Simulation-based comparison of push- and pull-based planning in panelized construction

Abstract

Offsite construction involves the prefabrication of construction components in a factory environment, followed by transportation to the construction site for assembly. In planning the sequences for construction tasks, a push approach can maximize the offsite manufacturing capacity, while a pull approach can achieve just-in-time delivery. Both approaches need to consider the logical constraints and resources of offsite construction processes. This complexity fuels a debate of the effectiveness of push- and pull-based planning, highlighting the necessity to study the impacts of these approaches on planning. This study utilizes Discrete-Event Simulation (DES) and Agent-Based Modeling (ABM) approaches to compare planning outcomes for offsite construction. The results demonstrate that the pull-based planning approach resulted in an overall 12.6% reduction in project completion time and an 80.3% reduction in product waiting time, demonstrating pull-based planning as a more efficient solution for offsite construction planning.