Thesis-2009-Ansell.pdf (2.66 MB)
A study of a collaborative framework arrangement for highways renewals schemes
thesis
posted on 2009-07-21, 10:03 authored by Mary AnsellIn 2001, the Highways Agency (HA) published a procurement strategy in response to a
succession of studies during the 1990s, including Sir Michael Latham’s “Constructing the
Team” report, Sir John Egan’s “Rethinking Construction” report, and the National Audit Office
report “Modernising Construction”. The strategy covers the full range of the HA’s activities,
with a focus on its delivery of services to road users as the operator of England’s motorway
and trunk road network, valued at £60 billion. In this respect, the HA’s work is broadly
divided into categories based on cost, namely maintenance contracts, regional projects and
major projects. Within the regional projects category for works valued between £500k and
£5 million, works are packaged together and procured through frameworks, allowing longterm
relationships with delivery teams as a means of providing best value. To further
promote this, the HA has embarked on a new initiative in Areas 9 and 10 of entering into
direct contractual arrangements with specialist trade contractors and suppliers to form the
Construction Management Framework (CMF). The contract commenced in July 2002 for a
four year term, with an option, year on year, to extend to seven years, and covers the
delivery of road renewals, structures renewals and improvement schemes. In addition, lean
thinking has been identified as a means of providing improvement, and a lean construction
trial has been planned on a road renewals project in Area 9, with the opportunity for
developing lean as best practice within the CMF.
The research aims to assess the performance of the CMF in highways renewals schemes.
There are two objectives of the research: to assess the delivery of best value in highways
renewals and improvements schemes using construction management, in particular through
the establishment of a framework community; and to demonstrate how lean thinking can be
used to provide continuous improvement within the framework community arrangement. The
research methods used have included: questionnaires; surveys; longitudinal and crossAbstract
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sectional data comparison; and case studies. The main outputs of the research are: the
development of a measurement agenda to address the value definitions defined in the
research; the development of a lean procedure to be used in the CMF based on the
outcomes of the lean trial; and recommendations for improving the CMF.
The research has contributed to knowledge by providing a practical application of a
collaborative framework arrangement, and identifying its strengths and weaknesses as a
working model in the highways renewals and maintenance sector. It contributes to theory by
providing a practical framework for initiatives, including lean thinking; for industry, it identifies
implementation of those initiatives, and suggests improvements to overcome barriers to
establishing and operating collaborative frameworks.
History
School
- Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering
Research Unit
- Centre for Innovative and Collaborative Engineering (CICE)
Publisher
© Mary AnsellPublication date
2009Notes
A dissertation thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree Doctor of Engineering (EngD), at Loughborough University.ISBN
9780947974787Language
- en
Qualification name
- EngD
Qualification level
- Doctoral
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