Article: Enhancing the logistics of construction materials through activity-based simulation approach

File Download Links for fulltext
(May Require Subscription)
Supplementary

  • Basic View
  • Metadata View
  • XML View
TitleEnhancing the logistics of construction materials through activity-based simulation approach
AuthorsNg, ST2
Shi, J1
Fang, Y2
KeywordsBuffer stock
Construction materials
Distribution management
Hong Kong
Just in time
Simulation
Issue Date2009
PublisherEmerald Group Publishing Limited. The Journal's web site is located at http://www.emeraldinsight.com/ecam.htm
CitationEngineering, Construction And Architectural Management, 2009, v. 16 n. 3, p. 224-237 [How to Cite?]
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/09699980910951645
AbstractPurpose - Many planners and managers prefer to maintain more than enough construction materials on site to avoid valuable labour and plant resources staying idle. Despite the fact that minimising the buffer stock would improve the productivity of a construction project, no one likes to take this risk especially when the consequences are not totally clear. This paper aims to identify the possible savings in time and cost due to different amounts of buffer stock on site, by introducing an activity-based simulation model. Design/methodology/approach - In this research, details and data of a residential project involving substantial amounts of pre-cast components are collected. The project participants are asked to unveil the constraints on site and throughout the material delivery and storage processes. Finally, the collected data are fed into the activity-based construction simulation tool for analysis. Findings - The results indicate that simulation could help quantify the productivity of resources so as to establish the most suitable strategy for improving the logistics of materials handling in a construction project. Originality/value - The paper helps construction planners and managers to streamline the flow of construction materials and determine optimal buffer stocks rather than relying on subjective judgement. Copyright © 2009 Emerald Group Publishing Limited. All rights reserved.
ISSN0969-9988
2011 SCImago Journal Rankings: 0.031
DOIhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1108/09699980910951645
ReferencesReferences in Scopus
DC Field
Value
dc.contributor.authorNg, ST
dc.contributor.authorShi, J
dc.contributor.authorFang, Y
dc.date.accessioned2010-05-31T03:32:56Z
dc.date.available2010-05-31T03:32:56Z
dc.date.issued2009
dc.description.abstractPurpose - Many planners and managers prefer to maintain more than enough construction materials on site to avoid valuable labour and plant resources staying idle. Despite the fact that minimising the buffer stock would improve the productivity of a construction project, no one likes to take this risk especially when the consequences are not totally clear. This paper aims to identify the possible savings in time and cost due to different amounts of buffer stock on site, by introducing an activity-based simulation model. Design/methodology/approach - In this research, details and data of a residential project involving substantial amounts of pre-cast components are collected. The project participants are asked to unveil the constraints on site and throughout the material delivery and storage processes. Finally, the collected data are fed into the activity-based construction simulation tool for analysis. Findings - The results indicate that simulation could help quantify the productivity of resources so as to establish the most suitable strategy for improving the logistics of materials handling in a construction project. Originality/value - The paper helps construction planners and managers to streamline the flow of construction materials and determine optimal buffer stocks rather than relying on subjective judgement. Copyright © 2009 Emerald Group Publishing Limited. All rights reserved.
dc.description.natureLink_to_subscribed_fulltext
dc.identifier.citationEngineering, Construction And Architectural Management, 2009, v. 16 n. 3, p. 224-237 [How to Cite?]
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/09699980910951645
dc.identifier.citeulike4494914
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1108/09699980910951645
dc.identifier.epage237
dc.identifier.hkuros161540
dc.identifier.issn0969-9988
2011 SCImago Journal Rankings: 0.031
dc.identifier.issue3
dc.identifier.openurl
dc.identifier.scopuseid_2-s2.0-67649414378
dc.identifier.spage224
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10722/58585
dc.identifier.volume16
dc.languageeng
dc.publisherEmerald Group Publishing Limited. The Journal's web site is located at http://www.emeraldinsight.com/ecam.htm
dc.publisher.placeUnited Kingdom
dc.relation.ispartofEngineering, Construction and Architectural Management
dc.relation.referencesReferences in Scopus
dc.subjectBuffer stock
dc.subjectConstruction materials
dc.subjectDistribution management
dc.subjectHong Kong
dc.subjectJust in time
dc.subjectSimulation
dc.titleEnhancing the logistics of construction materials through activity-based simulation approach
dc.typeArticle
Author Affiliations
  1. University of Nebraska - Lincoln
  2. The University of Hong Kong