Overcoming Barriers to Successful Constructability Implementation Efforts

A barrier to constructability is any significant inhibitor that prevents effective implementation of the constructability program. Barriers to successful implementation of constructability programs are present in almost all organizations at both corporate and project levels. Treatment of constructability barriers should involve a three-phase cycle: identification, mitigation, and review. Initial efforts should focus on determining the presence and relative significance of constructability barriers. Recognition of barriers to constructability has been identified as one of 15 significant parameters critical for effective constructability implementation. Once barriers to constructability are identified within an organization or a project team, they may be mitigated or overcome with certain tactics, known as “barrier breakers.” Such breakers should be both effective in combating the barriers and should be implementable or relatively easy to apply. This paper describes the development, evaluation, characterization, and application of barrier breakers for the seven most prevalent barriers to successful implementation of constructability efforts.