Time-cost optimization in repetitive project scheduling with limited resources
Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management
ISSN: 0969-9988
Article publication date: 16 March 2021
Issue publication date: 8 March 2022
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research is to develop a time-cost optimization model to schedule repetitive projects while considering limited resource availability.
Design/methodology/approach
The model is based on the constraint programming (CP) framework; it integrates multiple scheduling characteristics of repetitive activities such as continuous or fragmented execution, atypical activities and coexistence of different modes in an activity. To improve project performance while avoiding inefficient hiring and firing conditions, the strategy of bidirectional acceleration is presented and implemented, which requires keeping regular changes in the execution modes between successive subactivities in the same activity.
Findings
Two case studies involving a real residential building construction project and a hotel refurbishing project are used to demonstrate the application of the proposed model based on four different scenarios. The results show that (1) the CP model has great advantages in terms of solving speed and solution quality than its equivalent mathematical model, (2) higher project performance can be obtained compared to using previously developed models and (3) the model can be easily replicated or even modified to enable multicrew implementation.
Originality/value
The original contribution of this research is presenting a novel CP-based repetitive scheduling optimization model to solve the multimode resource-constrained time-cost tradeoff problem of repetitive projects. The model has the capability of minimizing the project total cost that is composed of direct costs, indirect costs, early completion incentives and late completion penalties.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 71701069], the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province of China [grant number G2018502127], and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities [grant number 2020MS129]. The authors are also grateful to the anonymous reviewer and editor for a careful scrutiny of details and for comments that helped improved this manuscript.
Citation
Zou, X., Zhang, L. and Zhang, Q. (2022), "Time-cost optimization in repetitive project scheduling with limited resources", Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, Vol. 29 No. 2, pp. 669-701. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-10-2020-0843
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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