Multiple project resource scheduling for *construction.

Abstract

Multiple project resource scheduling in construction focuses on the problem of subcontractors who have multiple concurrent projects and limited flexibility in resource management. We provide a complete description of the problem never provided in the literature, develop a better algorithm that can be used for dynamic problems with multiple objectives, and propose management strategies that result in effective resource planning and utilization in practical situations. The complete description of the problem explains the problem of resource planning in the different timeframes and the connections of resource scheduling to other decision problems. We describe and compare the dedicated resource strategy currently used by most practitioners and the resource sharing strategy proposed by this research. The superiority of the resource sharing strategy is illustrated through examples. An Algorithm for Multiple Project Resource Sharing Strategy (AMPReSS) has also been developed. AMPReSS is a heuristic algorithm based on resource sharing at the project group level that employs priority rules to decide the appropriate allocation of resources and thus the resource rate, duration, and start time for each activity. AMPReSS combines resource leveling and limited resource allocation resulting in a resource profile that is both smooth and not exceeding resource availability. AMPReSS also logically sustains the growth of a company, a part of the problem that is ignored by existing algorithms and it is also applicable for dynamic problems where the situation can be continuously changing. We investigate management strategies involved in effective multiple project resource scheduling and the usability of the recommended strategies and AMPReSS. The issues addressed include resource shareability, organization structure, core resource level, negotiable start and finish dates, and strategic buffering.