Sherman, P J (1988) Japanese construction R&D: Entrèe into U.S. Market. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 114(1), pp. 133-143. ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
The research and development (R&D) laboratory and several of the most recently developed and successfully used construction technologies of Japan’s “Big Five” general contractors are described. These technologies include the seismic or dynamic floor system that neutralizes the effects of earthquakes, robotic steel beam and column erectors, and a robotic concrete distributor. The system mechanics, performance record, and cost and/or maintenance of each innovation have been described. The paper identifies the direct benefits being derived from such intensive R&D efforts: revenues generated by private consulting, licensing arrangements, and increased contract awards—both domestic and overseas. There appears to be a direct correlation between such intensive R&D expenditures and increased overseas market share as evidenced by the recent emergence of Japanese contractors in the U.S. market, where they have parlayed their technical expertise in tunneling (shield-pressure tunneling technology) and dams (deep diaphragm cut-off walls, roller-compacted concrete dams) to underbid their American counterparts.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Index terms: | construction technology, beam, earthquake, market share, emergence, research and development, general contractor, licensing, revenue, column, Japan, laboratory |
| Subjects: | knowledge transfer, practitioner, digital engineering, economic analysis, Geography, structural engineering, environmental hazards, systems engineering, market analysis, research management |
| Topics: | Sustainability, Roles and Professions, Geographical Context, Research Practice, Engineering Principles, Business Strategy, Digital Applications |
| Descriptive scope: | 2 PC |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here