Value stream mapping of a BIM based virtual construction process

Abstract This article reports on a case study about the virtual construction process committed to design interface solutions and the production of a coordinated 3D model to extract reliable quantitative data. The purpose is to establish a descriptive framework of this process using tools from Lean Construction approaches. Therefore, a literature review, documentary analysis and interviews with key participants were carried out from the perspective of a qualitative methodology. The study was conducted in order to address two specific issues: how the interaction of the virtual team works and; how the time distribution of the tasks occurs. The results show that the tasks that require the greatest amount of working hours are architecture modeling, as well as sanitary and electrical installations. The main contribution of this work is to provide the details of a virtual construction experience, its elements and interactions. It also presents productivity data of the tasks developed by a well-established virtual construction team.