Simulation-based Approach to Systematic Project Planning and Scheduling at a Bridge Girder Fabrication Shop

This paper addresses a practical planning problem in bridge steel girder fabrication in an attempt to illuminate why the identified problem does not lend it well to existing solutions for construction planning. A simulation-based approach is presented for project scheduling and production planning at a structural steel fabrication shop. The shop simultaneously produces girders for various clients in construction of multiple bridges. Particular emphasis is placed on how to interpret and represent simulation outputs in terms of customized schedules of various details so as to cater to the needs of different stakeholders involved at multiple management levels. The applicability of the proposed approach is demonstrated with a case study based on real-world settings.