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Lundkvist, R, Meiling, J and Vennström, A (2010) Digitalization of inspection data: a means for enhancing learning and continuous improvements?. In: Egbu, C (Ed.), Proceedings 26th Annual ARCOM Conference, 6-8 September 2010, Leeds, UK. Association of Researchers in Construction Management, Vol. 2, 829–38.
- Type: Conference Proceedings
- Keywords: automation; information technology; inspection; knowledge-based system; quality
- ISBN/ISSN: 978-0-9552390-4-5
- URL: http://www.arcom.ac.uk/-docs/proceedings/ar2010-0829-0838_Lundkvist_Melling_and_Vennstroem.pdf
- Abstract:
According to Total Quality Management (TQM), Lean Production and Six Sigma literature, companies should develop organizational arrangements that foster learning from experience and base decisions on facts, since continuous improvements require continuous experience feedback in some form. In Sweden every construction project is checked in several inspections, and data about defects are collected in paper-based “punch lists”, but what happens to these data after the defects have been corrected and the building is delivered to the client? This study describes the current inspection regime in terms of the scope it provides for collecting experience feedback in the Swedish construction industry, and evaluates the extent to which Swedish construction companies recognize this scope. Empirically, it is based on a survey of the views of field superintendents in medium-sized to large building/construction contractors regarding the use of inspection data as a source of experience feedback in their respective companies. The results show that contractors are generally aware that inspection data can provide valuable information for experience feedback and constant improvements, but currently they do not have systems or processes for feeding back experience from inspections. The possibility of replacing paper-based punch lists with a digital system to process and access inspection data is discussed, which it is proposed could provide a means for improving organizational experience feedback-based learning among construction contractors.