Pre-Engi neered Buildi ng Proc ess Updated Ab st rac t: Steel construction is considered as a process that involves many related activities. Pre- engineered buildings (PEB) steel parts are required to be installed in a specific order due to structural safety requirements and to the logical sequence of erection. However, shipping, transportation, unloading and on-site storage does not take into account the erection order of the assembly. As a result, considerable time is consumed locating, sorting, and identifying steel components. Integrating promising information technologies such as radio frequency identification (RFID), mobile computing devices and wireless technology can be useful in improving the effectiveness and convenience of information flow in construction projects. Pre-engineered buildings require repetitive operations and assembly of many structural elements. Current information and communication technology may be incorporated in the operational process for efficient assembly at the job site. An information flow diagram for Pre-Engineered process from shipping the steel materials till erection on the construction site is developed. Then, a proposed improved steel process is modeled and presented. KEYWORDS: Pre-Engineered Building, RFID, Structural Steel, Wireless technologies 1. Introduction During the construction phase of a project it is essential that the information flow is smooth and continuous throughout the process. The construction industry is dynamic by nature and requires that all parties are informed of activities that can ultimately affect the cost, schedule or quality. The paper-based jobsite documentation process is ineffective as it is unable to deliver the information on time (De la Garza et al. 1998). At the same time, it can’t get quick response within the construction and from the office to the construction site and vice versa. As a result, a gap in time and space between the job site and off ice causes d elay of data and in formation. Wireless tech nologies h ave the potential to solve this communication problem, increase collaboration, and provide new capabilities through evolving technologies. The basic premise of wireless construction is to network previously stand alone islands of communication on a construction site to allow for the network between different parties involved in the construction project (Nuntasunti et al. 2006). Pre-engineered buildings (PEB) steel parts are required to be installed in a specific order due to structural safety requirements and to the logical sequence of erection. Key materials brought in during each phase of the steel construction process are briefly
