As a recommended practice (RP) of AACE International, Implementing Project Constructability provides guidelines for developing and implementing constructability programs in all the phases of a project’s life cycle. This document is intended to provide a guideline, not a standard.

Constructability is the integration of construction expertise into all phases of the project to benefit cost, schedule, quality, and overall project objectives. The successful use of construction knowledge and expertise increases the probability of project success. Constructability reviews (CRs) should be conducted at key points in the project life cycle: in the planning phase, early in the design phase, prior to the procurement phase and again prior to the mobilization phase for construction. CRs should hold true to the designer’s intent, and the design concept is easiest molded to good constructability early in the design phase.

Constructability, as addressed in this RP, is applicable to projects in any industry in any location (e.g., architectural, process plant, transportation, utilities, offshore, etc.) that include construction work of any scope. In total cost management (TCM), constructability is one of many value improving practices (VIPs) such as manufacturability analysis; reliability, availability and maintainability (RAM) analysis; and so on.[9] Constructability is also useful as a risk management practice that supports risk mitigation. However, these other VIPs and risk management practices are not directly included in this RP.

AACE is not the sole or even primary steward of recommended constructability practice; there are several leading organizations included in the reference section. However, constructability is a skill and knowledge area of cost engineering because, as a VIP, constructability practices require the assessment of cost, schedule, risks, uncertainties and other project attributes for which AACE is the leading organization. This RP highlights the role of cost engineering in the practice.

This RP will discuss how to implement a constructability program in order to maximize the positive impact on the project. It also provides project examples illustrating the success of those properly implemented efforts. Integrating constructability into project plans can result in better safety, lower costs, better productivity, earlier completion and start-ups for ultimately better projects.