A project buffer and resource management model in energy sector; a case study in construction of a wind farm project

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to introduce an efficient project buffer and resource management (PBRM) model for project resource leveling and project buffer sizing and controlling of project buffer consumption of a wind power plant project to achieve a more realistic project duration. Design/methodology/approach The methodology of this research consists of three main phases. In the first phase of the research methodology, resource leveling is done in the project and resource conflicts of activities are identified. In the second phase, the project critical chain is determined, and the appropriate size of the project buffer is specified. In the third phase of the methodology, buffer consumption is controlled and monitored during the project implementation. After using the PBRM method, the results of this project were compared with those of the previous projects. Findings According to the obtained results, it can be concluded that using PBRM model in this wind turbine project construction, the project duration became 25 per cent shorter than the scheduled duration and also 29 per cent shorter than average duration of previous similar projects. Research limitations/implications One of the major problems with projects is that they are not completed according to schedule, and this creates time delays and losses in the implementation of projects. Today, as projects in the energy sector, especially renewable projects, are on the increase and also we are facing resource constraint in the implementation of projects, using scheduling techniques to minimize delays and obtain more realistic project duration is necessary. Practical implications This research was carried out in a wind farm project. In spite of the initial plan duration of 142 days and average duration of previous similar projects of 146 days, the project was completed in 113 days. Originality/value This paper introduces a practical project buffer and resource management model for project resource leveling, project buffer sizing and buffer consumption monitoring to reach a more realistic schedule in energy sector. This study adds to the literature by proposing the PBRM model in renewable energy sector.

A Project-Scheduling and Resource Management Heuristic Algorithm in the Construction of Combined Cycle Power Plant Projects

“…Zhao et al [28] proposed a buffer sizing method that considered resource interference in critical chain project management. Zohrehvandi et al [29] introduced an efficient project buffer and resource management (PBRM) model for project resource leveling and project buffer sizing and controlling of project buffer consumption of a wind power plant project to achieve a more realistic project duration. Moreover, Zohrehvandi et al [30] introduced a heuristic algorithm to determine the sizes of project buffer and feeding buffers as well as dynamically control buffer consumption, named Fuzzy Overlapping Buffer Management Algorithm (FOBMA).…”

“…The medium resource constraint of Activity u and the highest level of resource constraint of the activity were calculated according to Equations ( 5) and ( 6), respectively. In Equation ( 5), the number of resources of Activity u is represented by Q. Equations ( 5) to ( 8) were adopted from a study by Zohrehvandi et al (2020).…”

Project buffer sizing and dynamic buffer consumption algorithm in power generation construction

“…Most traditional methods of buffer sizing including root square error method (RSEM), cut and paste method (C&PM), adaptive procedure with resource tightness (APRT) and adaptive procedure with density (APD) do not yield realistic buffer estimations under resource constraints (Vanhoucke, 2016). Another shortcoming of those methods is the lack of control over the consumption of buffers (Zohrehvandi et al , 2020). In this research, buffer consumption is controlled by using a dynamic method.…”

A Multi-objective Dynamic Optimization Approach to Project Schedule Management: A Case Study of a Gas Field Construction

“…The conventional CCPM assumes that the critical chain is fixed throughout the project life cycle. Most of the studies on CCPM have neglected the feeding buffers in determining the project buffer (Zohrehvandi et al, 2021;Zohrehvandi et al, 2020b). However, non-critical chains can be critical chains in real-world projects and cause delay.…”

“…Also, She et al (2020) presented a buffer sizing method taking network decomposition into account. Moreover,Zohrehvandi et al (2020b) introduced a three-step methodology including identifying resource conflicts, determining critical chain and the appropriate size of the project buffer, and finally controlling and monitoring buffer consumption throughout the project implementation. Furthermore,Zohrehvandi et al (2020a) introduced a heuristic buffer sizing and controlling algorithm and implemented it on wind farm construction projects.…”