Waste-based management of steel reinforcement cutting in construction projects

Waste optimization models are vital to reduce the trim loss in the cutting process of steel reinforcement. Unfortunately, waste minimization is frequently considered as a pure mathematical problem, which is solved apart from the project management context. This perspective creates a gap between the models and their application, and ignores field aspects, which are not less important than developing robust models. This study empirically demonstrates managing the cutting process with optimization models considering three field variables: merging sequential demands, multiple stock lengths, and usable leftovers. Adjusting the variables generated different cutting scenarios and wastes, which were examined in a sensitivity analysis of a huge case study with 136 optimization problems. The sensitivity analysis frames a new concept for managing the cutting process in construction projects based on the waste. Minimizing the cutting waste becomes the primary criteria in production planning at the project level instead of minimizing the cutting waste for independent activities. The systematic framework revealed a distinct performance over the conventional method. The cutting waste of the case study was reduced by more than 70%.