Combined use of design of experiment and computer simulation for resources level determination in concrete pouring process

Abstract

Construction managers and planners are always involved in answering questions regarding the effects of changing the level of resources involved in construction activities on project performance. The planners strive to determine the best resource level combination that optimizes the performance measures such as productivity. In this study, a unique approach involving the combined use of a powerful Quality Engineering tool, Design of Experiment (DOE) and Simulation for determining the best combination of resources level for a real-world construction process, viz. concrete pouring process. DOE enabled the experimental plan to be designed in the form of a twice replicated, 24 full factorial designs with 5 center points. This experimental plan involved 37 experiments. Simulation has enabled the construction process investigated to be realistically modelled. Therefore, instead of performing field trials involving 37 experiments, these experiments are simulated in order to obtain the response investigated, which is productivity. A model, for predicting concrete pouring process productivity, was successfully developed and the optimum resources level was also determined