Best practices for implementing industrialized construction projects: Lessons from nine case studies

Wuni, I Y; Shen, G Q and Darko, A (2022) Best practices for implementing industrialized construction projects: Lessons from nine case studies. Construction Innovation, 22(4), pp. 915-938. ISSN 1471-4175

Abstract

Purpose: Industrialized construction (IC) leverages manufacturing principles and innovative processes to improve the performance of construction projects. Though IC is gaining popularity in the global construction industry, studies that establish the best practices for implementing IC projects are scarce. This study aims to benchmark practical lifecycle-based best practices for implementing IC projects. Design/methodology/approach: The study used a qualitative research design where nine IC cases from Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong were analysed to identify best practices. The methodological framework of the study followed well-established case study research cycle and guidelines, including planning, data collection, data analysis and reflection on findings. Findings: The study identified and allocated key considerations, relevant stakeholders, best practices, typical deliverables and best indicators to the different construction lifecycle phases of IC projects. It also developed a lifecycle-based framework of the best practices for IC projects. Practical implications: The study provides practitioners with practical insight into how best to effectively implement, manage and evaluate the performance of the IC project lifecycle phases. The proposed framework can serve as a practical diagnostic tool that enables project partners to evaluate the performance upfront progressively and objectively in each project lifecycle phase, which may inform timely corrective actions. Originality/value: The study’s novelty lies in developing a framework that identifies and demonstrates the dynamic linkages among different sets of best practices, typical outputs and best practice indicators across the IC project lifecycle phases.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: best practices; case studies; framework; ic projects; industrialized construction; lessons learned
Index terms: reflection, best practice, global construction, project partner, lifecycle, linkage, project lifecycle, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, case study, lessons learned, industrialized construction, construction project, qualitative research, methodology, practitioner, data analysis
Subjects: research methods, professional development, Geography, production management, sociology, research design and methodology, project completion, business, construction type, strategic management, data collection methods, practitioner, project delivery, data analysis and analytics
Topics: International Construction, Stakeholder Management, Roles and Professions, Construction Technology, Business Strategy, Information Management, Project Management, Geographical Context, Research 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