Application of Lean Concepts and Simulation Analysis to Improve Efficiency of Drainage Operations Maintenance Crews
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 132, Issue 3
Abstract
The City of Edmonton’s Drainage Operations branch oversees the inspection, maintenance, and repair of the city’s drainage network. This network covers an area of to serve the city’s growing population of nearly 1 million people. The activities performed by this division consume a large amount of funding and are, therefore, receptive to improvements in productivity. The study presented in this paper was conducted to develop improved work methods and engineered productivity standards for the various drainage operations. The study focused on six crews, which accounted for over 25% of the total drainage operations budget. The six crews were divided based on their respective duties: (1) cleaning mains by low pressure flushing (LPF); (2) cleaning mains by high pressure flushing; (3) scheduled mechanical cleaning of catch basins (CBC); (4) inspecting mains by televising; (5) commercial establishment investigation; and (6) service-line rodding and televising. The study utilized the concept of work simplification and focused on two crew activities—LPF and CBC work tasks—to improve crew work methods, to develop an established work standard, and to verify the proposed improvements based on the simulation model’s output. These activities are described in greater detail in two case studies. The work measurement concept was implemented to develop engineered productivity standards for the remaining crews in order to improve their productivity as well. This paper describes the application of an industrial engineering philosophy of work measurement—lean production theory—and the technique of simulation analysis to capture current work methods, generate and test alternative methods, and develop new productivity standards for drainage maintenance operations crews.
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Acknowledgments
This research was undertaken with the cooperation of the NSERC/Alberta Construction Industry Research Chair in Construction Engineering Management and the City of Edmonton. The authors wish especially to note the financial assistance of the City of Edmonton, Drainage Services. The writers would also like to offer thanks in particular to Andy Bowen and Kurt Sawatsky for their extensive assistance throughout this study.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 132 • Issue 3 • March 2006
Pages: 291 - 299
Copyright
© 2006 ASCE.
History
Received: Jun 30, 2004
Accepted: May 18, 2005
Published online: Mar 1, 2006
Published in print: Mar 2006
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