Addressing Waste During the Design Phase: A Matrix Model for the Interactions Between Robotic Systems and Lean Principles

Abstract

This paper aims to provide a visual model with design parameters that are specific to manufacturing to reduce waste in the design stage of a construction project. More construction companies are interested in reducing waste and increasing efficiency. However, one of the main barriers that prevent the construction industry from adopting more technological solutions for its projects is not being clear about the direct benefits that would be obtained. This paper proposes using design parameters applied in a user-friendly visual model to choose the benefit to obtain for designing a construction project. These benefits are displayed as key performance indicator (KPI) options for the construction project. An analysis was carried out in a matrix to obtain the most relevant design parameters for a robotic cell in offsite construction from a manufacturing (not architectural or visual/aesthetic) point of view. Additionally, the visual model is designed using a data visualization structure. The limit of the investigation involves not having the visual tool validated in a case of a real construction company. Additionally, the visual tool is only a guide that is not quantified.