Value Stream Mapping in machine allocation for construction logistics – a case study

Construction projects are frequently affected by coordination problems, unreliable information flows, and logistical disruptions. In construction SMEs, these issues become particularly visible in machine allocation, where limited resource pools, cross-site competition, and incomplete visibility of machine status can create waste and reduce planning reliability. This paper investigates the machine allocation process of a medium-sized construction company through an exploratory case study that combines Value Stream Mapping (VSM), detailed process reconstruction, and a follow-up survey of those involved in the process on perceived usefulness. The analysis shows that major bottlenecks arise from fragmented availability checks, insufficient transparency of maintenance status, weak return notifications, and repeated clarification loops across process participants. Based on these findings, improvement features were developed and discussed with the core process participants interviewed. The follow-up survey indicates that time-based visibility of machine availability, stronger links to construction schedules, and improved resource transparency are perceived as particularly useful. ... mehrThe results are primarily beneficial to practitioners, as they provide their dispatchers and on-site employees with an improved overview of the machinery fleet. The features should be aligned with the needs of the employees in order to have a positive impact on machine utilization rates.