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A customização em massa (CM) visa diversificar a produção mantendo custos e prazos competitivos. Entretanto, diversas empresas encontram dificuldades em implementá-la. Destarte, objetiva-se entender quais são os maiores desafios para a implementação da CM no processo de produção offsite. Para isso, entrevistou-se 14 especialistas ligados à construção offsite. Os maiores problemas identificados são: equilibrar o que deve ser produzido na fábrica e no local da obra, aquisição de materiais, ter os projetos finalizados antes do início do processo de produção, padronização e flexibilidade. Este conhecimento pode ser utilizado por empresas e pesquisadores para apoiar a definição de estratégias de CM.

PurposeThis paper proposes a method for managing client requirements with the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM). The development of healthcare projects demands a large amount of requirements information, in order to deal with a diversity of clients and frequents changes in healthcare services. The proposed method supports healthcare design by adopting a process-based approach for client requirements management, with the aim of improving value generation.Design/methodology/approachDesign Science Research was the methodological approach adopted in this investigation. The main outcome of this study emerged from an empirical study carried out in a healthcare project in Brazil.FindingsThe proposed method involves three stages: (1) capturing and processing requirements; (2) product and requirements modelling, which involves the connection between requirements and the BIM 3-D model and (3) supporting design solution refinement, through the communication of requirements and the assessment of design in relation to updated client requirements information.Originality/valueThis study explores client requirements management from a process perspective, proposing activities and their interdependences and possible sources of data, including healthcare services information. The main theoretical contributions are related to the understanding of the nature and complexity of the information involved in client requirements management, and how this can be modelled.

Difficulties in managing the construction design process are strongly related to its nature, as a large number of interdependent decisions are involved, which need to be made by many different stakeholders, in an environment that has a high degree of uncertainty. Moreover, there is a growing use of digital tools to support design. Traditional communication approaches used in design management only partially comply with the requirements of digital contexts, and new methods and tools are necessary to address these challenges. Visual Management (VM) has the potential to increase process transparency in the design stage, in order to support collaboration and communication and facilitate the transfer of information. However, the literature on the implementation of VM to support design management is still scarce. Moreover, there is limited understanding of the connection between VM and information and communication technologies (ICT). This investigation aims to propose a set of requirements to support VM applications for design planning and control within digital contexts, which can potentially contribute to improving the effectiveness of VM. This set of requirements were initially identified within the literature, considering different fields of knowledge, and then refined in an empirical study that was developed in collaboration with an infrastructure design and consultancy company in the UK. The Design Science Research approach was the methodological approach adopted in this investigation, which involved incremental learning cycles for devising the artefact, carried out in three different projects. The main findings include (i) the definition of a set of VM requirements that are applicable to the context investigated in this research study; (ii) an assessment of the relevance of the requirements for different types of visual practices, hierarchical planning levels, and stakeholders that are involved; (iii) the identification of some current limitations and challenges of implementing digital VM in construction design. From a practical perspective, this set of requirements may guide practitioners and academics in devising and assessing digital VM practices.

Healthcare projects are known for having a high degree of complexity. Furthermore, the design of healthcare facilities is highly constrained by regulations containing a wide range of requirements. Using BIM for automated rule checking has been pointed out as an opportunity to improve requirements management in these projects. However, most existing research is focused on hard-coded approaches or on limited sets of requirements. The aim of this investigation is to propose a semantic-based framework for automated rule checking in the context of healthcare design. An empirical study was conducted in the redevelopment of a university hospital, using Design Science Research as a methodological approach. Results indicate that the nature of regulations and the subjectivity of requirements have a major impact on the possibility of their translation into logical rules, which is needed to enable automated checking. The main theoretical contribution is a taxonomy for automated rule checking and information transformation.

Collaboration is essential for the success of construction projects. However, the concept of collaboration is unclear, and the term is often related to different meanings. Construction research defines collaboration in different ways, having been influenced by other research fields (e.g., social sciences and philosophy). This paper discusses existing definitions of collaboration and how they relate to three perspectives on the nature of collaborative interactions, linked to organisational metaphors. The research was developed through a literature review, including the conceptual analysis of existing definitions of collaboration. The discussion proposes that metaphors not only describe collaboration ontologically, but also establish different appreciative systems by which individuals conceive and evaluate their collaborative performance. The aim of this discussion is to address the lack of consistency in defining collaboration in construction, embracing the coexistence of interpretations. This can help researchers and practitioners understand how to overcome misunderstandings and explore initiatives to improve collaboration.

