Navigating the "Vital Few": Prioritizing Waste in Concrete Work for Mega-Dam Projects Using Relative Importance Index and Pareto Analysis

Edi Irtanto; M. Asad Abdurrahman; Rosmariani Arifuddin

doi:10.48084/etasr.18066

Authors

Edi Irtanto Department of Civil Engineering, Hasanuddin University, Gowa, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1522-4717
M. Asad Abdurrahman Department of Civil Engineering, Hasanuddin University, Gowa, Indonesia
Rosmariani Arifuddin Department of Civil Engineering, Hasanuddin University, Gowa, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0009-0002-9034-5848

Volume: 16 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 35888-35894 | June 2026 | https://doi.org/10.48084/etasr.18066

Received: 9 February 2026 | Revised: 4 March 2026 and 26 March 2026 | Accepted: 28 March 2026 | Online: 1 May 2026

Corresponding author: M. Asad Abdurrahman

Abstract

Mega-dam projects involve complex concrete operations where non–value-adding activities undermine cost, schedule, and quality. This study investigates waste in concrete work at the Jenelata Dam Project in Indonesia using the DOWNTIME (Defects, Overproduction, Waiting, Non-utilized human potential, Transportation, Inventory, Motion, Extra processing) framework. A descriptive, quantitative survey involving 59 practitioners was conducted to evaluate 48 indicators across eight categories. The Relative Importance Index (RII) was used to rank the criticality, and Pareto analysis identified the "vital few" drivers. All indicators were critical (RII = 0.7627–0.9763). Defects emerged as the most critical aspect, with rework from poor workmanship and design/drawing changes ranking first (RII = 0.9763). Material-related factors were the next most critical, including over-ordering (RII = 0.9492) and hidden inventory (RII = 0.9220), as well as waiting losses from equipment scheduling and downtime. The study proposes prioritized actions, including strengthened quality control and work-readiness checks, design freeze with BIM clash detection before IFC release, pull/make-ready planning, Just-in-Time (JIT) delivery with digital tracking, and preventive maintenance with backup equipment for critical pours.

Keywords:

lean construction, waste management, mega-dam projects, Relative Importance Index (RII), Pareto analysis, concrete works

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