Using simulation tool to assess the impact of equipment breakdowns on the productivity of earthwork activities: a case study of a construction project on offshore island

Abstract

This study presents the main results of using discrete event simulation, namely EZStrobe, to quantify the impacts of equipment failures on the productivity of earthwork operations. A simulation model including activities during excavation and earthmoving is established and validated. Based on the probabilistic routing feature “Fork” in the EZStrobe simulation program, simulation scenarios of equipment failures are constructed. In which, equipment failure levels with different failure frequencies are evaluated and compared. The numerical example analysis results show different impact rates of equipment failures on productivity and confirm the important role of excavators and bulldozers when they fail. The results also show that severe breakdowns that take a long time to repair, even at low rates, cause significant impacts on productivity. The results of the study help managers clearly see the impact of equipment failures on project efficiency. Therefore, build specific plans to manage and use equipment effectively.