A Simulation-Based Optimisation for Contractors in Precast Concrete Projects

Purpose This paper aims to provide decision support for precast concrete contractors about both precast concrete supply chain strategies and construction configurations. Design/Methodology/Approach This paper proposes a simulation-based optimisation for supply chain and construction (SOSC) during the planning phase of PC building projects. The discrete event simulation is used to capture the characteristics of supply chain and construction processes, and calculate construction objectives under different plans. Particle swarm optimisation is combined with simulation to find optimal supply chain strategies and construction configurations. Findings The efficiency of SOSC is compared with the parametric simulation approach. Over 70 per cent of time and effort used to simulate and compare alternative plans is saved owing to SOSC. Research Limitations/Implications Building simulation model costs a lot of time and effort. The data requirement of the proposed method is high. Practical Implications The proposed SOSC approach can provide decision support for PC contractors by optimising supply chain strategies and construction configurations. Originality/Value This paper has two contributions: one is in providing a decision support tool SOSC to optimise both supply chain strategies and construction configurations, while the other is in building a prototype of SOSC and testing it in a case study.