Optimal crew design for masonry construction projects considering contractors' requirements and workers' needs

Masonry construction is labor intensive. Its operations involve little to no mechanization and require a large number of crews made up of workers with diverse skills. Relationships among crews are tight and very dependent. Often tasks have to be completed concurrently, and crews have to share resources and workspace to complete their work. One of the problems masonry contractors face is the need to design crews, that is, determine the number of crews and the composition of each crew to be used effectively in the construction process to maximize workflow. This study proposes a mixed integer optimization model to assist contractors in the allocation of crews in masonry projects. To address realistic scenarios experienced by the contractors on masonry construction jobsites, the model incorporates the rules that contractors use for crew design and makeup, as well as time constraints. In addition, the model considers workers' needs, such as labor stability. The proposed model can be a valuable tool to assist masonry stakeholders in the process of allocating crews while meeting contractor's requirements and workers' needs.