VE and Nude ceiling

<Value Engineering >

I learned about Value engineering (VE). The definition of Wikipedia is "a systematic method to improve the value of goods or products and services by using an examination of function." In the US, law regulates value engineering. Public Law 104-106 states, "Each executive agency shall establish and maintain cost-effective value engineering procedures and processes."

GE made vale engineering during World War II because there are shortage of skilled labor and raw material. In value engineering, function is the most important part because function should be satisfied with low price. Now a day, value engineering is essential consideration for construction management and project management.

<Construction Site>

Texas Orthopedic

In the last class, we visited the construction site of Ridgemont. Ridgemont is building the hospital, Texas Orthopedic. That was quite big. This was the first time visiting to hospital construction site. Actually, when I see around the hospital, I was so interested in ceiling. This is very popular interior method of construction.

All of the functional structural elements of the building are showed up. I was able to see pipes and plumbing devices, ducts in the ceiling. I don't know the name of this construction method. Thus, I want to call it nude ceiling. The most famous nude ceiling I know is Pompidou Centre in Paris. This building is the first one that adopted a nude ceiling. This is the largest museum for modern art in Europe. And, It was opened in 1977. The Italian architect, Renzo Piano, designed this center. The New York Times explained this design as "turned the architecture world upside down". Visitors can see all of the functional structural elements of the building like the hospital of Texas Orthopedic.

Pompidou Centre in Paris

RFID technology, the revolution of CM

We have studied about CPM(Critical Path Method). This is the core concept of construction management. When I heard about this, the new management technology for construction came into my mind. We call it U(ubiquitous)-tech in Korea. The key tech is RFID(Radio Frequency Identification) tag. This tech is used in big construction site in South Korea. Maybe it is same in the US. 

RFID tag

The advent of RFID technology is creating better opportunities for improving the material and labor management function in the construction industry. Traditionally, delivered material has been used to be counted and checked manually. Someone should check delivered item. Additional time and effort are needed to stock those material. And, both the contractor and the owner have to verify that the materials have been installed and physically input that information into the project's status reports. And, operators and field engineers spend hours each month recording and reporting that each piece of equipment is in use. Usually, a field supervisor spends 40% of his time to manage materials. 

However, RFID technology changed all. RFID technology has advantages over bar code such as 1)non-contact communication, 2)non-line-of-sight communication 3)expanded data storage 4)writable capability 5)ease of incorporation in automated systems 6)readability from the sunlight 7)durable form the harsh environments like construction site(Jaselskis et al, 2000)

reader

The RFID tag is installed by manufacturers. It seems like their ID card. When the material ,in which RFID tags are installed, delivered to construction site, its information could be read automatically by reader. Thus, a field manager doesn't need to check manually. It save enormous time in construction site. This technology is called as the revolution of construction management. 

Samsung headquarter in Seoul

When I was in South Korea, I had opportunities to report this new technology. I visited the construction site to build samsung headquarters. The most materials are managed by RFID technology. They can reduce time and money using this technology. Also, they manage labor force by RFID tags. All workers has their own RFID card. Thus, the construction company can know automatically who works now and leaves construction site. 

This technology is expensive to adopt. Thus, small company and small construction sites are not able to use it. But, some day, I believe this technology will come into general use in construction industry.