Simulation operations and line of balance: integrated tools for decision making

Main Article Content

Luis Fernando Botero Botero
Harlem Acevedo

Keywords

simulation, line of balance, construction, lean construction.

Abstract

This paper presents the joint implementation of the simulation of operations and lines of balance, as tools that help to improve the efficiency in construction project planning, where the integration of these tools has been scarce in the national and international field. This paper expounds the simulation results of the activities associated with the construction works of structure, assembly and casting of walls and slab, in a multi–story building. The construction system is modeled, according to the way it is done by the company, and with the help of the lines of balance, generating two alternative scenarios in order to compare the times and the average costs of project completion. The first scenario takes advantage of the slack found in the current system in relation to the time of initiation of activities, without changing the amount of human resources and equipment. In second scenario, the amount of human resources is slightly increased, and the amount of forms for walls and slab increases by 25%. From the results, companies have a methodology for planning and selecting the appropriate scenario, according to their convenience.

MSC: 90B50, 93C65

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
Abstract 1819 | PDF (Español) Downloads 552

References

[1] D. W. Halpin y L. S. Riggs. Planning and analysis of construction operations New York: John Wiley & Sons. 381 (1992).

[2] Tao Ming Cheng y Chung Wei Feng. An effective simulation mechanism for construction operations Automation in construction. 12(3), Taiwan, 227–244 (2003).

[3] S. AbouRizk y K. Mather. Simplifying simulation modeling through integration with 3D CAD. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management , 265–275 (July–August 1999).

[4] Julio Martinez. Stroboscope state and resource based simulation of construction processes. University of Michigan, 1996. Referenciado en 32

[5] D. Kelton, R. Sadowski y D. Sturrock. Simulaci´on con software Arena. McGraw Hill Interamericana, Cuarta edici´on, M´exico, 629 (2008).

[6] Vicente González, Luis Fernando Alarcón and Pedro Gazmuri. Design of work in process buffers in repetitive building projects: a case study. 14th annual conference of international group for lean construction. Proceedings IGLC–14, Santiago, Chile, 2006.

[7] Fabio K. Schramm, Guilherme L. Silveira and Carlos T. Formoso. A proposal for reusing simulation models in the design of production systems in construction. CIBW782008 International Conference on Information Technology in Construction,
Santiago, Chile, 2008.

[8] J. E. Córdoba y M. Delgado. Simulación digital de procesos constructivos SISPLAN. Universidad de los Andes, Santa Fe de Bogotá, 104 (2002).

[9] Diego Echeverry, Holmes Páez y Harrison Mesa. Simulación digital de procesos de construcción de estructura en concreto: casos de estudio práctico en Bogotá. Revista Ingeniería de Construcción, 23(2), 64–71 (2008).

[10] Luis F. Botero y Harlem Acevedo. Simulación digital en un proyecto de construcción en Colombia. Revista Universidad EAFIT, 45(155), 45–59 (2009).

[11] David Arditi, Onur Behzat Tokdemir and Kangsuk Suh. Effect of learning on line of balance scheduling. International Journal of Project Management , 19(5), 265–277 (July 2001).

[12] D. W. Johnston. Linear scheduling method for highway construction. Journal of the Construction Division ASCE, 107(2), 247–61 (1981).

[13] R. M. Reda. RPM: Repetitive project modeling.Journal of Construction Engineering and management ASCE, 116(2), 216–30 (1990).

[14] M. Soini, I. Leskela and O. Seppanen. Implementation of line of balance based scheduling and project control system in a large construction company. 12th Annual conference of Lean Construction, Elsinore, Denmark, 2004.

[15] David Arditi, Onur B. Tokdemir and Kangsuk Suh. Challenges in line of balance scheduling, Journal of Construction Engineering and Management , 128(6), 545–556 (December 2002).

[16] Luis F. Botero y Martha E. Álvarez. Simulación digital, una herramienta útil para la planificación y ejecución de los proyectos de construcción en Colombia Segunda fase. Informe de investigaci´on, Universidad EAFIT, 127 (2009).

[17] J. Banks, J. Carson, B. Nelson and D. Nicol. Discrete–event system simulation. New Jersey: Prentice Hall , 4th ed., 608 (2005).

Most read articles by the same author(s)