Minimizing transportation cost of prefabricated modules in modular construction projects

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Almashaqbeh ◽  
Khaled El-Rayes
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Aerodynamic Drag ◽  
Model Performance ◽  
Optimal Solution ◽  
Transportation Cost ◽  
Healthcare Facility ◽  
Mixed Integer ◽  
Modular Construction ◽  
Content Type ◽  
And Storage

PurposeThe objective of this research study is to formulate and develop a novel optimization model that enables planners of modular construction to minimize the total transportation and storage costs of prefabricated modules in modular construction projects.Design/methodology/approachThe model is developed by identifying relevant decision variables, formulating an objective function capable of minimizing the total transportation and storage costs and modelling relevant constraints. The model is implemented by providing all relevant planner-specified data and performing the model optimization computations using mixed-integer programming to generate the optimal solution.FindingsA case study of hybrid modular construction of a healthcare facility is used to evaluate the model performance and demonstrate its capabilities in minimizing the total transportation and onsite storage costs of building prefabricated modules.Research limitations/implicationsThe model can be most effective in optimizing transportation for prefabricated modules with rectangular shapes and might be less effective for modules with irregular shapes. Further research is needed to consider the shape of onsite storage area and its module arrangement.Practical implicationsThe developed model supports construction planners in improving the cost effectiveness of modular construction projects by optimizing the transportation of prefabricated modules from factories to construction sites.Originality/valueThe original contributions of this research is selecting an optimal module truck assignment from a feasible set of trucks, identifying an optimal delivery day of each module as well as its location and orientation on the assigned truck and complying with relevant constraints including the non-overlap of modules on each truck, shipment weight distribution and aerodynamic drag reduction.

Optimizing the Prefabrication Finishing Level in Modular Construction

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Almashaqbeh ◽  
Khaled El-Rayes
Keyword(s):  
Optimization Model ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Transportation Cost ◽  
Healthcare Facility ◽  
Modular Construction ◽  
Structural Wall ◽  
Total Cost ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Structural Frame

Prefabricated modules in modular construction projects can have a wide range of finishing levels that range from partially completed with only structural frame to fully completed with all structural, wall, mechanical, electrical, finishing and furnishing components. A higher module finishing level increases the offsite fabrication and transportation cost and decreases onsite assembly cost and duration while a lower finishing level produces the opposite results. This paper presents an optimization model that enables construction planners to identify an optimal finishing level for prefabricated modules in order to minimize the total cost of modular construction projects that includes all offsite fabrication, transportation, and onsite assembly costs. A case study of a modular construction project for a healthcare facility was analyzed to illustrate the use of the model and evaluate its performance. The results of this analysis highlight the original capabilities of the model in minimizing the total cost of modular construction projects.

scholarly journals A Novel Enhanced Differential Evolution Algorithm for Outbound Logistics of the Poultry Industry in Thailand

2022 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Karn Moonsri ◽  
Kanchana Sethanan ◽  
Kongkidakhon Worasan
Keyword(s):  
Differential Evolution ◽  
Differential Evolution Algorithm ◽  
Optimal Solution ◽  
Transportation Cost ◽  
Mixed Integer ◽  
Computational Time ◽  
Poultry Industry ◽  
Routing Problem ◽  
De Algorithm ◽  
Evolution Algorithm

Outbound logistics is a crucial field of logistics management. This study considers a planning distribution for the poultry industry in Thailand. The goal of the study is to minimize the transportation cost for the multi-depot vehicle-routing problem (MDVRP). A novel enhanced differential evolution algorithm (RI-DE) is developed based on a new re-initialization mutation formula and a local search function. A mixed-integer programming formulation is presented in order to measure the performance of a heuristic with GA, PSO, and DE for small-sized instances. For large-sized instances, RI-DE is compared to the traditional DE algorithm for solving the MDVRP using published benchmark instances. The results demonstrate that RI-DE obtained a near-optimal solution of 99.03% and outperformed the traditional DE algorithm with a 2.53% relative improvement, not only in terms of solution performance, but also in terms of computational time.