Lean construction (LC) and building information modeling (BIM) are two of the prominent concepts challenging the traditional practices in construction management. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often constitute the largest group in construction supply chains. Increasing BIM and LC adoption amongst SMEs is a key condition for achieving the transformation of the construction industry through BIM and LC. The paper presents a systematic literature review of the adoption of (i) LC, (ii) BIM, and (iii) both LC and BIM in SMEs to evaluate the current literature, and 114 papers were included in the review. The bibliographic and content characteristics of the literature were discussed in detail. It was found that despite the importance of SMEs, the current LC and BIM literature falls short in terms of both number of publications and content of publications. The paper concludes with some generic suggestions for future research and action.

This paper provides an introduction to ‘Ji Koutei Kanketsu’ (JKK) as a recently developed Lean method and illustrates its potential to support the improvement of BIM-based highways design work processes. JKK is developed based on the concept of jidoka to enhance the autonomation in non-physical work processes. This method provides the employees the confidence to complete their own processes without defects, while requiring a strong collaboration between the managers and their teams. The paper is based on an action research study for trialing the use of JKK in a large engineering company. It is concluded that JKK, when its prescription is compared to the current state, focuses attention to the following issues: defining individual work activities, their support factors, their pre-conditions, the judgment criteria of their outputs, and continuous improvement. JKK is also evaluated by comparing it to other, overlapping methods.

The reliability of research is substantially linked with its methodology and design. The use of surveys is one of the methods that has been commonly used in research projects. Therefore, identifying the active state and classification of the mechanisms used by the survey studies can help increase the quality of future research. Accordingly, this study reviews survey literatures on Lean Construction to identify their common components along with their configurations. To achieve this goal, a total number of seventy studies were randomly sampled from the publications pool and reviewed. Afterwards, their bibliographic and content characteristics were extracted and analysed and a total of seven common components as well as three dominant configurations were found. Through a thematic analysis, twelve main themes were identified which were further sorted by their observed frequency. The result shows the relationship between the themes and the configurations applied by the studies so far. It also discloses an overall status of the survey research in Lean Construction which can be used as a valuable lead for researchers to choose the orientation and design of their future research projects.

Defects associated with dimensional and geometric variations (tolerance issues) are amongst the most costly and recurring defects in construction projects, yet the identification and mitigation of the causes of tolerance issues appear to be lacking in the construction industry. To enable the development of widely acceptable solutions for the perennial challenge of tolerance management, a more in-depth understanding of causes of tolerance issues should be established. The aim of the research presented in this paper is to identify the potential causes of tolerance issues in construction based on a literature review and empirical studies. This research uses a case study approach. The empirical data is collected through direct observations, group interviews, semi-structured interviews and document reviews. Having triangulated the findings, a list of eighteen potential causes were derived for the eleven observed tolerance issues in two case study projects. The contribution of this paper to knowledge in engineering management is fourfold: (1) the limitations of prior studies on causes of tolerance issues are revealed, (2) the empirical studies led to not only verifying and refining the causes collected from the literature by considering them in the context of the identified tolerance issues, but also finding new causes in the context of tolerance management when compared to literature, (3) the identified causes provide insight into reasons behind the recurrence of tolerance issues across the industry, and (4) it investigates the causes of tolerance issues while balancing managerial and engineering views. The findings of this study provide a pivotal basis for construction practitioners to develop effective solutions for tolerance management whereby tolerance risks can be identified and mitigated in a prescient manner, which can result in a significant amount of savings.

This paper proposes a new conceptual approach to address the gap in the understanding of benefits realization, which is an increasingly central element in the delivery of successful project...

This paper reports initial research findings exploring the assessment of regulatory requirements in the healthcare design process, using different levels of automation – code checking. The methodological approach is Design Science Research, with an empirical study undertaken in close collaboration with an institution responsible for Primary Healthcare buildings in the UK. The main findings include understanding that the design of healthcare projects is intrinsically subjective, which is also reflected by the way regulations for healthcare buildings are developed. Thus, automated approaches for design assessment will only be suitable for the healthcare context if such approaches enable the consideration of requirements subjectivity. In fact, this consists of a change in the way subjectivity is considered in code checking research, which has traditionally been seen as problematic for the design assessment process, due to individual biases and potential misunderstandings. This research proposes that subjectivity in design assessment should be understood in terms of how its negative effects could be alleviated, but at the same time understanding it supports creativity and the uniqueness of human reasoning during the healthcare design process.

