Proposing a Lean-Optimized Scheduling Model of Mixed-Flow Prefabricated Component Production in Off-Site Construction
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 150, Issue 8
Abstract
The scheduling of prefabricated component production is crucial for production efficiency and timely delivery in off-site construction (OSC). However, the prevalence of mixed-flow production in prefabrication renders conventional scheduling methods inadequate, leading to cost overruns and waiting issues. This study introduces a lean-based mixed-flow production scheduling approach to address the scheduling challenges in mixed-flow prefabrication. Guided by lean principles, this research analyzes the mixed-flow production process and process wastes, resolving issues of group production, pull production, and overall scheduling enhancement through multiobjective optimization modeling. A nondominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) based solution algorithm was established to minimize completion times, tardiness/earliness penalty, and type changes, thereby eliminating waste and ensuring continuous production. The effectiveness of the proposed approach was validated through a real case study, showing an average 1.84% reduction in makespan, 24.19% cost savings, and 36.03% reduction in waiting times compared to conventional nonlean optimization methods, while demonstrating good stability and reliability. This study innovates in engineering scheduling management and contributes to the development of lean construction theory, providing concrete support for component suppliers’ successful delivery and promoting further development in OSC.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
The work described in this paper was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (ZR2021QG046 and ZR2023QG100), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (22CX06069A), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (72371050, 72071027, 72304278, and 72101044), Outstanding Youth Innovation Team Foundation of Shandong Province (2022RW036), and the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2022M712047).
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Published In
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 150 • Issue 8 • August 2024
Copyright
© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 13, 2023
Accepted: Jan 16, 2024
Published online: Jun 3, 2024
Published in print: Aug 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Nov 3, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Algorithms
- Benefit cost ratios
- Business management
- Case studies
- Construction engineering
- Construction industry
- Construction management
- Engineering fundamentals
- Financial management
- Lean construction
- Management methods
- Mathematics
- Methodology (by type)
- Models (by type)
- Offsite construction
- Optimization models
- Practice and Profession
- Research methods (by type)
- Scheduling
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