Search Results (47)

Construction costs have increased significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic due to supply chain disruption, labour shortages, and construction material price hikes. The market is increasingly demanding innovative construction methods that can save construction costs, reduce construction time, and minimise waste and carbon emission. The prefabrication system has been used for years in industrial construction, resulting in better performance in regard to structure stability, the control of wastage, and the optimisation of construction time and cost. In addition, prefabrication has had a positive contribution on resource utilisation in the construction industry. There are various types of prefabricated wall systems. However, the majority of comparative studies have focused on comparing each prefabrication wall system against the conventional construction system, while limited research has been conducted to compare different prefabrication structures. This study examined four prominent prefabricated wall systems, i.e., precast walls, tilt-up walls, prefabricated steel-frame walls, and on-site-cut steel-frame walls, to determine which one is more suitable for the construction of industrial buildings to minimise cost, time delay, and labourer utilisation on construction sites, as well as to enhance structure durability, construction efficiency, and sustainability. One primary case project and five additional projects were included in this study. For the primary case project, data were collected and analysed; for example, a subcontractor cost comparison for supply and installation was conducted, and shop drawings, construction procedures, timelines, and site photos were collected. For the additional five projects, the overall cost data were compared. The main research finding of this study is that factory-made precast walls and tilt-up wall panels require similar construction time. However, on average, tilt-up prefabrication construction can reduce the cost by around 23.55%. It was also found that prefabricated frame walls provide cost and time savings of around 39% and 10.5%, respectively. These findings can provide architects, developers, builders, suppliers, regulators, and other stakeholders with a comprehensive insight into selecting a method of wall construction that can achieve greater efficiency, cost savings, and environmental sustainability in the construction of industrial and commercial buildings. Full article

As key nodes in the energy transmission network, oil and gas pipeline stations are crucial in ensuring national energy security and stable economic development. The traditional construction mode of “on-site prefabrication and installation” has problems, such as low efficiency, high cost, and large quality fluctuations, which make it difficult to meet current construction needs. Factory prefabrication technology for pipelines has become a key path to solving industry pain points. This article focuses on the factory prefabrication technology of oil and gas station pipelines. By integrating key technologies, such as 3D modeling, automated welding, modular transportation, and intelligent detection, the visualization and digitization of station pipeline design are achieved, providing a basis for prefabrication and processing. They also improve welding quality and efficiency through automated welding technology and non-destructive testing technology. Through research on the planning and construction of prefabrication factories, construction organization and quality management, supply chain management, and information technology applications, real-time monitoring and information management of the construction process have been achieved. Case analysis shows that factory prefabrication can achieve a prefabrication rate of 70% for DN50–DN600 pipelines in the station, 80% for automated welding seams, a total construction period reduction of about 30%, a one-time welding qualification rate of over 96%, and a significant cost reduction, reflecting the significant advantages of factory prefabrication in terms of construction period, quality, and cost. Further research has clarified that factory prefabrication technology can effectively improve the efficiency, quality, and economic benefits of pipeline construction in oil and gas stations, promote the transformation of construction towards a high-efficiency, low-carbon, and sustainable direction, and provide support for the strategic goal of “One National Network”. Full article

Modular integrated construction (MiC) is a cutting-edge approach to construction that significantly improves efficiency and reduces project timelines by prefabricating entire building modules off-site. Despite the operational benefits of MiC, the carbon footprint of its extensive supply chain remains understudied. This study develops a hybrid approach that combines multi-agent simulation (MAS) with deep learning to provide scenario-based estimations of CO₂ emissions, costs, and schedule performance for MiC supply chain. First, we build an MAS model of the MiC supply chain in AnyLogic, representing suppliers, the prefabrication plant, road transport fleets, and the destination site as autonomous agents. Each agent incorporates activity data and emission factors specific to the process. This enables us to translate each movement, including prefabricated components of construction deliveries, module transfers, and module assembly, into kilograms of CO₂ equivalent. We generate 23,000 scenarios for vehicle allocations using the multi-agent model and estimate three key performance indicators (KPIs): cumulative carbon footprint, logistics cost, and project completion time. Then, we train artificial neural network and statistical regression machine learning algorithms to captures the non-linear interactions between fleet allocation decisions and project outcomes. Once trained, the models are used to determine optimal fleet allocation strategies that minimize the carbon footprint, the completion time, and the total cost. The approach can be readily adapted to different MiC configurations and can be extended to include supply chain, production, and assembly disruptions. Full article

