<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The post-construction phase represents a critical milestone in the project lifecycle. This is because design errors and omissions as well as construction defects are examined during this phase. The traditional procurement approaches that are commonly adopted in construction projects separate design from construction, which inhibits contractors, suppliers and other parties from providing the design team with constructive comments and feedback to improve the project design. Consequently, lack of considering maintainability aspects during the design process results in increasing maintenance and operation costs as well as reducing building performance. This research aims to investigate the role of early supplier involvement (ESI) in the design process as an approach for enhancing building maintainability. To achieve this aim, a research methodology consisted of literature review, case studies and survey questionnaire was designed to accomplish four objectives. Firstly, literature review was used to examine the concepts of building maintenance, maintainability, the design process and ESI. Secondly, three case studies were presented and analysed to investigate the role of ESI towards enhancing building maintainability during the design process. Thirdly, a survey questionnaire was conducted with a representative sample of architectural design firms (ADFs) in Egypt to investigate their perception and application of ESI towards enhancing building maintainability during the design process. Finally, the research developed a framework to facilitate ESI during the design process in ADFs in Egypt. Data analysis showed that ‘Difficulty of trusting external parties and sharing information with transparency’ was ranked the highest challenge of ESI in ADFs in Egypt.</p>
</abstract>

The post-construction phase represents a critical milestone in the project lifecycle. This is because design errors and omissions as well as construction defects are examined during this phase. The traditional procurement approaches that are commonly adopted in construction projects separate design from construction, which inhibits contractors, suppliers and other parties from providing the design team with constructive comments and feedback to improve the project design. Consequently, lack of considering maintainability aspects during the design process results in increasing maintenance and operation costs as well as reducing building performance. This research aims to investigate the role of early supplier involvement (ESI) in the design process as an approach for enhancing building maintainability. To achieve this aim, a research methodology consisted of literature review, case studies and survey questionnaire was designed to accomplish four objectives. Firstly, literature review was used to examine the concepts of building maintenance, maintainability, the design process and ESI. Secondly, three case studies were presented and analysed to investigate the role of ESI towards enhancing building maintainability during the design process. Thirdly, a survey questionnaire was conducted with a representative sample of architectural design firms (ADFs) in Egypt to investigate their perception and application of ESI towards enhancing building maintainability during the design process. Finally, the research developed a framework to facilitate ESI during the design process in ADFs in Egypt. Data analysis showed that ‘Difficulty of trusting external parties and sharing information with transparency’ was ranked the highest challenge of ESI in ADFs in Egypt.

Enhancing building maintainability through early supplier involvement in the design process

Organization, Technology and Management in Construction: an International Journal

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

The post-construction phase represents a critical milestone in the project lifecycle. This is because design errors and omissions as well as construction...

Enhancing building maintainability through early supplier involvement in the design process

Article Category: Research Paper

Published Online: Sep 11, 2023

Page range: 34 - 49

Received: Mar 13, 2022

Accepted: Jun 04, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/otmcj-2023-0005

Keywords
early supplier involvement, maintenance, maintainability, design for maintainability, the design process, framework, Egypt

© 2023 Ayman Ahmed Ezzat Othman et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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Enhancing building maintainability through early supplier involvement in the design process

Article Category: Research Paper

Published Online: Sep 11, 2023

Page range: 34 - 49

Received: Mar 13, 2022

Accepted: Jun 04, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/otmcj-2023-0005

Keywordsearly supplier involvement, maintenance, maintainability, design for maintainability, the design process, framework, Egypt

© 2023 Ayman Ahmed Ezzat Othman et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Fig. 1:

Fig. 2:

Fig. 3:

Fig. 4:

Fig. 5:

Fig. 6:

Fig. 7:

Keywords
early supplier involvement, maintenance, maintainability, design for maintainability, the design process, framework, Egypt