@inproceedings{Gonzalez2009_640,
  author = {Gonzalez, Vicente and Alarcon, Luis Fernando},
  editor = {Cuperus, Ype and Hirota, Ercilia Hitomi},
  title = {A Methodology for Integrated Buffer Design and Management in Repetitive Construction Projects},
  booktitle = {17th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction},
  year = {2009},
  pages = {393--406},
  address = {Taipei, Taiwan},
  url = {https://www.iglc.net/papers/details/640},
  abstract = {One important challenge of production systems in both manufacturing and construction is the management of the harmful impacts of variability. While both industries have commonly used buffer-based production strategies to deal with the variability issue, construction is characterized for using intuitive, non-general and wasteful buffering strategies. For overcoming these limitations, this paper describes a conceptual approximation for an integrated buffer (Bf) design and management methodology using Work-In-Process (WIP) in repetitive building projects. The Bf design component uses the Multiobjective-Analytic-Model (MAM) and Simulation-Optimization (SO) modeling, while the Bf management component uses the Rational-Commitment-Model (RCM), an operational decision support tool based on statistical analysis. Each individual component has been previously tested and validated in different case projects. This integrated methodology provides a comprehensive approach to deal with variability using WIP Bf, which explicitly considers: (i) a general production framework which covers the production levels from top to bottom; (ii) a general modeling framework which is suitable to any repetitive building project; and (iii) a sound theoretical framework for describing different production scenarios in repetitive building projects. The main characteristics, advantages, perspectives and limitations of the integrated methodology are addressed in the paper.},
  keywords = {Buffer design and management, work-in-process, multiobjective analytic models, simulation-optimization, rational commitment model, repetitive construction projects.},
}