Kedir, F; Hall, D M; Brantvall, S; Lessing, J; Hollberg, A and Soman, R K (2024) Circular information flows in industrialized housing construction: The case of a multi-family housing product platform in Sweden. Construction Innovation, 24(5), pp. 1354-1379. ISSN 1471-4175
Abstract
Purpose: This paper aims to conduct a qualitative assessment of synergies between information flows of a multifamily product platform used for industrialized housing and materials passports that can promote a circular economy in the construction industry. Design/methodology/approach: Using a single case study method, the research assesses the availability and accessibility of materials passport-relevant information generated by a leading Swedish industrialized housing construction firm. Data is collected using semistructured interviews, document analysis and an extended research visit. Findings: The research findings identify the functional layers of the product platform, map the information flow using a process diagram, assess the availability and accessibility of material passport relevant information by lifecycle stage and actor, and summarize the key points using a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis. Research limitations/implications: The three main implications are: the technical and process platforms used in industrialized construction allow for generating standardized, digital and reusable information; the vertical integration of trades and long-term relationships with suppliers improve transparency and reduce fragmentation in information flows; and the design-build-operate business model strategy incentivizes actors to manage information flows in the use phase. Practical implications: Industrialized construction firms can use this paper as an approach to understand and map their information flows to identify suitable approaches to generate and manage materials passports. Originality/value: The specific characteristics of product platforms and industrialized construction provide a unique opportunity for circular information flow across the building lifecycle, which can support material passport adoption to a degree not often found in the traditional construction industry.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | circular economy; housing; industrialized construction; information flows; materials passports; product platforms |
| Index terms: | case study, platform, traditional construction, accessibility, Sweden, circular economy, document analysis, business model, residential construction, lifecycle, vertical integration, synergy, transparency, construction industry, multi-family housing, interview, information flow, fragmentation, strategy, materials passport, methodology, industrialized construction, housing, product platform |
| Subjects: | project delivery, data science, innovation and technology management, vertical integration, business, data collection methods, construction type, information systems, heritage and conservation, industry analysis, housing and residential development, partnership management, professional development, material science and engineering, digital design, sustainable design, Geography, research methods, construction integration, inclusive design, management |
| Topics: | Information Management, Engineering Principles, Construction Materials, Research Practice, Project Management, Geographical Context, Business Strategy, Sustainability, Construction Technology, Stakeholder Management, Supply Chain Management, Digital Applications, Urban Studies, Design Practice, Organizational Design |
| 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