Evaluation of Existing Layout Improvement and Creation Algorithms for Use in the Offsite Construction Industry

Abstract

Construction is traditionally depicted as a labor-intensive industry which involves considerable inefficiency inherent to the common practices. Offsite construction offers a change to the current stigma, in which most of the work is transferred to a facility with a controlled environment and later transported to its destination, considerably reducing the amount of movement required by people and materials. Proper planning for such a facility is crucial for the success of offsite construction operations, since the effectiveness of such a space will determine the efficiency of the process and the quality of the final product. Several methods exist for layout creation and improvement in the manufacturing industry; however, there are advantages and disadvantages to using the different methods in an offsite construction facility. A review of the literature is conducted to summarize commonly used methods and respective considerations of each. The identified methods are then applied to an existing case study plant to create the optimized layout for each. The resulting layouts are then compared and evaluated based on the ease of transporting modules and components within the facility, and the estimated waste reduction and productivity increase. This evaluation will identify the usefulness of each method and identify common issues related to facility layouts that should be taken into consideration in future layout planning for offsite construction facilities.