Reflection-Learning Launching

Challenge

I belong to the project control team in my company, which is amid to implement value

engineering (VE) for the projects to control the cost while ensure the milestone target. The

challenge now is a mega construction project which is requested by the client to complete

the reinforced staircase installation in advance without any negative impact on the project.

The solution should consider budget and time factors as well as quality and safety issue may

occur on site. And the client has granted a 2-weeks period for us to give a VE proposal. Since

time and cost are the key requirements from the client, we will try to find an alternative to

meet the client’s best interests.

Selection

We has go through a process of design thinking during the internal discussion, and

generated the idea of using precast staircase to replace the current cast-into staircase for VE

purpose. Then we’ve quickly finished our prototype of a small precast staircase flight. And it

is time to use learning launch tool to test our assumption/prototype and search for the

confirmation or disconfirmation facts.

Application

For the first learning launch, we tested if the alternative (precast staircase) can meet the

time saving requirement. We compared the site installation process of both precast

staircase and  current cast-into staircase via the same group of workers and collected the

feedback from them.90% of them think it was easier and quicker to install the precast

staircase than the cast-into staircase. We also measured the time of the whole process and

found that using the precast staircase was 50% faster than current cast-into process.

Therefore, the proposed alternative was suitable to use for time saving. But the

stakeholders also expected for the cost saving, which we needed to test and confirm too.

For the second learning launch, we focused on the cost saving requirement. We adjusted

the manpower of the workers and improved the workflow of the installation specially for

the prototyped precast staircase. We used the BIM model to simulate the possible labour

force allocation V.S. completion time frame, and calculated the best match for it. Finally, we

got a complete new workflow with less workers (cost saving) and shorter period (time

saving) to complete the requested task.

Insight

By application of learning launch tool, our team has delivered the VE proposal in time. We

have tested our prototype for the alternative and confirmed the assumption with data. Then

we have continued our development to create better value to the client. We did the

learning launch quickly and cheaply for the intensive task given by the client. When we

presented our proposal to the client, they advocated for our idea and showed interest to

scale up this alternative to their other similar projects. This application of learning launch

has helped us gain the experience to solve the similar problem in the future and set a good

example for our next learning launch.

Approach

Testing, testing, testing! I could not emphasize more on testing when doing the learning

launch. The only way to confirm our assumption is testing. We must probably design the

test and do the test to get the result and move forward. The key point for learning launch is

always about test.


Reflection - Learning Launching Challenge I belong to the project control team in my company , which is amid to implement value engineering ( VE ) for the projects to control the cost while ensure the milestone target . The challenge now is a mega construction project which is requested by the client to complete the reinforced staircase installation in advance without any negative impact on the project . The solution should consider budget and time factors as well as quality and safety issue may occur on site . And the client has granted a 2 - weeks period for us to give a VE proposal . Since time and cost are the key requirements from the client , we will try to find an alternative to meet the client ’s best interests . Selection We has go through a process of design thinking during the internal discussion , and generated the idea of using precast staircase to replace the current cast - into staircase for VE purpose . Then we ’ve quickly finished our prototype of a small precast staircase flight . And it is time to use learning launch tool to test our assumption / prototype and search for the confirmation or disconfirmation facts . Application For the first learning launch , we tested if the alternative ( precast staircase ) can meet the time saving requirement . We compared the site installation process of both precast staircase and current cast - into staircase via the same group of workers and collected the feedback from them.90 % of them think it was easier and quicker to install the precast staircase than the cast - into staircase . We also measured the time of the whole process and found that using the precast staircase was 50 % faster than current cast - into process . Therefore , the proposed alternative was suitable to use for time saving . But the stakeholders also expected for the cost saving , which we needed to test and confirm too . For the second learning launch , we focused on the cost saving requirement . We adjusted the manpower of the workers and improved the workflow of the installation specially for the prototyped precast staircase . We used the BIM model to simulate the possible labour force allocation V.S. completion time frame , and calculated the best match for it . Finally , we got a complete new workflow with less workers ( cost saving ) and shorter period ( time saving ) to complete the requested task . Insight By application of learning launch tool , our team has delivered the VE proposal in time . We have tested our prototype for the alternative and confirmed the assumption with data . Then we have continued our development to create better value to the client . We did the learning launch quickly and cheaply for the intensive task given by the client . When we presented our proposal to the client , they advocated for our idea and showed interest to scale up this alternative to their other similar projects . This application of learning launch has helped us gain the experience to solve the similar problem in the future and set a good example for our next learning launch . Approach Testing , testing , testing ! I could not emphasize more on testing when doing the learning launch . The only way to confirm our assumption is testing . We must probably design the test and do the test to get the result and move forward . The key point for learning launch is always about test .