In the face of evolving digital technologies, all industries have undergone radical changes. Similarly, the construction industry needs to apply digital technology to improve the existing Supply Chain (SC), which has problems such as the inefficient collaboration among various links, the poor ability to cope with risks, the higher costs, the waste of resources and pollution, etc., and to adapt to the development of the digital era. Prefabricated Construction (PC), with their advantages of having a high efficiency and being energy-saving, can help improve the above problems and promote the sustainable development of the construction industry. Therefore, this review uses a combination of scientific bibliometrics and a qualitative analysis to search a total of 129 works of literature on the application of digital technologies in Prefabricated Construction Supply Chain Management (PCSCM) for the period of 2015–2024 included in the Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed databases. After visualization and analysis in Citespace v6.3.1.0 and VOSviewer v1.6.20.0, it was found that most of the literature focuses on the economic benefits of cost reduction and efficiency, while there are fewer studies on the topic of sustainable development. Therefore, this study summarizes the current status of the application of digital technologies in PCSCM, addressing the lack of attention to environmental benefits in the existing studies and the limitations of the current research. Creatively, it proposes recommendations that will help PCSCM achieve sustainable development in the future, and points out that the construction industry must break through the limitation of focusing only on its own economic interests to realize the vision of a harmonious coexistence between human beings and nature. Full article

Developing prefabricated buildings (PBs) and optimizing the construction supply chain represent effective strategies for reducing carbon emissions in the construction industry. Prefabricated building supply chain (PBSC) carbon reduction suffers from synergistic difficulties, limited rationality, and environmental complexity. Therefore, investigating carbon emission reduction in PBSC is essential. In this study, PBSC participants are divided into four categories according to the operation process. Gaussian white noise is introduced to simulate the random perturbation factors, and a four-way stochastic evolutionary game model is constructed and numerically simulated. The study found the following: Stochastic perturbation factors play a prominent role in the evolution speed of the agent; the emission reduction benefit and cost of the participant significantly affect the strategy selection; the operation status of the PBSC is the key to strategy selection, and it is important to pay attention to the synergy of the participants at the first and the last end of the PBSC; the influence of the external environment on strategies is mainly manifested in the loss caused and the assistance provided; and the information on emission reduction is an important factor influencing strategies. Finally, we provide suggestions for promoting carbon emission reduction by participants in the PBSC from the perspective of resisting stochastic perturbation, enhancing participants’ ability, and strengthening PBSC management; external punishment and establishing a cross-industry information sharing platform is more important than the reward. Full article

The purpose of this paper is to explore the possibilities of bringing house development to a more sustainable and ecological level using the idea of the circular economy (CE) in the construction industry. Housing is an essential aspect of the economy and the building industry. The development of this sector is driven by an increasing urban population and the need to modernize existing residential buildings. Contemporary home situations should address reducing their detrimental impact on the natural environment. This is achievable by minimizing the consumption of natural resources and construction waste. This assumption is part of the core CE work, which allows for the recirculation of building materials. To discuss the underlying topics, this assumption was explored by employing a non-reactive desk research method. The review of scientific articles and studies covered the following topics: (i) the definition of CE, (ii) the shearing layers concept in building, and (iii) design for disassembly (DfD) in home construction. The second stage of evaluating the project “Domus Ex Machina” includes the following: (i) modular dimensions, (ii) prefabricated production, and (iii) adaptive designs and systems. In the discussion, this research identified several barriers to efficient CE adoption in the construction industry. The discussion highlights potential impediments to the application of the CE in housing contexts, including (i) storage and logistics issues, (ii) cost concerns and implementation challenges, (iii) policy inconsistencies across regions, and (iv) market demand and supply chain restrictions. The final paper conclusions demonstrate the significance of implementing the CE idea in housing building, hence reducing the negative impact on the environment. Full article

