A fuzzy project buffer management algorithm: a case study in the construction of a renewable project

Abstract

One of the major problems with projects is that they are not completed according to schedule. Uncertainty always exists at the heart of real-world project scheduling problems. This paper introduces a fuzzy project buffer management (FPBM) algorithm which is a combination of the adaptive procedure with resource tightness (APRT) and fuzzy failure mode and effects analysis (FFMEA) methods. This paper aims to present an efficient model for project buffer sizing by taking FFMEA into account to reach a more realistic schedule. In this research, for increasing the efficiency of the APRT method, the FFMEA technique is simultaneously applied with them. This research was carried out as a case study in a renewable energy (RE) project. The methodology of this research consists of two phases. The first phase is the implementation of the APRT buffer sizing method. In the second phase of the research methodology, the fuzzy FMEA method is implemented. To validate the proposed model, the results are compared to several buffer management models proposed recently. Also, the results were compared with the results of similar projects. The findings show that considering the fuzzy FMEA technique in the APRT method, a more realistic schedule was obtained in this project.

Keywords:

• Critical Chain Project Management method
• fuzzy project buffer management
• project scheduling
• renewable energy project
• project buffer sizing
• adaptive procedure with resource tightness
• fuzzy failure mode and effects analysis

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.