The interest in lean management in the UK’s civil infrastructure sector is on the rise. In parallel with this interest, a team-based, participative management technique called Continuous Improvement (CI) cells has been widely adopted by the sector. The research on the technique has been scarce even though it has been adopted widely in some sectors as part of lean management. The study presented in the paper explores implementation characteristics, benefits, challenges and roles of CI cells in other management strategies through a case study conducted at a large public client organisation in the infrastructure sector in the UK. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected through interviews, participant observation at CI cell meetings, and from organisational and team records. It was found that CI cells show some similarities and differences in application with other participative management techniques in lean management. A large set of CI cell benefits and challenges were identified. CI cells were also found linked with Visual Management, kaizen, hoshin kanri, work coordination and planning, and employee training at team level.

Subjectivity exists in requirements described in the healthcare regulatory framework. This is mainly due to the nature of regulatory requirements and the uniqueness of the design process. Past research identified that subjectivity in regulations is a key issue for automated code and rule checking. The aim of this paper is to discuss how requirements subjectivity could be addressed within building models through semantic enrichment, within the context of automated rule and code compliance checking. The paper presents preliminary findings of a research that follows the Design Science Research approach, framed within the UK healthcare design context. Findings suggest that part of the requirements subjectivity exists due to the implicit relationships between the elements of the healthcare built environment, which also include healthcare services. In order to enable automation, implicit relationships from the regulatory framework should be represented in building models – which could potentially be done through semantic enrichment. The paper discusses some complementarity between relationships identified in regulatory requirements and semantic enrichment operators. Moreover, findings indicate that incorporating semantic relationships in building models can be a promising way to deal with requirements subjectivity, rather than eliminating subjective expressions from regulations.

This paper proposes a set of guidelines for using Building Information Modelling (BIM) to manage client requirements in the context of social housing projects. A process model representing main activities involved in requirements management has been devised, as well as nine constructs that can be used for assessing the effectiveness of using BIM for client requirements management. The process of managing and modelling clients&rsquo, requirements is important to improve value generation, considering the limited resources usually available for social housing projects, as well as the need to deal with the diversity of user profiles. The use of BIM-based tools to support this process can potentially improve the performance of those projects in terms of environmental and social sustainability. Design Science Research was the methodological approach adopted in this investigation. The main outcome of this study, the set of guidelines, emerged from an empirical study carried out in a social housing project from Brazil. This study explores the managerial perspective of client requirements modelling, proposing practical contributions, such as understanding the challenges of managing requirements in social housing projects, and theoretical contributions, such as descriptions of the activities involved in client requirements management and their interactions, and constructs for assessing BIM-based solutions for that problem.

The design of social housing is a multifaceted endeavor, as are many social projects, such as megaprojects whose expected benefits reach beyond a handful of stakeholders. Understanding the ...

No standardised approach appears to exist in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry for the communication of tolerance information on drawings. As a result of this shortcoming, defects associated with dimensional and geometric variability occur with potentially severe consequences. In contrast, in mechanical engineering, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) is a symbolic language widely used to communicate both the perfect geometry and the tolerances of components and assemblies. This paper prescribes the application of GD&T in construction with the goal of developing a common language called geometric dimensioning and tolerancing in construction (GD&TIC) to facilitate the communication of tolerance information throughout design and construction. design science research is the adopted methodological approach. Evidence was collated from direct observations in two construction projects and two group interviews. A focus group meeting was conducted to evaluate whether the developed solution (GD&TIC) fulfilled its aim. The contribution of this paper to designers, to organisations involved in developing AEC industry standards, and to the scholarly community is twofold: (1) It is an attempt to develop a standardised approach (GD&TIC) for the communication of tolerance information in AEC, and (2) it identifies discrepancies between GD&TIC rules and some of the commonly used American and British standards on tolerances.

This chapter explores how Lean Construction initiatives address early project collaboration. Previous research identified that early project collaboration is hampered by misunderstandings between project stakeholders, who tend to conceptualise collaboration differently according to their background and experience. In this context, the development of the Transformation-Flow-Value (TFV) theory led to the exploration and development of applications that aim at promoting improved collaboration. This chapter analyses how collaboration has been conceptualised in some Lean Construction initiatives, highlighting limitations and opportunities to improve performance at early project stages. It is suggested that early project collaboration should be interpreted as a socio-constructive and dialectical interaction, which requires the adoption of strategies for collective reflection, supporting the breaking down of assumptions held by project stakeholders.

