Integrating fmGA and CYCLONE to optimize the schedule of dispatching RMC trucks

Abstract

Along with the development of the supply chain for the construction industry, as one of the key operations within the supply chain, an efficient RMC (Ready Mixed Concrete) delivering process becomes important to both of the RMC batch plant and the construction sites. However, it is almost infeasible for the RMC batch plant manger to quickly develop an efficient and balanced schedule of dispatching RMC trucks when various construction sites call for delivering in the same short period of time. Several studies have shown that an efficient dispatching schedule could improve the productivity for both of the batch plant and the construction sites. However, the results from those studies are not efficient enough for practical use. Therefore, it is necessary to build a more efficient model that optimizes the schedule of dispatching RMC trucks. This paper first analyzes RMC delivering process and then develops a systematic model based on several supply chain management (SCM) concepts. In addition, the fast messy genetic algorithms (fmGA) and the CYCLONE simulation technique are incorporated to find the optimal dispatching schedule which minimizes the total waiting duration of RMC trucks at construction sites without breaking off the operations of casting concrete. A user-friendly computer program is also built to help the batch plant manager streamline the dispatching process. Results show that this new systematic approach along with the implemented computer program can quickly generate efficient and balanced schedules of dispatching RMC trucks.