Scheduling Repetitive Construction Processes Using the Learning-Forgetting Theory

Abstract

One of the main factors having a decisive impact on the completion date of a construction project and its total cost is the duration of individual processes. Projects such as the construction of multi-storey residential and public buildings, line facilities, highways, networks of external installations or pipelines are conducted with time-location methods of work organization. It is possible to notice the cyclical nature of building processes in projects, whose characteristic parameter is length or height. In such cases, works are entrusted to specialized organizational units (crews, teams) that conduct repeated operations on identical or similar sections, called units. With each repetition of the operations, workers acquire more and more practical experience which has a positive effect on their work efficiency and leads to a reduction in the time and cost of a construction project. The learning theory bring on a mathematical description of the interdependence between the repetitions number of the same task and work efficiency. Taking into account the learning effect allows for a more accurate estimation of the individual construction processes duration, which may provide an advantage at the stage of submitting bids in tenders. The aim of research is to prepare the implementation plan of repetitive construction processes conducted in a multi-storey residential building. The schedule will take into account the impact of the learning and forgetting effect for the duration of construction works and the interruptions in crews work on the example of finishing works. Due to the lack of commercial software for preparing construction schedules taking into account the learning and forgetting impact, a spreadsheet was developed in MS Excel to set the start and end dates and time buffers of construction processes.