Deciphering the Key Characteristics of On-Site Industrialized Construction: Inspiration from China
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 150, Issue 4
Abstract
Industrialized construction (IC) has been adopted worldwide for its potential benefits, and prefabricated construction (PC) has traditionally been considered the primary method for promoting and implementing IC. However, IC is not equivalent to PC, especially in the field of concrete buildings. Certain major Chinese companies have amassed valuable experience in on-site industrialized construction (OIC), providing new inspiration and direction for the implementation of IC. Nevertheless, OIC-related research has received very limited attention. Therefore, to deeply explore and decipher the key characteristics of OIC, this study adopts a case study method to review and analyze the OIC systems developed by four large construction and real estate companies in China. After analyzing findings from four cases, the eight key characteristics of OIC were identified: temporary factory, prefabrication, integration, standardization, modularization, mechanization, digitization and intelligence, and interspersed construction. Subsequently, compared with PC, in-depth analysis and discussion were conducted on each characteristic of OIC. Additionally, the study explored the relationship between IC, PC, OIC, and traditional cast-in-situ construction (TCC), incorporating both PC and OIC into the framework of IC. The main contribution is that the key characteristics of OIC reflect a series of strategies for achieving industrialization on construction sites, and thereby aid decision-makers in balancing the “prefabrication and cast-in-situ” or “off-site and on-site” trade-off. Furthermore, these findings enhance the understanding of OIC within both the industry and academia, enrich the theoretical knowledge body of IC, and provide valuable insights and alternative paths for countries and regions to implement IC.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
The work described in this paper was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 72371050 and 72071027), the Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (No. ZR2021QG046), the Outstanding Youth Innovation Team Foundation of Shandong Province in China (No. 2022RW036), and the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (No. 2022M712047).
References
Anuar Mohamad Kamar, K., Z. Abd Hamid, A. Mna, K. Anuar Mohd Kamar, M. Nor Azhari Azman, and M. S. Sanusi Ahamad. 2011. “Industrialized building system (IBS): Revisiting issues of definition and classification.” Int. J. Emerging Sci. 1 (2): 120–132.
Blismas, N., and R. Wakefield. 2009. “Drivers, constraints and the future of offsite manufacture in Australia.” Constr. Innovation 9 (1): 72–83. https://doi.org/10.1108/14714170910931552.
Cai, J., Z. Li, Y. Dou, and T. Li. 2023. “Investigating adoption of high prefabrication level technologies for enterprises: An integrated model.” Build. Res. Inf. 51 (6): 648–666. https://doi.org/10.1080/09613218.2023.2187748.
Cao, X., X. Li, Y. Zhu, and Z. Zhang. 2015. “A comparative study of environmental performance between prefabricated and traditional residential buildings in China.” J. Cleaner Prod. 109 (Dec): 131–143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.04.120.
Cepeda, G., and D. Martin. 2005. “A review of case studies publishing in management decision 2003-2004. Guides and criteria for achieving quality in qualitative research.” Manage. Decis. 43 (6): 851–876. https://doi.org/10.1108/00251740510603600.
Costa, S., M. S. Carvalho, C. Pimentel, and C. Duarte. 2023. “A systematic literature review and conceptual framework of construction industrialization.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 149 (2): 03122013. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0002410.
Dou, Y., X. Xue, H. X. Li, X. Luo, and Z. Li. 2022. “Development strategy optimization for off-site construction projects: Synergy of the government and developers.” J. Manage. Eng. 38 (3): 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0001023.
Flyvbjerg, B. 2006. “Five misunderstandings about case-study research.” Qual. Inq. 12 (2): 219–245. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077800405284363.
Gann, D. M. 1996. “Construction as a manufacturing process? Similarities and differences between industrialized housing and car production in Japan.” Construct. Manage. Econ. 14 (5): 437–450. https://doi.org/10.1080/014461996373304.
Ghangus, S. 2018. “A comparative study of aluminum form work (MIVAN Shuttering) with other conventional form work.” Int. J. Res. Appl Sci Eng. Technol. 6: 90–93. https://doi.org/10.22214/ijraset.2018.6018.
