2nd Revaluing Construction Conference

Introduction

The Challenge of Change in Construction
World Trade Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
22nd – 23rd March 2005

• Summary report

The Challenge of Change in Construction was the theme of the 2nd international conference in the successful series of Revaluing Construction. The first Revaluing Construction conference took place in Manchester UK in 2003. This brought together the leaders of change programmes from around the world for intensive sessions of presentation, discussion and debate. Since 2003, the global Revaluing Construction network has expanded, with more countries – including the Netherlands – embarking on the process of construction change.

The conference put the spotlight on the many initiatives around the world now seeking to change the way that construction operates as an industry. Whether the aim is to obtain better value for clients, to eradicate harmful practices or to respond to the pressures of globalisation, construction is under scrutiny as never before. And leaders of the industry know that its image must change if it is to attract the skills and talents required in the future. Minister Brinkhorst of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs will show his commitment to the subject during his opening speech. He outlined his vision on the importance of healthy competition in the construction sector, linking the international change programmes with the situation in the Netherlands. He argued fervently for realising an open market and stimulating a knowledge-intensive market, and challenged his audience to strive for greater (process) innovation.
He devoted particular attention to the international developments in Asia and Japan.

Aims

In every country, construction plays a major role in economic and social development, through the provision of housing, public and private buildings, urban services and transport infrastructure. Every country therefore requires a modern and efficient construction industry. Recent problems with contracts have highlighted the need for change in the Netherlands. Other countries have embarked on change for different reasons, but whatever the underlying reasons for change, the issues faced by those who lead change programmes are very similar.

The central objective of Revaluing Construction 2005 is to enable everyone to learn from the change experiences of others. What promotes change and where are the pitfalls? Which are the best tools? What can construction learn from the experience of change in other industries? From the conference, new links will be formed, and new opportunities for sharing information and experience will be identified. The global community dedicated to construction change, brought together under the banner of Revaluing Construction, will be strengthened for the challenges ahead. The issues for the conference were:

• Radical change is on the agenda. But how can this be achieved?
• How can a traditional industry as construction is, be transformed, to a efficient, technologically advanced and flexible, a valued contributor to a modern economy?
• How does one achieve lasting change in an industry with so many small enterprises and specialist groups? 

Programme & papers

• 22nd March programme
• 23rd March programme

Organising committee

Revaluing Construction 2005 was organised by the Foundation for Building Research in the Netherlands (www.sbr.nl), in association with the Foundation for Civil Engineering Research (www.cur.nl). Under the auspices of the Dutch reform programme Process and System Innovation in Building (www.psib.nl) and the International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (www.cibworld.nl).

Members of the International Advisory Panel were:

• Prof. D. Lenard, Chief Executive, Construction Excellence - UK
• Mr J.V. McCarthy, President Group Property Executive, CRC for Construction Innovation c/o Australian Enterprise Holdings Pty Limited - AUSTRALIA
• Dr. R.V. Milford, Director, CSIR Building and Construction Technology – SOUTH AFRICA
• Prof. P.S. Barrett, Pro Vice Chancellor (Research and Graduate Studies), University of Salford - Research Centre for the Built and Human Environment - UK
• Dr. Eng. T. Fujimori, Managing Officer, Director, Shimizu Corporation - Institute of Technology - JAPAN
• Dr. Ir. J. Rilling, Research Director, Scientific Director, Centre Scientific et Technique du Bâtiment - FRANCE
• Mr I Olsen, Head, Development Division, Danish Agency for Enterprise and Housing - DENMARK
• Mr T. Tan, Director Technology Development Division, Building and Construction Authority - SINGAPORE
• Ms A. Fung, Assistant Director (Procurement), Housing Department - CHINA
• Mr S. Sandesten, Chief Executive, Swedish Association of Construction Clients - SWEDEN
• Dr J.C.M. Hovers, Chairman, RegieRaad Bouw – NETHERLANDS
• Mr HJ. Hazewinkel RA, Chairman PSIB / Chairman of the Executive Board of Koninklijke VolkerWessels
• Dr. Ir. W. Van Vonno, Chairman of the Executive Board of Koninklijke BAM Groep nv - NETHERLANDS
• Dr. Ir. W.J.P. Bakens, Secretary General, International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction - NETHERLANDS

Members of the Programme Committee were:

• Ir. C.E.H.M. Buys, Gemeentewerken Gemeente Rotterdam Ingenieursbureau - NETHERLANDS
• Prof. ir. F.J.M. Scheublin, BAM Advies & Engineering - NETHERLANDS
• Prof. dr. ir. H.A.J. de Ridder, Delft University of Technology - NETHERLANDS
• Prof. dr. ir. A. Dorée, University of Twente - NETHERLANDS
• Dr. ir. W.J.P. Bakens, International Council for Research and Innovation Building & Construction (CIB) - NETHERLANDS
• Ir. K.I. Ang, Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment (VROM)/RGD - NETHERLANDS
• Prof. dr. N.G. Noorderhaven, Catholic University of Brabant - NETHERLANDS
• Ir. D. Spekkink, Spekkink C&R - NETHERLANDS
• Drs. ing. J.T.H. Straatman, SBR - NETHERLANDS
• Prof. G. Winch, UMIST - UK
• Prof. P. Barrett, University of Salford - UK
• Mr K. Hampson, CRC - Australia
• Dr. G. Augenbroe, University of Georgia - USA
• Prof. R.G. Courtney - Manchester Centre for Civil & Construction Engineering (UMIST) - UK
• Mr Th. Mulder, Director, PSIB - NETHERLANDS
• Mr R. van der Klauw, TNO Bouw - NETHERLANDS
• Mr A. Buur, Economisch Instituut voor de Bouw - NETHERLANDS
• Ms mr.dr. M.A.B. Chao-Duivis, Director, Instituut voor Bouwrecht - NETHERLANDS

Revaluing construction 2005 was sponsored by: