Multiskilled Human Resource Problem in Off-Site Construction

Abstract

Using multiskilled manpower refers to the ability of dynamically reallocate labour from one stage of production process to another one in response to bottlenecks configuration. This paper investigates improvements in tangible performance measures which can be achieved by incorporating multiskilled workforce in off-site construction. To this end, scheduling in off-site construction analysed in flowshop environment with multiskilled human resource in which operations processing time depends on the amount of human resource allocated to it. The objective of this optimisation problem is to minimise production makespan taking into account labour costs associated with different flexibility strategies. To this end, a mathematical framework incorporating flowshop principles developed, formulations coded in an open source programming interface and solved with a commercial solver providing free license to academic usage. Production data from a prefabrication factory based in Melbourne, Australia fed to the model providing a basis for comparison based on different indicators of productivity. The findings of this study are insightful for human resource development in off-site construction by providing cost and productivity corresponding to different multiskilling strategies.

Influence diagrams for off-site construction manufacturing risk assessment in China

“…In order to improve their experience, cross-training needs to be conducted. It is an appropriate way of dealing with off-site construction projects (Nasirian et al, 2018). However, manufacturers need to provide training courses for workers, which adds to labour costs.…”

Process Modelling in Civil Infrastructure Projects: A Review of Construction Simulation Methods

“…Construction planning is the most crucial, knowledgeintensive, ill-structured, and challenging phase in the project development cycle due to the complicated, interactive, and dynamic nature of construction processes [26,27]. DES provides support to construction planning by predicting the future state of a real construction system following the creation of a computer model of the real system based on real life statistics and operations [28]. Simulation models for typical construction systems have been delivered as electronic realistic prototypes for engineers to experiment on, which eventually will lead to productive, efficient, and economical field operations.…”