Industrial Project Execution Planning: Modularization versus Stick-Built
Publication: Practice Periodical on Structural Design and Construction
Volume 21, Issue 1
Abstract
High levels of modularization have yet to be generally achieved by the construction industry. To suggest how such levels might be achieved, this study identified needed changes or adaptations in conventional project work processes. It did so by identifying and analyzing differences in how modular projects should be planned and executed. Nineteen research team members and two academic researchers identified, classified, and grouped 107 differences in how modular projects should be planned and executed. Later, three modularization case studies were conducted, and the findings were subsequently validated by an external validation committee. At the topic level, nearly 37% of the planning differences pertained to one of four topics: planning and cost estimating; modularization scoping, layout process, and plot plan; basic design standards, models, and deliverables; or detailed design deliverables. The industry may need to pay attention to these four topics to achieve higher levels of modularization. The scope of this research primarily includes the industrial subsector.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
Akagi, K., Yoshida, M., Murayama, K., and Kawahata, J. (2002). “Modularization technology in power plant construction.” Proc., 10th Int. Conf. on Nuclear Engineering, ASME, Reston, VA, 641–647.
Burke, G. P., and Miller, R. C. (1998). “Modularization speeds construction.” Power Eng., 102(1), 20–23.
Choi, J. O., and O’Connor, J. T. (2014). “Modularization critical success factors accomplishment: Learning from case studies.” Construction Research Congress 2014, ASCE, Reston, VA, 1636–1645.
CII (Construction Industry Institute). (2013). Industrial modularization: Five solution elements, Univ. of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX.
Eastman, C. M., and Sacks, R. (2008). “Relative productivity in the AEC industries in the United States for on-site and off-site activities.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 517–526.
Gotlieb, J., Stringfellow, T., and Rice, R. (2001). “Power plant design taking full advantage of modularization.” Power Eng., 105(6), 31.
Haas, C. T., O’Connor, J. T., Tucker, R. L., Eickmann, J. A., and Fagerlund, W. R. (2000). Prefabrication and preassembly trends and effects on the construction workforce, Center for Construction Industry Studies, Univ. of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX.
Jameson, P. H. (2007). “Is modularization right for your project?” Hydrocarbon Proc., 67–71.
Lu, N. (2009). “The current use of offsite construction techniques in the United States construction industry.” Proc., Construction Research Congress: Building a Sustainable Future, ASCE, Reston, VA, 946–955.
McGraw-Hill Construction. (2011). “Prefabrication and modularization: Increasing productivity in the construction industry.” SmartMarket Report, McGraw-Hill Construction, Bedford, MA.
NRC (National Research Council). (2009). Advancing the competitiveness and efficiency of the U.S. construction industry, National Academies Press, Washington, DC, 122.
O’Connor, J. T., O’Brien, W. J., and Choi, J. O. (2013). Industrial modularization: How to optimize? How to maximize? Construction Industry Institute, Univ. of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX.
O’Connor, J. T., O’Brien, W. J., and Choi, J. O. (2014). “Critical success factors and enablers for optimum and maximum industrial modularization.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 04014012.
Post, N. M. (2010). “Racking up big points for prefab.” Engineering New Record, 265(7), 74–77.
SCS Energy. (2006). “Taking modularization to the next level.” Combined Cycle J., 20–29.
Song, J. (2002). “Design of a tool for scoping of prefabrication, pre-assembly, modularization, and off-site fabrication.” Ph.D. thesis, Univ. of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX.
Song, J., Fagerlund, W. R., Haas, C. T., Tatum, C. B., and Vanegas, J. A. (2005). “Considering prework on industrial projects.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 723–733.
Tam, V. W. Y., Tam, C. M., and Ng, W. C. Y. (2007). “On prefabrication implementation for different project types and procurement methods in Hong Kong.” J. Eng. Des. Tech., 5(1), 68–80.
Tatum, C. B., Vanegas, J. A., and Williams, J. M. (1987). Constructability improvement using prefabrication, preassembly, and modularization, Construction Industry Institute, Univ. of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX.
Wong, S. S. K., Shive, A., and Warren, H. (2011). “Weight management considerations for onshore modularized petrochemical facilities.” Proc., Structures Congress 2011, ASCE, Reston, VA, 2458–2472.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2015 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 22, 2014
Accepted: Jul 27, 2015
Published online: Dec 7, 2015
Published in print: Feb 1, 2016
Discussion open until: May 7, 2016
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.