Collaborative scheduling of on-site and off-site operations in prefabrication

As a kind of sustainable technology, prefabricated construction has increasingly gained momentum internationally due to its numerous benefits that include, but are not limited to, safe construction, waste minimization, quality improvement, and productivity enhancement. However, productivity in this domain is reliant on the efficiency of both on-site and off-site operations. On this basis, focusing on collaborative scheduling mechanisms, the current paper develops a static scheduling model and a dynamic scheduling model in prefabricated construction, and uses a simulated annealing algorithm (SA) to settle the optimization of operation planning considering delays by risks. The developed models are validated using data from a construction project with multiple suppliers of prefabricated elements. This study contributes to the body of knowledge in prefabricated construction management by streamlining collaborative scheduling in prefabrication. The established models provide construction managers with decision support systems with the aims of minimizing delays and related cost overruns.