projects. The paper contributes to the understanding of workflow and waste in the production of buildings, and for practical purposes, methods for measuring workflow and observable waste are documented, in order that they can be applied in continuous improvement work at construction sites. }, author_keywords={Workflow, measurement, continuous improvement, waste, construction }, address={Oslo, Norway }, issn={2309-0979 }, publisher={ }, language={English}, document_type={Conference Paper}, source={IGLC}, }