Defects associated with dimensional and geometric tolerance variability (tolerance problems) are often dealt with during the construction phase of projects. Despite the potentially severe consequences of those defects, tolerance management (TM) is a perennial challenge, and the construction industry lacks a systematic and practical process to provide insight into avoiding the reoccurrence of tolerance problems. The aim of this research is to present a conceptual framework to proactively reduce the reoccurrence of tolerance problems at stages preceding on site construction. The research uses an exploratory case study approach exploring TM in a civil engineering consultancy. Evidence was collated from semi-structured interviews and document analysis, and validated in a group interview. The data was analysed using thematic analysis. The study contributes to knowledge in engineering management by providing new insights into drawbacks of existing TM guidelines. It also describes a good practice application of TM by a civil engineering consultancy, and proposes a conceptual framework to improve TM, which provides a basis to develop more effective practical solutions for TM.

[EN] Traditionally, in heritage architecture, each discipline works independently, generating dispersed data. Heritage Building Information Modelling (HBIM) can provide benefits in managing heritage projects. However, the modelling task is laborious, BIM software tends to be complex, and historical databases are not synchronised with HBIM models. The aim of this research is to create an online work platform where interdisciplinary stakeholders can synchronise heritage information. Design Science Research (DSR) was the methodological approach adopted, consisting of designing an artefact and evaluating it iteratively. As a result, an innovative in-cloud system named BlMlegacy that connects the intrinsic HBIM database with heritage documentary databases was designed. BlMlegacy was used to manage a complete heritage registration project in a case study. The results were validated through a focus group with external professionals. The theoretical definition of the BlMlegacy platform structure is a contribution to knowledge as it could be used as a basis to develop new systems. BlMlegacy allows non-technical heritage stakeholders to collaborate effectively, which is a notable practical contribution., The authors would like to acknowledge the members of the research project entitled: The Design of a Database, Management Model for the Information and Knowledge of Architectural Heritage; HAR2013-41614-R; and the members of the UPV and the University of Huddersfield that have collaborated within the research.

Social housing (SH) upgrades involve multiple stakeholders with sometimes divergent requirements and needs. Collaboration and participative processes are essential to ensuring an appropriate value for users is delivered through social housing upgrades. Living Labs are user-centred initiatives where researchers, public and private partners, and users collaborate to develop innovative solutions in real-live environments. However, scarce research exists on how Living Labs may support the upgrading of social housing, and there is a need to explore what the challenges are that can be expected in this context. This paper discusses an integrative literature synthesis of housing upgrades developed within the context of Living Labs. Nine information-rich cases identified in the literature were chosen for in-depth examination. A living lab process was proposed based on the literature and activities and tools used in Living Labs were identified. From the challenges highlighted by existing studies, a series of recommendations to support the development of Living Labs in social housing upgrades was proposed. These should support Living Labs implementation initiatives in this specific context.

Regulatory frameworks associated to building design are usually complex, representing extensive sets of requirements. For healthcare projects in the UK, this includes statutory and guidance documents. Existing research indicates that they contain subjective requirements, which challenge the practical adoption of automated compliance checking, leading to limited outcomes. This paper aims to propose recommendations for the adoption of automated compliance checking in the design of healthcare buildings. Design Science Research was used to gain a detailed understanding of how information from existing regulatory requirements affects automation, through an empirical study in the design of a primary healthcare facility. In this study, a previously proposed taxonomy was implemented and refined, resulting in the identification of different types of subjective requirements. Based on empirical data emerging from the research, a set of recommendations was proposed focusing on the revision of regulatory documents, as well as to aid designers implementing automated compliance in practice.