scholarly journals Eco-efficient management of a feeding system in an automobile assembly-line

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Montserrat-Ana Miranda ◽  
María Jesús Alvarez ◽  
Cyril Briand ◽  
Matías Urenda Moris ◽  
Victoria Rodríguez
Keyword(s):  
Assembly Line ◽  
Programming Model ◽  
Optimal Solution ◽  
Optimization Procedure ◽  
Green Manufacturing ◽  
Mixed Integer ◽  
Production Plant ◽  
Optimization Strategy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Automobile Assembly

Purpose This study aims to reduce carbon emissions and costs in an automobile production plant by improving the operational management efficiency of a serial assembly line assisted by a feeding electric tow vehicle (ETV). Design/methodology/approach A multi-objective function is formulated to minimize the energy consumption of the ETV from which emissions and costs are measured. First, a mixed-integer linear programming model is used to solve the feeding problem for different sizes of the assembly line. Second, a bi-objective optimization (HBOO) model is used to simultaneously minimize the most eco-efficient objectives: the number of completed runs (tours) by the ETV along the assembly line, and the number of visits (stops) made by the ETV to deliver kits of components to workstations. Findings The most eco-efficient strategy is always the bi-objective optimal solution regardless of the size of the assembly line, whereas, for single objectives, the optimization strategy differs depending on the size of the assembly line. Research limitations/implications Instances of the problem are randomly generated to reproduce real conditions of a particular automotive factory according to a previous case study. The optimization procedure allows managers to assess real scenarios improving the assembly line eco-efficiency. These results promote the implementation of automated control of feeding processes in green manufacturing. Originality/value The HBOO-model assesses the assembly line performance with a view to reducing the environmental impact effectively and contributes to reducing the existent gap in the literature. The optimization results define key strategies for manufacturing industries eager to integrate battery-operated motors or to address inefficient traffic of automated transport to curb the carbon footprint.

scholarly journals Rural Road Network Decision Model for Hilly Regions of Nepal

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 51-64
Author(s):  
Jagat Kumar Shrestha
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Road Network ◽  
Resource Constraints ◽  
Optimal Solution ◽  
Transportation Cost ◽  
Mixed Integer ◽  
Decision Support Model ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Goods And Services ◽  
Rural Road

Transportation cost is one of the major costs for public and private sectors in rural areas of developing countries (in order to deliver goods and services). This is due to the absence of links or to their poor physical conditions (such as road surface in a road network). To reduce the operation costs in existing links better road surfaces are needed. However, only some links can be improved or constructed to the best surface level at the same time, due to resource constraints. Hence, a careful decision about which links should be improved or constructed to achieve the minimum transportation cost is needed. This paper presents a decision support model for a rural road network that provides portfolio of suggested links for road network improvements or constructions and offers solutions for different budget levels minimizing the transportation cost in the rural road network. Mixed integer programming is used to get an optimal solution. 

scholarly journals An Optimal Transportation Schedule of Mobile Equipment

2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Guillén-Burguete ◽  
H. Sánchez-Larios ◽  
J.G Vázquez-Vázquez
Keyword(s):  
Optimal Solution ◽  
Road Construction ◽  
Transportation Cost ◽  
Convex Polyhedra ◽  
Mixed Integer ◽  
Time Intervals ◽  
Mixed Integer Linear Program ◽  
Arrival Times ◽  
Indefinite Number ◽  
Total Transportation Cost

Motivated by a problem faced by road construction companies, we develop a new model to obtain an optimaltransportation schedule of mobile machines which have to travel to execute tasks. In this problem, each task ischaracterized by the location where it is to be executed, a work-content in terms of machine-time units, and one ormore time intervals within which it can be performed. The machines can be transported from one location to anotherat any time, thus the problem has an indefinite number of variables. However, this indefinite number of variables canbe reduced to a definite one because, as we prove, the problem has an optimal solution in which the arrivals ofmachines occur only at certain time instants. The objective is to minimize the total transportation cost such that all thetasks are executed within their time intervals. The constraints ensuring that the tasks are processed within theirprescribed time intervals are nonlinear; nevertheless, due to the sets of the possible arrival times of the machinesforming bounded convex polyhedra, our problem can be transformed into a mixed integer linear program by the samedevice used in the decomposition principle of Dantzig-Wolfe.

