Mostafa, S and Chileshe, N (2018) Application of discrete-event simulation to investigate effects of client order behaviour on off-site manufacturing performance in Australia. Architectural Engineering and Design Management, 14(1-2), pp. 139-157. ISSN 1745-2007
Abstract
Off-site manufacturing (OSM) has implied capabilities that could enhance housing supply in Australia. The OSM system requires the efficient management of two concurrent working locations: the off-site fabrication facility and the construction site. Client order behaviour impacts on the OSM system. Accordingly, client order information flow is an essential component for efficiently managing this system. This paper investigates the effects of client order behaviour on the performance of OSM within the Australian housebuilding context using discrete-event simulation (DES). The data used to develop the conceptual model were based on a review of 21 related technical documents and interviews with 13 OSM experts in Australia. The operational data used for executing the simulation model were collected through a questionnaire survey of 30 builders as well as three one-day site visits to the fabrication facilities and construction sites of three major building organisations in Australia. The simulation model assisted in experimentation with four scenarios that represent client order interaction in the OSM system in Australia. The model simulation results showed noteworthy improvements in house completion time and the number of completed client orders per year.Off-site manufacturing (OSM) has implied capabilities that could enhance housing supply in Australia. The OSM system requires the efficient management of two concurrent working locations: the off-site fabrication facility and the construction site. Client order behaviour impacts on the OSM system. Accordingly, client order information flow is an essential component for efficiently managing this system. This paper investigates the effects of client order behaviour on the performance of OSM within the Australian housebuilding context using discrete-event simulation (DES). The data used to develop the conceptual model were based on a review of 21 related technical documents and interviews with 13 OSM experts in Australia. The operational data used for executing the simulation model were collected through a questionnaire survey of 30 builders as well as three one-day site visits to the fabrication facilities and construction sites of three major building organisations in Australia. The simulation model assisted in experimentation with four scenarios that represent client order interaction in the OSM system in Australia. The model simulation results showed noteworthy improvements in house completion time and the number of completed client orders per year.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | discrete-event simulation; modelling and simulation; conceptual modelling; off-site manufacturing in Australia; construction; computer simulation; data processing; construction sites; housing; information systems; fabrication; technical information; simulation; information flow; experimentation; discrete event systems; manufacturing; completion time |
| Index terms: | discrete event system, interview, off-site manufacturing, builder, information flow, Australia, survey, experiment, construction site, computer simulation, questionnaire, data processing, completion time, documents, conceptual modelling, technical information, fabrication, housing, housebuilding, modelling, interaction, information system |
| Subjects: | construction type, data collection methods, practitioner, modelling and simulation, work location, analytical methods, data science, construction integration, theoretical framing, manufacturing engineering, professional development, technology management, Geography, project controls, behavioral psychology, information systems |
| Topics: | Digital Applications, Time Control, Site Management, Information Management, Engineering Principles, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Business Strategy, Construction Technology, Roles and Professions |
| 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