Peiris, S and De Silva, N (2022) Re-engineered factory acceptance testing under the new normal. Built Environment Project and Asset Management, 12(5), pp. 754-774. ISSN 2044-124X
Abstract
Purpose: Factory acceptance testing (FAT) in the construction industry has been severely hampered due to restrictions in cross-border travel resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, virtual FAT (vFAT) became a popular substitute for physical FAT. However, the credibility of vFAT is being questioned because it was adopted without much scrutiny. Hence, this study is aimed at investigating vFATs and re-engineering the FAT process to suit an effective vFAT environment. Design/methodology/approach: A comprehensive literature search on FAT procedures was followed by two stages of expert interviews with eight leading subject experts and a case study. The findings were analysed using code-based content analysis on NVivo software. Findings: Strengths of vFATs include “reduction in cost and time consumed”, “flexibility for more participants” and “faster orders”. Most emphasized weaknesses include “lack of reliability” and “lack of technology transfer”. vFAT has mostly increased test reliability by “improving accessibility” and has decreased reliability by “restricting physical touch and feel observation of the equipment”. A four-step vFAT process was developed with a noteworthy additional step called “Pre-FAT Meeting”. Research limitations/implications: The scope of this study is limited to the Sri Lankan construction industry. Expansion of the geographical area of focus is recommended for future studies. Originality/value: The findings of this study unveil a vFAT process, which is timely and beneficial for construction practitioners to optimize and enhance the effectiveness of vFATs which are currently conducted in a disarranged manner.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction industry; COVID-19 pandemic; new normal; virtual factory acceptance testing |
| Index terms: | content analysis, construction practitioner, interview, pandemic, COVID-19, accessibility, case study, technology transfer, construction industry, testing, future study, methodology, effectiveness |
| Subjects: | research design and methodology, data collection methods, knowledge management, data analysis and analytics, professional practice, professional development, performance management, inclusive design, research methods, health risk and incident analysis, industry analysis |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Engineering Principles, Information Management, Health and Safety, Quality Management, Design Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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