Gibb, A. G. F. 2001. “Standardization and pre-assembly- distinguishing myth from reality using case study research.” Construct. Manage. Econ. 19 (3): 307–315. https://doi.org/10.1080/01446190010020435.
Gioia, D. A., K. G. Corley, and A. L. Hamilton. 2013. “Seeking qualitative rigor in inductive research: Notes on the Gioia methodology.” Organ. Res. Methods 16 (1): 15–31. https://doi.org/10.1177/1094428112452151.
Goodier, C., and A. Gibb. 2007. “Future opportunities for offsite in the UK.” Construct. Manage. Econ. 25 (6): 585–595. https://doi.org/10.1080/01446190601071821.
Heravi, G., M. F. Kebria, and M. Rostami. 2021. “Integrating the production and the erection processes of pre-fabricated steel frames in building projects using phased lean management.” Eng. Constr. Archit. Manage. 28 (1): 174–195. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-03-2019-0133.
Hosseini, M. R., I. Martek, E. K. Zavadskas, A. A. Aibinu, M. Arashpour, and N. Chileshe. 2018. “Critical evaluation of off-site construction research: A scientometric analysis.” Autom. Constr. 87 (Jul): 235–247. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2017.12.002.
Hsu, P. Y., P. Angeloudis, and M. Aurisicchio. 2018. “Optimal logistics planning for modular construction using two-stage stochastic programming.” Autom. Constr. 94 (Sep): 47–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2018.05.029.
Hu, X., H. Y. Chong, and X. Wang. 2019. “Sustainability perceptions of off-site manufacturing stakeholders in Australia” J. Cleaner Prod. 227 (Aug): 346–354. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.03.258.
Hussein, M., and T. Zayed. 2021. “Critical factors for successful implementation of just-in-time concept in modular integrated construction: A systematic review and meta-analysis.” J. Cleaner Prod. 284 (Feb): 124716. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.124716.
Hwang, B. G., M. Shan, and K. Y. Looi. 2018. “Knowledge-based decision support system for prefabricated prefinished volumetric construction.” Autom. Constr. 94 (Dec): 168–178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2018.06.016.
Ikeda, Y., and T. Harada. 2006. “Application of the automated building construction system using the conventional construction method together.” In Proc., 23rd Int. Symp. on Automation and Robotics in Construction, 722–727. Tokyo: Japan Robot Association. https://doi.org/10.22260/isarc2006/0134.
Jaafari, A. 1997. “Concurrent construction and life cycle.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 123 (Dec): 427–436. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(1997)123:4(427).
Jaillon, L., and C. S. Poon. 2009. “The evolution of prefabricated residential building systems in Hong Kong: A review of the public and the private sector.” Autom. Constr. 18 (3): 239–248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2008.09.002.
Jonsson, H., and M. Rudberg. 2015. “Production system classification matrix: Matching product standardization and production-system design.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 141 (6): 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000965.
Kamali, M., K. Hewage, and A. S. Milani. 2018. “Life cycle sustainability performance assessment framework for residential modular buildings: Aggregated sustainability indices.” Build. Environ. 138 (Mar): 21–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2018.04.019.
Kim, D. W., S. H. An, H. Cho, J. W. Jeong, B. H. Lee, N. L. Doh, and K. I. Kang. 2009. “Development of conceptual model of construction factory for automated construction.” Build. Environ. 44 (8): 1634–1642. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2008.10.009.
Larsson, J., P. E. Eriksson, T. Olofsson, and P. Simonsson. 2014. “Industrialized construction in the Swedish infrastructure sector: Core elements and barriers.” Construct. Manage. Econ. 32 (1–2): 83–96. https://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2013.833666.
Li, D., X. Li, H. Feng, Y. Wang, and S. Fan. 2022a. “ISM-based relationship among critical factors that affect the choice of prefabricated concrete buildings in China.” Int. J. Construct. Manage. 22 (6): 977–992. https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2019.1675306.
Li, L., Z. Li, X. Li, S. Zhang, and X. Luo. 2020. “A new framework of industrialized construction in China: Towards on-site industrialization.” J. Cleaner Prod. 244 (Jan): 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.118469.