Este artigo reporta os resultados de uma revisão sistemática de literatura sobre as definições e níveis de envolvimento de usuários no processo de projeto. Embora muitos estudos tenham ressaltado a importância do envolvimento de usuários para a qualidade tanto do processo quanto do produto final, o termo ainda não possui uma definição clara, e diferentes modelos descrevem diversos níveis de envolvimento, o que dificulta a consolidação do conhecimento nesta área. O presente estudo foca o mapeamento das definições de envolvimento de usuários e comparações das diferentes propostas de níveis de envolvimento, para delinear uma definição clara do termo, baseada nos níveis de envolvimento, e contribuir para a consolidação da teoria de envolvimento do usuário na área de projeto de arquitetura. Além disto, a presente pesquisa auxilia arquitetos a encontrar o nível de envolvimento de usuário mais apropriado ao projeto que desenvolvem, contribuindo para a melhoria desta prática. This paper reports results of a systematic literature review on the definitions and levels of user involvement in the design process. Although many studies have highlighted the importance of user involvement for the quality of both process and final product, the term still lacks a clear definition and different models describe diverse involvement levels, which are detrimental to the advancement of knowledge in the area. The present study focused on the mapping of definitions of user involvement and comparisons of the different proposals of involvement levels for outlining a clear definition of the term, based on the levels of involvement, and contributing to the consolidation of the theory of user involvement in the field of architectural design. Moreover, this research assists architects to find the most appropriate level of user involvement for the design they are developing, improving the practice of involving users in the design process.

The UK government made significant commitments to upgrading the energy efficiency of seven million British homes by 2020, aiming at reducing carbon emissions and addressing fuel poverty. One alternative to achieve better energy performance in existing houses is retrofit. However, there are difficulties associated with retrofitting social housing. It is currently challenging to compare scenarios (retrofit options) considering costs, potential energy efficiency gains, and at the same time minimising disruption to users. This paper presents a Building Information Modelling (BIM) protocol aimed to support decision making by social housing owners. It adopts BIM to simulate alternative retrofit options, considering: (a) potential reductions in energy consumption, (b) 4D BIM for retrofit planning and reduction of users&rsquo, disruption and (c) simulation of costs. A what-if scenario matrix is proposed to support decision making in the selection of social housing retrofit solutions, according to client and users&rsquo, needs. A case study of the retrofit of a mid-terrace house is presented to demonstrate the workflow. The main output of the work is the BIM protocol, which can support client decision making in diverse social housing retrofit projects, considering all three elements (energy simulation, planning for reduced disruption and cost estimation) in an integrated fashion. Such an integrated approach enables clients to make better informed decisions considering diverse social housing retrofit options through a simple process using readily available BIM technology.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to holistically discuss, explore and synthesise the key literature on visual management (VM), an important, yet highly fragmented subject that is frequently referred in lean production accounts.Design/methodology/approachAn extensive literature review was conducted to classify the current literature, to explore the different aspects and limitations of the current discussions on the subject, to clarify in what ways VM benefits manifest themselves in a workplace and to identify the future research focus.FindingsVM is an important close-range communication strategy based on cognitively effective information conveyance. This strategy has been frequently discussed in the production management literature. However, the literature is fragmented as to the roles of VM in a production setting; the body of literature lacks integrated focus and cohesion with an abundance of related terminology from scholarly works and consultant books; a practical VM tools taxonomy and a visual workplace implementation framework were presented; there is poor clarity with regards to the functions (benefits) that VM may provide within organisations, nine conceptual VM functions were proposed; a wide array of future research directions related to VM was identified.Originality/valueThis paper synthesises the key literature related to VM, providing a conceptual picture of the current knowledge.

The recent notable emergence of a body of research in requirements management on one hand and benefits realisation has contributed to addressing a growing need for improved performance in Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) projects. However, front end design (FED) as one of the vital processes in the project life cycle and delivery has attracted limited research to date within this understanding. This paper aims to map current evidence on requirements management in facilitating benefits realisation from an FED perspective. This is to bring about an updated and unified position on requirements management for its impact on design decision making. A systematic review of the literature covering the last ten years (2008–2018) aims first to build understanding and support identification of these emergent conceptual positions and secondly underscore essential requirements and their categorisations that impact on design discourse in FED. One hundred sixty-one peer-reviewed journal papers in the areas of benefits realisation and/or requirements management and/or FED based are identified on a pre-determined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Thirty-six requirements are identified as important in influencing use case changes important in design decision making broadly grouped into nine major categories. Following analysis, this research finds little evidence supporting an integrated requirements management practice and understanding to support design decision making. The research further finds bias in current research discourse towards four requirements categories (technical, economics, governance and environment); and 14 requirements, dominated by three strategic values, collaboration and project governance, with over 80% share of literature. The least 14 requirements such as “flow of spaces, social status/aspiration, mobility and integrated design” among others only account for less than 10% of literature. The authors argue for new research to bridge this gap, highlight the essential role of requirements management and broaden understanding to improve benefits realisation, particularly for FED processes.

