Assessing the suitability of current briefing practices in construction within a concurrent engineering framework

Abstract Concurrent engineering (CE) is seen as a key to the integration of the construction process. Its implementation in the construction industry requires an adequate assessment of existing practices within the industry to determine the kind of processes and tools that need to be developed. This paper focuses on the briefing stage in the construction process, which is used to elicit and represent client objectives for a project, and assesses whether the current practice of briefing is adequate within a CE framework for design and construction. Using case studies and an industry survey, the current process of briefing was assessed against pre-defined requirements for briefing within a CE context. It was established that current practices are not adequate, and the paper therefore concludes with recommendations on the development of a suitable methodology for briefing within a CE framework.

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