Liu, J and Lu, M (2020) Synchronized optimization of various management-function schedules in a multiproject environment: Case study of planning steel girder fabrication projects in bridge construction. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 146(5): 05020002, ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
Structural steel prefabrication is a generally accepted practice in the construction industry conducive to better control of project duration and cost, higher productivity and efficiency, and enhanced quality and safety performance. This study initiated with an investigation of the current practice of major structural steel fabricators in Alberta, where skilled trades rather than fully automated equipment remain the critical resources in production planning and scheduling. How to synchronize the schedules of concurrent projects at different levels to optimize the allocation of fabrication resources (particularly skilled laborers) is identified as a matter of pressing concern in the industry. In collaboration with an industry partner in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, we (1) developed a unified work breakdown structure (WBS) based on project management functions such as bidding, production planning, estimating, and scheduling; (2) synchronized schedules for various management functions by implementing a dual-level multiproject optimization scheduling framework; and (3) developed a multiproject scheduling tool to implement the research in practice. A case study of the fabrication of steel girders for three bridges investigates the benefits of the proposed scheduling approach to the fabrication process, which include improved alignment between shop operation progress, individual project objectives, and overall program goals.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | management functions; multiproject environment; scheduling; synchronization |
| Index terms: | prefabrication, construction industry, duration, fabrication, project management, investigation, productivity, Canada, efficiency, case study, bridge construction, safety performance, bidding, estimating, program, collaboration, production planning, girder, scheduling |
| Subjects: | Geography, project management theory and practice, infrastructure engineering, structural engineering, manufacturing engineering, management, performance management, software systems, industry analysis, project controls, occupational health and safety management, building construction, data collection methods, bidding, financial and cost management, project delivery, operations research |
| Topics: | Time Control, Organizational Design, Digital Applications, Quality Management, Procurement, Construction Technology, Health and Safety, Cost Management, Business Strategy, Engineering Principles, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Project Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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