Integrated Project Delivery

Introduction

The IPD method is a new project delivery method, focusing on waste reduction and efficiency. It is used to boost efficiency and drag gaining. A single and multi-party agreement is used to form this method. This method is based on the reward model, costs guarantee, shared risk by all participants, and abdication by team members for liabilities. This method involves the project stakeholders from the initial phase of the project, and the process encourages all the involved parties to collaborate and share their experiences and knowledge.

History

The IPD process was developed for the first time in the ’90s, and in 2000 it was trademarked. Since the 1960s construction companies have faced a remarkable decline in their products. While the productivity rate in non-farm companies increased. According to the IPD method, the problem was due to the conflicted relationship between the designer, contractor, and project owner. Their adverse relation effects on contemporary construction. To overcome the decline, IPD focuses on the values that are created for the company owner. IPD also skips out all the unnecessary activities that have no role in production to decrease the cost.

Phases of IPD

In IPD all the key disciplines needed for project construction work together as an industry. The project’s key parties are; the designer, contractor, subcontractors, and consultant for technical help. IPD is not a typical method like design-build, in which the leading role is only the contractor. IPD represents a concept that involves all the key participants of the construction team, including the owner, the contractor, the subcontractor, the designer, the fabricator, the technical consultant, and the engineers. All these members devotedly collaborate during the whole construction period.

IPD focuses on the main areas that are fundamental to a successful project. These areas include;

• conceptualization and analysis of main issues
• Final design
• implementation of design by a collaboration of the whole team
• Final construction of the project

Role of technology in the development of integrated project delivery

The companies that adopt the method of IPD for enhancing construction and productivity level, can face many problems. Large sizes of email attachments, the absence of local software to see all types of files, and file sharing behind the firewalls of IT, are the problems that can make the use of the IPD method very difficult. To resolve all these challenges, companies need to use some advanced construction technologies like SaaS that are used to facilitate the process of IPD. This software reduces all challenges and makes sure for stream and smooth flow of documents, clarifying the communications and the workflow. It also allows users who belong to different places to keep documents, drawings, data, communication, and other files in one place.

Users can pick, mark, and view desired files online by source control and they don’t need any native software for this purpose. The source control, also called version control, is a part of the system responsible for managing changes. It also boosts confidence in the project and minimizes the risks. BIM and CAD are also software that is used to make things easier in IPD. The use of BIM, the building information model in a company, allows the sharing of data and information between the project participants using the IPD method. BIM is also known as a tool that boosts the production rate during the whole construction period. CAD and computer-aided design also help to use IPD. BIM and CAD are based on the 3D model.

Advantages

The method of IPD clears out all the rules and regulations of the project and defines all the assigned responsibilities of each member of the team. It also outlines the whole procedure and how the members will contribute until the project ends. All the participants have shared both risks and rewards, so each member plays a significant role in reducing the risk rate.

Some of the basic advantages of the IPD are;

• Proactive involvement and better communication
• Less adverse relation between team members
• Collaborative mentality
• Low project costs
• Less waste of materials
• Time-saving
• Reduce risks and boost productivity
• More profits

Disadvantages

IPD is a new approach; project owners and designers are not familiar with this method, so they refuse to work. The IPD method is unable to develop trust between team members automatically. All the members need to work together with positive behavior to build a beneficial relationship with each other.

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Conclusion

Integrated project delivery eliminates all the potential issues and hurdles to the project’s ineffective performance and aligns all the members for a common goal that is beneficial for the project. But it requires more planning efforts, rethinking, and analysis of problems for a successful project.