Li, L., Z. Li, G. Wu, and X. Li. 2018. “Critical success factors for project planning and control in prefabrication housing production: A China study.” Sustainability 10 (3): 836. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10030836.
Li, L., H. Luan, X. Yin, Y. Dou, M. Yuan, and Z. Li. 2022b. “Understanding sustainability in off-site construction management: State of the art and future directions.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 148 (11): 03122008. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0002396.
Li, Y., and C. Guan. 2013. “Innovation on commercial concrete floor slab construction technology.” Appl. Mech. Mater. 353 (Oct): 2836–2839. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.353-356.2836.
Liu, C., F. Zhang, and H. Zhang. 2020a. “Comparative analysis of off-site precast concrete and cast-in-place concrete in low-carbon built environment.” Fresenius Environ. Bull. 29 (3): 1804–1812.
Liu, Y., J. Dong, and L. Shen. 2020b. “A conceptual development framework for prefabricated construction supply chain management: An integrated overview.” Sustainability 12 (6): 1878. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12051878.
Lu, W., K. Chen, F. Xue, and W. Pan. 2018. “Searching for an optimal level of prefabrication in construction: An analytical framework.” J. Cleaner Prod. 201 (Nov): 236–245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.07.319.
Luo, L., X. Jin, G. Q. Shen, Y. Wang, X. Liang, X. Li, and C. Z. Li. 2020. “Supply chain management for prefabricated building projects in Hong Kong.” J. Manage. Eng. 36 (2): 05020001. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000739.
Ma, S., Z. Li, L. Li, M. Yuan, and X. Yin. 2023. “Exploring the effect of stakeholder relationship quality on technological innovation in off-site construction: The mediating role of the knowledge sharing.” J. Civ. Eng. Manage. 29 (1): 77–92. https://doi.org/10.3846/jcem.2022.17870.
Matsumura, S., and Z. Wu. 2020. “The change of prefabricated building system and technological evolution of Japanese housing production.” Archit. J. 619 (5): 6–11. https://doi.org/10.19819/j.cnki.ISSN0529-1399.202005002.
Melenbrink, N., J. Werfel, and A. Menges. 2020. “On-site autonomous construction robots: Towards unsupervised building.” Autom. Constr. 119 (May): 103312. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2020.103312.
Nadim, W., and J. S. Goulding. 2011. “Offsite production: A model for building down barriers A European construction industry perspective.” Eng. Constr. Archit. Manage. 18 (1): 82–101. https://doi.org/10.1108/09699981111098702.
Navaratnam, S. 2022. “Selecting a suitable sustainable construction method for australian high-rise building: A multi-criteria analysis.” Sustainability 14 (12): 7435. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14127435.
Oti-Sarpong, K., R. S. Shojaei, Z. Dakhli, G. Burgess, and M. Zaki. 2022. “How countries achieve greater use of offsite manufacturing to build new housing: Identifying typologies through institutional theory.” Sustain. Cities Soc. 76 (Sep): 103403. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2021.103403.
Pan, W., A. F. Gibb, and A. R. J. Dainty. 2007. “Perspective of UK housebuilders on the use of offsite modern methods of construction.” Construct. Manage. Econ. 25 (2): 183–194. https://doi.org/10.1080/01446190600827058.
Pan, W., A. G. F. Gibb, and A. R. J. Dainty. 2012. “Strategies for integrating the use of off-site production technologies in house building.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 138 (11): 1331–1340. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000544.
Pan, W., Y. Yang, and M. Pan. 2022. “Implementing modular integrated construction in high-rise high-density cities: Perspectives in Hong Kong.” Build. Res. Inf. 51 (3): 354–368. https://doi.org/10.1080/09613218.2022.2113024.
Peltokorpi, A., H. Olivieri, A. D. Granja, and O. Seppänen. 2018. “Categorizing modularization strategies to achieve various objectives of building investments.” Construct. Manage. Econ. 36 (1): 32–48. https://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2017.1353119.
Rahman, M. M. 2014. “Barriers of implementing modern methods of construction.” J. Manage. Eng. 30 (1): 69–77. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000173.
