Weekly tracking of stability of the flow of conversations into the Subprocesses of the Last Planner System

Abstract

The reliability of a production control system has a direct impact on productivity. In a previous research, it was suggested that the Last Planner System (LPS) reliability could be improved by its sub processes variability analysis. The variability ratios of LPS sub processes were called Bullwhip Effect (BWE), because its similarities with the phenomena studied in supply chain. The BWE in the LPS allow the quantification of the flow and the balance between LPS sub processes. In this way, an appropriate use of the LPS means LPS sub processes with controlled variability. Currently the successful application of LPS sub processes is evaluated mainly in an aggregated way by the use of PPC. As part of the BWE measurement, we investigated the stability of the sub processes of two production control systems -one using LPS and other a Traditional Production Control (TPC)-.This paper reports, in terms of LPS sub processes and language action conversations the analysis of time series and statistical control of two construction projects, one held in South America and one in Europe. We found that the change (%) within the LPS sub processes were under statistical control, although we found also a low relationship with change (%) in PPC We concluded that the flow of coordination in each LPS sub process is stable, predictable and is free of external causes of variation. We consider that this method could be valuable to track the regular application of LPS sub processes.