Computational simulation as a decision-making support tool for prefabricated pillars production

Abstract

Competitive industrialization pressures the construction sector to move activities away from the construction site, contemplating the prefabricated elements use. Companies willing to remain in the competitive market must seek new positions and developments in their production and management chains. To support the managers' decision-making about the prefabricated concrete elements production line, this article presents a computer simulation model for prefabricated pillars production line productivity scenarios creation. The data used for this model development were collected through a case study in the production line of prefabricated pillars. A simulation software modelled the production line with a dashboard that enables multiple-scenario generation. The adopted approach works with stochastic data, allowing nonprogrammer users to: manipulate and control scenarios and layout settings, analyze results through a dashboard and provide management and decision-makers with a comprehensive view of possible solutions.