With the rapid development of the prefabricated building industry, the green supply chain of prefabricated buildings has become a key driver of sustainable development and efficiency improvement in the industry. However, the issue of benefit distribution arising from cooperation has become the main challenge affecting the long-term stability of the supply chain. To address this, this study proposes an improved TFN-TOPSIS-Banzhaf value model, which optimizes the benefit distribution in the green supply chain of prefabricated buildings using cooperative game theory. This approach enhances both the fairness and accuracy of the distribution. The model integrates a combination of subjective and objective weighting methods based on triangular fuzzy numbers and the M-TOPSIS method for multi-factor evaluation, resulting in the corrected weight coefficients. By combining the weighting coefficients and least squares contributions, the improved Banzhaf value based on players’ weighted least squares contributions is constructed. The effectiveness and robustness of the model are verified through a case analysis, which significantly enhances the model’s ability to handle supply chain synergies and achieves a more fair and precise benefit distribution. This research provides an effective benefit distribution tool for the prefabricated building industry, promoting the continuous development of green building practices and supply chain cooperation. Full article

In recent years, the disruption of the prefabricated building supply chain has led to increased construction period delays and cost overruns, limiting the development and popularization of prefabricated buildings in China. Therefore, this study established a vulnerability evaluation index system for the prefabricated building supply chain using the driving force–pressure–state–impact–response (DPSIR) framework. We employed the intuitionistic fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (IFAHP), the projection pursuit (PP) model, and variable weight theory to determine the indicator weights. The IFAHP was utilized to reduce the subjectivity in weight assignment and to obtain the degree of membership, non-membership, and hesitation of experts in evaluating the importance of indicators. The PP model was used to determine objective weights based on the structure of the evaluation data, and variable weight theory was applied to integrate subjective and objective weights according to management needs. We utilized Set Pair Analysis (SPA) to establish a vulnerability evaluation model for the building supply chain, treating evaluation data and evaluation levels as a set pair. By analyzing the degree of identity, difference, and opposition of the set pair, we assessed and predicted the vulnerability of the building supply chain. Taking the Taohua Shantytown project in Nanchang as a case study, the results showed that the primary index with the greatest influence on the vulnerability of the prefabricated building supply chain was the driving force, with a weight of 0.2692, followed by the secondary indices of market demand and policy support, with weights of 0.0753 and 0.0719, respectively. The project’s average vulnerability rating was moderate (Level III), and it showed an improvement trend. During the project’s implementation, the total cost overrun of the prefabricated building supply chain was controlled within 5% of the budget, the construction period delay did not exceed 7% of the plan, and the rate of production safety accidents was below the industry average. The results demonstrated that the vulnerability assessment method for the prefabricated building supply chain based on SPA comprehensively and objectively reflected the vulnerability of the supply chain. It is suggested to improve the transparency and flexibility of the supply chain, strengthen daily management within the supply chain, and enhance collaboration with supply chain partners to reduce vulnerability. Full article

In this volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) era, resilient and sustainable construction methods, such as prefabricated construction, are essential for addressing the planet’s sustainability challenges. However, disruptions in the prefabricated construction supply chain (PCSC) frequently arise, seriously impeding the performance of prefabricated building projects. Therefore, this study aims to identify the factors influencing the prefabricated construction supply chain (RPCSC) and analyze their intrinsic interconnections. Initially, an exhaustive literature review was conducted to identify the primary factors affecting the RPCSC. Subsequently, the Delphi technique was applied to validate and refine the list of factors, resulting in the identification of 11 key concepts. Finally, the impact of these concepts on the RPCSC, along with their interactions, was assessed using the fuzzy cognitive map (FCM) approach. The results indicate that these factors can be ranked by their degree of effect on the RPCSC: information exchange/sharing, research and development, the performance of prefabricated components, decision alignment, the construction of prefabricated buildings, relationship quality among members, professional management personnel/labor quality, supply–demand consistency, cost/profit sharing, policies and regulations, and transport risk. Furthermore, this study elucidates both the individual and synergistic effects of these factors on the RPCSC by constructing a pathway map. Full article

