Nasirian, A; Arashpour, M; Abbasi, B; Zavadskas, E K and Akbarnezhad, A (2019) Skill set configuration in prefabricated construction: Hybrid optimization and multicriteria decision-making approach. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 145(9): 04019050, ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
In offsite construction, unbalanced distribution of resources can cause heterogeneity in the production environment and result in cost and time overruns. It is of particular importance to efficiently manage resource-constrained production in offsite construction in order to realize its numerous benefits over traditional construction. Although extensive research has been undertaken in the manufacturing domain to address unbalanced resource distribution, such studies in the context of offsite construction are sparse. To bridge this gap, the current study hypothesized that multiskilling and crosstraining of construction resources can provide a cost-effective solution to the problem. The aim of this research was to investigate the extent to which operational benefits can be achieved in offsite construction by using different labor skill set structures to address bottlenecks in production. A hybrid research method that adopts optimization and multicriteria decision-making techniques was used to compare performance measures associated with different labor skill sets. To this end, multiskilling policies were ranked and situations under which ranking results can be changed were discussed. The findings of this study reveal the performance and sensitivity of different multiskilling strategies pertaining to different criteria. This study aids industry practitioners in workforce planning and managing offsite construction. It also contributes to the body of knowledge by quantifying how performance measures and labor skill sets interact with each other.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | bottleneck; multicriteria decision making; multiskilling; offsite; optimization; preference ranking organization method for enrichment evaluations; skill set |
| Index terms: | body of knowledge, preference, decision-making, practitioner, configuration, performance measure, strategy, workforce planning, time overrun, traditional construction |
| Subjects: | decision-making and reasoning, management, performance measurement, systems engineering, heritage and conservation, decision analysis, project controls, practitioner, knowledge management |
| Topics: | Roles and Professions, Risk Management, Information Management, Engineering Principles, Research Practice, Business Strategy, Time Control, Human Resources, Quality Management, Design Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 2 PC |
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