Resumo Uma das possíveis estratégias para melhorar a qualidade dos empreendimentos de construção é o uso de Building Information Modelling1 (BIM), que envolve inovações relacionadas à tecnologia da informação e mudanças em processos críticos. Na habitação de interesse social no Brasil, um dos desafios enfrentados é a necessidade de avaliar em um prazo relativamente curto um grande número de projetos submetidos para financiamento, principalmente após a criação do programa Minha Casa, Minha Vida. A verificação automatizada de projetos tem sido apontada na literatura como uma das principais oportunidades para o uso de BIM. A avaliação de projetos por órgãos governamentais é com frequência baseada principalmente na experiência dos técnicos responsáveis, e pode haver falta de uniformidade nos critérios adotados, além de ser um processo demorado e custoso. O objetivo deste trabalho consiste em propor um método automatizado de verificação de requisitos para projetos de empreendimentos de habitação de interesse social com o uso de BIM. Esse método foi testado em dois empreendimentos habitacionais do programa Minha Casa, Minha Vida e foi comparado com o processo realizado manualmente. O estudo também apresenta contribuições referentes à natureza dos requisitos para esse tipo de empreendimento e discute as mudanças de processo necessárias para o uso de sistemas computacionais de verificação automatizada. Abstract One of the possible strategies for improving the quality of construction projects is the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM), which involves innovations in information technology and changes in critical processes. In the social housing sector in Brazil, the need to evaluate a large number of projects proposed for funding in a very short time frame is a major challenge. Automated design checking has been pointed out as one of the main opportunities for the use of BIM in the building industry. The evaluation of social housing projects by governmental bodies is often based mainly on the experience of construction professionals, which may result in lack of uniformity in the criteria adopted, and in a time consuming and costly process. The aim of this research study is to propose a method for automated checking of requirements for the design of social housing projects by using BIM. This method was tested in two housing projects funded by the Minha Casa, Minha Vida programme, and compared to the manual process. This investigation also makes contributions related to the understanding of the nature of the requirements involved in this type of project, and discusses the process changes needed to introduce automated design checking.

The wastes of the supply chain should be reduced to achieve the stabilization of construction operations in lean-based construction management. The aim of this paper is to investigate the communication related sources of waste on construction worksite when compared to the manufacturing industry. The methodology used involves several observations of Japanese construction worksites and interviews with worksite managers and executives of some construction companies, and public institutions, and participation at forums for exchanging practical construction experiences conducted over the last few years. Two main results are obtained. The first one details the three peculiarities of construction, specific customer, site production, and temporary organization as described in prior research. The second one proposes a structural model to depict wastes caused by temporary organization, one of the three mentioned peculiarities. These findings contribute to better understanding of the peculiarities of construction in view of applying lean techniques, and to broadening the practitioners’ viewpoint by providing a guideline to gain the capability of a sharp and systematic understanding of their worksite.

From early on, visual management (VM) has been an intrinsic ingredient of the Toyota Production System (TPS) and its derivatives like lean production. Akin to the evolution of most other parts of the TPS, it has been developed through practitioner efforts rather than being propelled by theoretical insights. Recently, scholars have started to create a theoretical knowledge base for VM. Besides taxonomies of visual devices and their functions, there is only one fully fledged theory of VM, based on the concept of affordance. It is contended here that the scholarly field of visual management has been too narrowly defined. In fact, research on (or bearing on) visual devices has been carried out in several other, mostly small fields, often with little mutual awareness. A review on the theoretical explanation of VM is provided, based on this wider literature. The concept of affordance has been used in this context already in early 1990s. This focuses attention especially to the human cognitive capabilities and corresponding features of visual devices. Generally, VM is argued to provide a more rapid and reliable mode of communication in comparison to traditional alternatives. VM is thus compatible with the lean tenets of time compression and variability reduction. This explains its central role in lean production.

In line with its performance improvement and Lean Construction agenda, the highways supply chain in the UK has commenced many Continuous Improvement (CI) cells in recent years. The CI cell is a small-group work coordination and improvement technique that is frequently used in many industries as part of their lean transformations. The technique has also its links to some key lean concepts and practices like continuous improvement (kaizen), Visual Management and hoshinkanri policy deployment. This paper presents a summary of a detailed research aiming to understand the execution of the CI cells in the highways supply chain in the UK with their associated benefits and challenges through a study of 12 CI cells at the main client organisation. Alongside a set of benefits and challenges, the current CI cell execution mechanism and some suggestions to improve the current practice were also presented in the paper.