Simulation-Based Analysis of a Precast Factory Layout to Reduce Labor Travel Time and Production Time
Publication: Construction Research Congress 2024
ABSTRACT
Inefficient facility layout in construction manufacturing leads to process waste, thereby increasing production time. In particular, it results in unnecessary movement of workers to transport materials/tools during production. The research presented in this paper examines the impact of a precast concrete factory’s layout on three parameters in the production of precast concrete panels: labor travel time, activity cycle time, and production time. Recommendations are proposed to reduce process waste regarding each of these parameters, that is, relocating the material preparation mills and introducing a cart-based material/tool handling system. The benefits are quantified using a discrete-event simulation model of the process. It shows a 10% reduction in the production time of a single panel and a 39% reduction in the labor hours incurred in transportation activities when compared to the current state. It also shows that 6.9% of the labor hours in the current state is allocated to unnecessary non-value-added transportation activities.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Construction Research Congress 2024
Pages: 1087 - 1096
History
Published online: Mar 18, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Business management
- Computer models
- Concrete
- Construction wastes
- Employment
- Engineering fundamentals
- Engineering materials (by type)
- Environmental engineering
- Industrial wastes
- Labor
- Materials engineering
- Materials processing
- Mathematics
- Models (by type)
- Parameters (statistics)
- Personnel management
- Pollutants
- Practice and Profession
- Precast concrete
- Solid wastes
- Statistics
- Wastes
Authors
Metrics & Citations
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