Sanyuan Niu
Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong

Yi Yang
Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong

Wei Pan
Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong

ABSTRACT
Logistics planning is a critical part of developing supply chain for modular integrated construction (MiC) projects in Hong Kong where high-rise, high density and hilly landscape is the norm. It is important to minimize the total logistics and to guarantee timely delivery of modules, especially for several MiC projects being constructed during the same period. Nevertheless, there is a significant lack of studies on logistics planning, optimization and visualization for MiC projects. The aim of this paper is to establish an integrated MiC logistics planning and visualization platform, which is grounded on the integration of building information modeling (BIM), geographical information system (GIS) and vehicle routing problem (VRP) algorithm. The framework is then presented and evaluated using a case study to identify optimal logistics scenario of trailer routes to meet the installation time window of MiC projects in Hong Kong. The paper finds that the proposed platform has the ability to make optimized logistics scenario for MiC projects, and to visualize the logistics scenario in a 3-dimentional interactive environment. Future study will focus on adopting flexible control strategies and including more decision-making criteria of logistics planning in MiC projects such as road width limitation, travel speed and different module types

https://doi.org/10.29173/mocs141

Djordje Popovic
Department of Industrial Product development, Production and Design, Jönköping University

Shamnath Thajudeen
Department of Industrial Product development, Production and Design, Jönköping University

Alexander Vestin
Department of Industrial Product development, Production and Design, Jönköping University

ABSTRACT
Swedish house building companies currently face many challenges in terms of fluctuating market demand, need for flexible product offering, non-uniform governmental regulations, high costs, and long lead times. These challenges affect both internal and external efficiency of companies. Product platforms have been used for more than a decade in this industry to improve both internal and external efficiency. However, the industry is still criticized for its inefficient and costly process. Smart manufacturing has emerged as means to improve the efficiency of internal processes and the question is if and how smart manufacturing can complement and support product platforms in industrialized house building. The aim of this study is to explore the potential of smart manufacturing to complement and support product platforms in theory and practice in the context of industrialized house building. A literature review and a multiple case study were chosen to fulfill the study objective. In total fourteen semi-structured interviews were conducted in two timber house building companies. The data was analyzed within and across cases using four platform assets for categorization: components, processes, knowledge and relationships. The results show that the smart manufacturing technologies are in both theory and practice mainly supporting the process platform asset through developing vertical and horizontal IT systems integration, definition and digitalization of flexible building systems, and transferring explicit drafting and engineering knowledge into parametric modelling tools.

https://doi.org/10.29173/mocs105