Quantifying the time and cost associated with the request for information (RFI) process in construction

Article

Mohamed, S., Tilley, P. A. and Tucker, S. N.. 1999. "Quantifying the time and cost associated with the request for information (RFI) process in construction." Construction Innovation: information, process, management. 7 (1), pp. 35-50.
Article Title

Quantifying the time and cost associated with the request for information (RFI) process in construction

ERA Journal ID40994
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsMohamed, S. (Author), Tilley, P. A. (Author) and Tucker, S. N. (Author)
Journal TitleConstruction Innovation: information, process, management
Journal Citation7 (1), pp. 35-50
Number of Pages16
Year1999
Place of PublicationLondon, United Kingdom
ISSN1471-4175
1477-0857
Abstract

Ideally, project documentation should be complete and there would be no need for subcontractors to seek further information from that which has already been provided. In practice, this is rarely the case. The use of 'Request For Information' (RFI) as a formalised process, by which information is gathered or clarified is very common throughout the Australian construction industry. This paper focuses on the use of simulation-based modelling to quantify the time and cost associated with this process as currently communicated between construction organisations. Information gathered from construction projects plus expert advice sought from industry professionals is incorporated as model input. The model shows that the mean cycle time for a typical RFI can be as high as 17 person-hours with most of that time being spent on gathering and cross-referencing information. The simulation model was then modified to explore the potential of implementing Electronic Data Management Technologies as a tool to significantly reduce the time and cost associated with the traditional paper-based RFI process.

Keywordsrequest for information; project documentation; information management; electronic data management; simulation modelling
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020400599. Civil engineering not elsewhere classified
350303. Business information systems
330202. Building construction management and project planning
Byline AffiliationsGriffith University
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
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