Moon, S; Xu, S; Hou, L; Wu, C; Wang, X and Tam, V W Y (2018) RFID-aided tracking system to improve work efficiency of scaffold supplier: Stock management in Australasian supply chain. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 144(2): 04017115, ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
The potential benefits of applied radio-frequency identification (RFID)-aided systems have been studied by many construction research projects. After reviewing previous works, this paper presents a self-developed system with the focus of a specific case in Australia. The system enables efficient material tracking, aiming for productivity improvement in the case. Initial site observations confirmed the need for an object-oriented material tracking system based on the principles of lean thinking and logistics qualities. Subsequently, a system was designed to activate a proposed method for optimizing material management during the supplier phase of the mega construction project. The experiments in this paper finally present two main streams: (1) performance testing of the system; and (2) productivity measure. As a result of performance testing, the tracking system was successful in locating the distributed 23 tags within an average range of 3.40 m. Supported by this system, the field productivity measurements consisting of four trailer-loading works (two lead and two tail trailers) quantified the feasible benefit of its application. The RFID-aided system facilitated the improvement of work performance, resulting in 10.14 (lead) and 11.80% (tail) productivity improvement. This research project therefore validated the benefits of RFID application in a construction supply chain by measuring its true value via the productivity improvements.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | logistics; material tracking and locating; productivity; project planning and design; radio-frequency identification; scaffolding; supply chain |
| Index terms: | efficiency, Australia, productivity, construction supply chain, work performance, loading, testing, experiment, scaffolding, stream, construction project, project planning |
| Subjects: | performance management, management, water management, production management, Geography, data collection methods, control systems, construction logistics, operations management, professional practice, construction operations |
| Topics: | Site Management, Quality Management, Supply Chain Management, Sustainability, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Project Management, Engineering Principles |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here