OPTIMAL FEASIBLE SOLUTIONS TO A ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION PROBLEM

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 456
Author(s):  
Tolulope Latunde ◽  
Joseph Oluwaseun Richard ◽  
Opeyemi Odunayo Esan ◽  
Damilola Deborah Dare
Keyword(s):  
Transportation Problem ◽  
Optimal Solution ◽  
Transportation Cost ◽  
North West ◽  
Life Problems ◽  
Basic Feasible Solutions ◽  
Feasible Solutions ◽  
Road Freight Transportation ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Cost Of Transportation

For twenty decades, there is a visible ever forward advancement in the technology of mobility, vehicles and transportation system in general. However, there is no "cure-all" remedy ideal enough to solve all life problems but mathematics has proven that if the problem can be determined, it is most likely solvable. New methods and applications will keep coming to making sure that life problems will be solved faster and easier. This study is to adopt a mathematical transportation problem in the Coca-Cola company aiming to help the logistics department manager of the Asejire and Ikeja plant to decide on how to distribute demand by the customers and at the same time, minimize the cost of transportation. Here, different algorithms are used and compared to generate an optimal solution, namely; North West Corner Method (NWC), Least Cost Method (LCM) and Vogel’s Approximation Method (VAM). The transportation model type in this work is the Linear Programming as the problems are represented in tables and results are compared with the result obtained on Maple 18 software. The study shows various ways in which the initial basic feasible solutions to the problem can be obtained where the best method that saves the highest percentage of transportation cost with for this problem is the NWC. The NWC produces the optimal transportation cost which is 517,040 units.

Labour productivity motivation framework for Iskandar Malaysia

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 293-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chukwuka Christian Ohueri ◽  
Wallace Imoudu Enegbuma ◽  
Ngie Hing Wong ◽  
Kuok King Kuok ◽  
Russell Kenley
Keyword(s):  
Financial Incentives ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Labour Productivity ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Continuous Training ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Importance Index ◽  
Major Factors

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a motivation framework that will enhance labour productivity for Iskandar Malaysia (IM) construction projects. The vision of IM development corridor is to become Southern Peninsular Malaysia’s most developed region by the year 2025. IM cannot realise this foresight without effective labour productivity. Previous studies have reported that the labour productivity of IM construction projects was six times lower than the labour productivity of Singapore construction projects, due to lack of motivation among IM labourers, and a shortage of local skilled labour. Therefore, there is a need to study how to motivate IM construction labourers, so as to increase their productivity. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative research method was used to collect data from IM construction skilled labourers and construction professionals, using two sets of questionnaire. The respondents were selected using a purposive sampling technique. In total, 40 skilled labourers and 50 construction professionals responded to the questionnaire survey, and the data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Science software (version 22). Findings The analysis revealed the major factors that motivate labourers participating in IM construction projects. The factors were ranked hierarchically using Relative Importance Index (RII) and the outcome of the ranking indicated that effective management, viable construction practices, financial incentives, continuous training and development, and safe working environment were the most significant motivation strategies that positively influence IM construction labourers. Originality/value The study developed and validated a framework that can be used to boost the morale of IM construction labourers, so that their productivity can be increased. Implementation of the established motivation framework will also lead to career progression of IM construction labourers, based on the training elements in the framework. This career prospect will attract local skilled labourers to participate in IM construction projects.