Prefabrication is increasingly recognized as a sustainable construction practice, with the efficiency of prefabricated component (PC) production lines playing a critical role in its success. However, supplier selection for PC production lines has become more complex due to evolving industrial demands, uncertain supply chain conditions, and operational complexities. This study addresses this gap by developing a lean-based AHP–improved VIKOR decision-making framework to enhance the supplier selection for PC production lines. The framework integrates advanced lean principles with universal and specific evaluation criteria, identified through a comprehensive literature review and expert interviews. Its validity was tested via a real-world case study with Yizhong Construction Co., Ltd., Tianjin, China. The results show that the three suppliers are ranked as Zhongjian > Tianyi > Xindadi, where Zhongjian is the best supplier in this case study, with a VIKOR index of 0.156. The findings show that the developed framework can improve the supplier selection efficiency by aligning with lean principles and enhancing the performance of PC production lines. By addressing the challenges of PC supplier selection, this study provides a practical tool to advance the adoption of prefabrication in construction. Furthermore, it contributes to the development of the PC industry by offering a robust method for the selection of suitable suppliers, which can help to optimize the production efficiency and support sustainable practices in construction. Full article

Prefabricated building (PB) involves many participating enterprises. Its implementation faces many challenges, mainly in the areas of technology, cost, construction management, management of supply chain (SC), and sustainability. The purpose of synergy management of a prefabricated building project supply chain (PBPSC) is to help the whole SC obtain better benefits. This study establishes a measurement index system from the perspective of green sustainability in terms of cost control, technology, information, reliability of SC, and environmental protection. The COWA-CRITIC ideal point method is used to calculate the subjective and objective combination weights, and a cloud model based on this combination weight is constructed for measurement, which is validated by taking the project of a residential building as an example. The results are compared with those of other measurement models to verify the applicability of the measurement model of this study in the synergy management performance of the PBPSC. The sensitivity of the indexes within the five subsystems is analyzed using the one-way rotation OAT method to allow decision makers to identify the most sensitive indexes. This study shows that the synergy management performance of SC in this project is better. The measurement model used in this study is consistent with the results obtained from other measurement models and is in line with the actual situation. Sensitivity analysis using the one-factor rotation OAT method shows that among the secondary indexes, specialized technical staff is the most sensitive to changes in weights; among the primary indexes, cost control is the most sensitive to changes in weights. This provides a new method for measuring the synergy management performance of the PBPSC. Based on the results of this study, corresponding countermeasures are proposed for the synergy management of the PBPSC, which will provide a reference for the synergy management of SCs with similar projects in the future. Full article

Prefabricated construction has garnered widespread attention worldwide. As an important part in purchasing management, prefabricated component suppliers (PCSs) undertake the bulk of the work and responsibility in the supply chain from on-site to off-site. Therefore, it is crucial and necessary to establish a decision-making framework to comprehensively evaluate the performance of PCSs. This study proposed a set of performance indicators for PCSs, including component quality, cost, delivery capability, service level, enterprise development potential, and enterprise cooperation potential. A hybrid method was established to evaluate the integrated performance of PCSs based on Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)–entropy weight and cloud model. It integrated the AHP and entropy weight method to calculate indicator weights, while the cloud model was employed to transform qualitative characteristics into quantitative ones. To verify the feasibility of this method, an empirical study was subsequently conducted using a typical case from China. The obtained results demonstrate that the overall performance of Supplier A lies at the “good” level, with the similarity index between the comprehensive cloud model and the standard cloud model within the good range, at 0.4045. Among the six primary indicators, quality performance scored the highest at 0.65, meeting the “excellent” standard. It can be seen that the hybrid approach of AHP–entropy weight and cloud model accurately and effectively demonstrates the integrated performance of PCSs. The main aim of this study was to establish a comprehensive system and develop a novel approach for evaluating the performance of PCSs within a hesitant fuzzy environment. The findings of this study can provide guidelines for researchers and the public to evaluate PCS performance, contributing significantly to the fields of supply chain management and construction engineering. Moreover, it provided a practical tool for professionals in the industry to enhance the supplier selection processes. Full article

