Preproject planning for microelectronics facilities

With the incredible progress of the microelectronics industry, constructors of cleanroom facilities are facing higher demands and stricter requirements. These construction projects are characterized by aggressive schedules, real budget limits, fast-tracking, and high degrees of uncertainty. To achieve project success, effective project management should be enforced, which begins with preproject planning and project control. Preproject planning (PPP) usually has more influence on the project outcome than project control, yet it receives far less attention. Previous Construction Industry Institute (CII) research has defined PPP for capital facility projects and proved that preproject planning and project success are positively correlated. However, the particular nature and planning needs of cleanroom facility projects differentiate their preproject planning process from conventional projects. Based on a survey of the three major players (owners, architects/engineers, and general contractors/construction managers) involved in cleanroom facility projects, our research defined the preproject planning process, identified two PPP scenarios, and established a framework for the procedure while advancing some recommendations.