Aspects of project learning in construction: a socio-technical model

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 229-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Mohammed Alashwal ◽  
Hamzah Abdul-Rahman
Keyword(s):  
Latent Variable ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Team Building ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Measurement Model ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Path Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Measurement Models ◽  
Project Learning

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine the measurement constructs of learning within construction projects' milieu. The literature indicated some mechanisms of learning in projects under four aspects, namely knowledge sharing, knowledge creation, team action to learn, and learning support. The empirical study attempts to verify whether intra-project learning can be measured through these aspects. Design/methodology/approach – The study used a survey method to collect the data from 36 mega-sized building projects in Malaysia. In total, 203 questionnaires were collected from professionals working in the sites of these projects. The data were analysed using principal component analysis (PCA) to determine the constructs of intra-project learning. Partial least squares-path modeling was used then to confirm the results of PCA and determine the contribution of each construct to intra-project learning. Findings – The results affirmed two constructs of intra-project learning, named, social and technical and each consisted of four indicators of learning. Originality/value – The paper emphasized the socio-technical perspective of learning and contributed to developing a hierarchical measurement model of learning in construction project. A project manager can propose new initiatives in response to the new perspective of learning for team building and continuous development. Lastly, the paper provides a comprehensive presentation of how to estimate the hierarchical measurement models of project learning as a latent variable.

Managing integration in infrastructure alliance projects

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna-Maija Hietajärvi ◽  
Kirsi Aaltonen ◽  
Harri Haapasalo
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Complex Projects ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Project Organizations ◽  
Integration Mechanisms ◽  
Organizational Integration ◽  
Time Critical

Purpose The effective management of inter-organizational integration is central to complex projects. Such projects pose significant challenges for integration, as organizations struggle with constantly changing inter-organizational interdependencies and must develop and adapt integration mechanisms to meet new demands. The purpose of this paper is to understand what kinds of integration mechanisms are used and how they are developed and adjusted during the infrastructure alliance projects. Design/methodology/approach This study provides empirical evidence of integration dynamics in project alliancing by analyzing two infrastructure alliance projects – a complex tunnel construction project and a railway renovation project. The research approach is an inductive case study. Findings This paper identifies integration mechanisms adopted in two case projects and three central triggers that led to changes in the integration mechanisms: project lifecycle phase, unexpected events and project team’s learning during the project. Practical implications Integration capability should be a precondition for alliance project organizations and requires the adoption of a wide range of integration mechanisms, as well as an ability to adjust those mechanisms in response to everyday dynamics and emergent situations. Originality/value Although unplanned contingencies and the responses to them represent important influences in organizations, there is limited amount of research on the dynamics of integration. The findings will be of value in supporting the management of inter-organizational integration in complex, uncertain and time-critical construction projects.

scholarly journals Location of regional and international hub ports in liner shipping

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 114-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianfeng Zheng ◽  
Cong Fu ◽  
Haibo Kuang
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Location Problem ◽  
Programming Model ◽  
Liner Shipping ◽  
Mixed Integer ◽  
Eastern Asia ◽  
Hub Location ◽  
Hub Location Problem ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Western Asia

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the location of regional and international hub ports in liner shipping by proposing a hierarchical hub location problem. Design/methodology/approach This paper develops a mixed-integer linear programming model for the authors’ proposed problem. Numerical experiments based on a realistic Asia-Europe-Oceania liner shipping network are carried out to account for the effectiveness of this model. Findings The results show that one international hub port (i.e. Rotterdam) and one regional hub port (i.e. Zeebrugge) are opened in Europe. Two international hub ports (i.e. Sokhna and Salalah) are located in Western Asia, where no regional hub port is established. One international hub port (i.e. Colombo) and one regional hub port (i.e. Cochin) are opened in Southern Asia. One international hub port (i.e. Singapore) and one regional hub port (i.e. Jakarta) are opened in Southeastern Asia and Australia. Three international hub ports (i.e. Hong Kong, Shanghai and Yokohama) and two regional hub ports (i.e. Qingdao and Kwangyang) are opened in Eastern Asia. Originality/value This paper proposes a hierarchical hub location problem, in which the authors distinguish between regional and international hub ports in liner shipping. Moreover, scale economies in ship size are considered. Furthermore, the proposed problem introduces the main ports.

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