How has Japan become a major economic power, a world leader in the automotive and electronics industries? What is the secret of their success? The consensus has been that, though the Japanese are not particularly innovative, they are exceptionally skilful at imitation, at improving products that already exist. But now two leading Japanese business experts, Ikujiro Nonaka and Hiro Takeuchi, turn this conventional wisdom on its head: Japanese firms are successful, they contend, precisely because they are innovative, because they create new knowledge and use it to produce successful products and technologies. Examining case studies drawn from such firms as Honda, Canon, Matsushita, NEC, 3M, GE, and the U.S. Marines, this book reveals how Japanese companies translate tacit to explicit knowledge and use it to produce new processes, products, and services.

The knowledge-creating company : how Japanese companies create the dynamics of innovation

Computer Aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering

Comparison of construction cost estimating models based on regression analysis, neural networks, and case-based reasoning

https://pure.hw.ac.uk/ws/files/784859/AEI_2009.pdf

Automated recognition of 3D CAD model objects in laser scans and calculation of as-built dimensions for dimensional compliance control in construction

Three models of strategy that are implicit in the literature are described--linear, adaptive, and interpretive. Their similarity to Boulding's (1956) hierarchical levels of system complexity is not...

Three Models of Strategy.

Previous research has demonstrated significant variation in actual cash flow profiles. However, evaluation of traditional cash flow forecasting models indicates that the extent 
of variation in cash flows is not considerable. This suggests that further variables are 
needed to enhance the flexioility of the cash flow profiles produced. This paper presents 
a model designed to incorporate as many variables as possible, without becoming too complex. The model uses fifty variables to calculate the cash flow of individual contracts. Initial testing of the model proved that by incorporating further variables, the flexibility of 
the model is enhanced. Previous construction projects are currently being used to 
evaluate the accuracy of the model.

Does the incorporation of more variables improve the accuracy and flexibility of cash-flow forecasting?

Construction cash flow forecasting has attracted a lot of research interests over the last two decades. Researchers have employed forecasting methodologies, which include mathematical formula-based, statistical, computer simulation and artificial intelligence applications. In spite of the quantity of research efforts, accuracy of the forecast is still a major problem, largely due to risks and uncertainties inherent in construction. This paper presents part of three-year year programme of research aimed at evaluating the impacts of risk on construction cost flow forecast. The study which is at the end of the second year identified and assessed the risk factors responsible for the variation between the forecast and actual cost flow. The study was conducted through a questionnaire survey administered on contracting organisations. On a project by project basis, contractors' opinions were sought on the extent of occurrence of 26 risk variables considered in the study. An initial analysis was carried out using mean response analysis. This shows that the main factors responsible for variation between the forecast and actual cost flow are client's changes to initial design, inclement weather, variation to works (AI), labour shortage, production target slippage, delay in agreeing variation/day works, delay in settling claims, problems with foundations and underestimating project complexity. Further analysis based on factor analysis showed that the identified risk variables could be grouped into six generic groups; the most important factor group being delayed payment and variation to works. Other generic factors are economic changes, project disruption, project complexity, shortage of construction resources and natural inhibitions. These groupings are of significant value in providing a parsimonious reduction of the risk variables and they subsequently provide direction for developing a cost flow risk assessment model.

A factor approach to the analysis of risks influencing construction cost flow forecast

Steel structures construction continues to be one of the most hazard prone jobs in the construction industry. Safety in construction is a result of a combination of several factors such as the implemented construction technology, worker’s training standard, site working conditions, and the design of the project. Even with the strict application of international safety and hazard prevention codes and standards the fatalities in the steel construction site activity as a result of falls for an example is double that compared to other site works. This fact demonstrates the need to improve the safety procedures and implementations in steel construction sites. Based on these facts hazards identification and precautions are essential ingredients of any construction site safety management system. The objective of this paper, which is a first stage of a Ph.D. project, is to review past research that is aimed at addressing some of the safety problems during construction, and identify how to apply novel technologies as Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Image recognition for automating safety on site. The contribution of this research project lies in introducing a new methodology by using photographic analysis which has been increasingly used to tackle different site related operations. The paper proposes a methodology based on BIM model incorporating the 3D image data available from an actual project, indexing all real images taken, searching and retrieving selected time images and comparing them with BIM model. This will help the safety managers to monitor progress and make decisions on the implementation of safety standards approved for the project. The integration of image recognition and BIM will enable the identification of risk assessment while assisting the production of the daily site safety report.

Ammar Peter Kaka

Papers

Does the incorporation of more variables improve the accuracy and flexibility of cash-flow forecasting?

A factor approach to the analysis of risks influencing construction cost flow forecast

Proposed health and safety in steel construction projects through bim and image recognition