Richard, R. B. 2005. “Industrialised building systems: Reproduction before automation and robotics.” Autom. Constr. 14 (4): 442–451. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2004.09.009.
Song, J., W. R. Fagerlund, C. T. Haas, C. B. Tatum, and J. A. Vanegas. 2005. “Considering prework on industrial projects.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 131 (6): 723–733. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(2005)131:6(723).
Taylor, J. E., C. S. Dossick, and M. Garvin. 2011. “Meeting the burden of proof with case-study research.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 137 (4): 303–311. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000283.
Thomas, B., and L. Silke. 2014. “Changing building sites: Industrialisation and automation of the building process.” Archit. Des. 84 (3): 88–99. https://doi.org/10.1002/ad.1762.
Thuesen, C., and L. Hvam. 2011. “Efficient on-site construction: Learning points from a German platform for housing.” Constr. Innov. 11 (3): 338–355. https://doi.org/10.1108/14714171111149043.
Wakisaka, T., N. Furuya, Y. Inoue, and T. Shiokawa. 2000. “Automated construction system for high-rise reinforced concrete buildings.” Autom. Constr. 9 (3): 229–250. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0926-5805(99)00039-4.
Wang, J., J. Zhao, and Z. Hu. 2016. “Review and thinking on development of building industrialization in China.” China Civ. Eng. J. 49 (5): 1–8. https://doi.org/10.15951/j.tmgcxb.2016.05.001.
Wang, T., S. Gao, X. Li, and X. Ning. 2018. “A meta-network-based risk evaluation and control method for industrialized building construction projects.” J. Cleaner Prod. 205 (Dec): 552–564. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.09.127.
Woodhead, R., P. Stephenson, and D. Morrey. 2018. “Digital construction: From point solutions to IoT ecosystem.” Autom. Constr. 93 (Mar): 35–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2018.05.004.
Wuni, I. Y., G. Q. Shen, and R. Osei-Kyei. 2022. “Quantitative evaluation and ranking of the critical success factors for modular integrated construction projects.” Int. J. Construct. Manage. 22 (11): 2108–2120. https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2020.1766190.
Wuni, I. Y., Z. Wu, and G. Q. Shen. 2021. “Exploring the challenges of implementing design for excellence in industrialized construction projects in China.” Build. Res. Inf. 51 (3): 301–315. https://doi.org/10.1080/09613218.2021.1961574.
Yamazaki, Y., and J. Maeda. 1998. “The SMART system: An integrated application of automation and information technology in production process.” Comput. Ind. 35 (1): 87–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0166-3615(97)00086-9.
Yin, R. K. 2014. Case study research: Design and methods (fifth edition). Los Angeles: SAGE.
Yuan, M., Z. Li, X. Li, L. Li, S. Zhang, and X. Luo. 2022. “How to promote the sustainable development of prefabricated residential buildings in China: A tripartite evolutionary game analysis.” J. Cleaner Prod. 349 (Mar): 131423. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.131423.
Zabihi, H., F. Habib, and L. Mirsaeedie. 2013. “Definitions, concepts and new directions in industrialized building systems (IBS).” KSCE J. Civ. Eng. 17 (6): 1199–1205. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-013-0020-y.
Zhang, S., Z. Li, S. Ma, L. Li, and M. Yuan. 2022. “Critical factors influencing interface management of prefabricated building projects: Evidence from China.” Sustainability 14 (9): 5418. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095418.
Zhang, X., and M. Skitmore. 2012. “Industrialized housing in China: A coin with two sides.” Int. J. Strategic Property Manage. 16 (2): 143–157. https://doi.org/10.3846/1648715X.2011.638945.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 150 • Issue 4 • April 2024
Copyright
© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 15, 2023
Accepted: Nov 27, 2023
Published online: Feb 10, 2024
Published in print: Apr 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Jul 10, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Case studies
- Concrete
- Concrete construction
- Concrete structures
- Construction (by type)
- Construction engineering
- Construction industry
- Construction management
- Construction methods
- Construction sites
- Engineering fundamentals
- Engineering materials (by type)
- Materials engineering
- Methodology (by type)
- Offsite construction
- Research methods (by type)
- Structural engineering
- Structures (by type)
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.