Supplier-contractor coordination approach to managing demand fluctuations of ready-mix concrete

Although advancements have been made in the management of projects due to the digitalization and automation technologies, the efficient use of digital data is still lacking for the coordination of the supply chain. This paper presents an approach that allows data-driven and schedule-oriented supply...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Automation in construction 2021-01, Vol.121, p.103423, Article 103423
Main Authors: Chen, Qian, García de Soto, Borja, Adey, Bryan T.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
BIM
Concrete construction
Construction supply chain
Contractors
Coordination
Covariance matrix adaptation evolution strategy (CMA-ES)
Demand
Digital data
Digitization
Evolutionary algorithms
Integration
Perishable materials
Project management
Ready mixed concrete
Ready-mix concrete
Schedules
Supply chains
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Summary:Although advancements have been made in the management of projects due to the digitalization and automation technologies, the efficient use of digital data is still lacking for the coordination of the supply chain. This paper presents an approach that allows data-driven and schedule-oriented supply chain coordination in the face of demand fluctuations. The approach consists of two main steps that contractors should take: 1) monitor the demand fluctuations based on a 4D model that captures the as-built status and updated look-ahead schedules, 2) make decisions to modify original orders to accommodate the demand fluctuations where orders are determined by a heuristic evolutionary algorithm. As a proof of concept, the coordination approach is demonstrated using an example project featuring a five-day in-situ construction of concrete walls. Results from this example show that using the approach improves the responsiveness of concrete planning and ordering. As a result, this leads to improved collaboration between suppliers and contractors in construction projects. [Display omitted] •The coordination approach is developed to allow the lean management of material flows.•The approach explores a model-based and data-driven decision-making process.•The approach allows stakeholders to address the material demand fluctuations jointly.•The look-ahead schedules are used for the near-term scheduling of ready-mix concrete.•The CMA-ES heuristic process is used to provide optimal solutions to re-planned material orders.
ISSN:0926-5805
1872-7891
DOI:10.1016/j.autcon.2020.103423