Supply chain collaboration is an important guarantee for improving the performance of prefabricated construction projects and exerting its advantages. The aim of this study was to explore the level and effect of supply chain collaboration under a no-cost-sharing contract, a cost-sharing contract, and a centralized decision-making contract. A dynamic incentive model of prefabricated building supply chain collaboration based on the differential game model was proposed. Considering the impact of BIM on collaboration, the BIM application level was also introduced into the incentive model. Through the comparative analysis of model solution results and numerical simulation, it was found that, in the centralized decision-making contract, the optimal collaborative effort and the optimal total revenue of enterprises in the prefabricated building supply chain were the largest; the optimal collaborative effort of enterprise in the prefabricated building supply chain reduced first and then tended to be stable; and the improvement of the BIM application level could promote collaboration in the prefabricated building supply chain. The results of this study are helpful for managers to select and formulate a reasonable collaboration incentive contract in the prefabricated building supply chain. Full article

Blockchain technology (BT) is a promising solution to address information asymmetry and trust issues in the prefabricated construction supply chain (PCSC). However, its practical application in PCSC remains limited under the influence of stakeholders’ adoption strategies. While previous studies have analyzed drivers and barriers to BT adoption, they often take a static view, neglecting the long-term dynamic decision-making interactions between stakeholders. This study addresses this gap by examining the interests of owners, general contractors, and subcontractors, and by developing a tripartite evolutionary game model to analyze the interaction mechanism of the strategy of adopting BT in PCSC. Additionally, a system dynamics simulation validates the evolution of stabilization strategies and examines the impact of key parameters. The results indicate that successful BT adoption requires technology maturity to surpass a threshold between 0.5 and 0.7, along with a fair revenue and cost-sharing coefficient between general contractors and subcontractors, ranging from 0.3 to 0.5 at the lower limit and 0.7 to 0.9 at the upper limit. Notably, general contractors play a pivotal role in driving BT adoption, acting as potential leaders. Furthermore, appropriate incentives, default compensation, and government subsidies can promote optimal adoption strategies, although overly high incentives may reduce owners’ willingness to mandate BT adoption. This study provides practical insights and policy recommendations for critical stakeholders to facilitate the widespread adoption of BT in PCSC. Full article

This study explores how blockchain technology can enhance the resilience of the prefabricated building supply chain in volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environments. The measurement model of the subject, stage, and overall resilience of the supply chain is constructed. The four indices of blockchain are introduced, and the model from the resilience of the supply chain subject to the overall resilience is established. The interaction behavior between subjects is analyzed. The weight is determined by the AHP method, and the multi-agent model simulation is carried out using NetLogo(6.5) software. After the introduction of blockchain technology, even in the early stage of application, supply chain resilience has been significantly enhanced; especially in the decision-making stage, information transparency and efficiency have been significantly improved. When the technology is maturely applied, the toughness of each stage shows an accelerated growth trend, and the improvement in toughness in the assembly stage is particularly significant. By optimizing key influencing factors, the growth rate of resilience in the assembly stage is further improved, which verifies the positive impact of blockchain technology and main factor optimization on overall resilience. In summary, the introduction of blockchain technology and its mature application are crucial for improving the resilience of the prefabricated building supply chain, providing an effective way to meet the challenges of VUCA. Full article