Bamana, F; Lehoux, N and Cloutier, C (2019) Simulation of a construction project: Assessing impact of just-in-time and lean principles. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 145(5): 05019005, ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
The construction industry is always searching for better ways to manage construction projects and improve productivity while leaving a smaller ecological footprint. To help with this goal, a simulation model was developed in a 3D simulation modeling framework to examine the impact of successful concepts from the manufacturing industry, such as just-in-time (JIT) deliveries, Lean tools, and prefabrication in construction. The model developed was based on a real 6-story wooden building erected in the province of Quebec, Canada. Through a design of experiment, results of the simulation showed the impact of each concept and their interactions on the construction duration, shortages, and labor utilization. They also put into light the quantitative advantages and disadvantages of implementing 0%, 50%, or 100% Lean management methods, keeping between 1 and 4 days of buffer stock on the construction site, having 80% or 100% prefabrication of components, and using 1 or 2 construction teams. As a result, this paper contributes to the work of scholars and practitioners by simulating a real construction project to assess the impact of prefabrication, JIT, and Lean principles with tangible metrics, construction duration, shortages, and labor utilization.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | just-in-time in construction; lean in construction; prefabrication; simulation |
| Index terms: | construction project, ecological footprint, practitioner, just-in-time, management method, shortages, labour utilization, manufacturing industry, construction site, design of experiment, buffer, simulation modelling, interaction, duration, construction industry, prefabrication, productivity, construction team, Canada |
| Subjects: | practitioner, environmental impact, economic analysis, analytical methods, project delivery, modelling and simulation, work location, financial risk, Geography, production management, management, behavioral psychology, industry analysis, lean logistics, building construction, project controls |
| Topics: | Site Management, Time Control, Supply Chain Management, Human Resources, Roles and Professions, Sustainability, Construction Technology, Cost Management, Business Strategy, Engineering Principles, Geographical Context, Project Management, Research Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
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