Jack Steven Goulding

Offsite production: a model for building down barriers: A European construction industry perspective

Purpose – Recent calls were launched worldwide for the “revival” of offsite production (OSP) (under numerous nomenclatures) in order to improve the construction industry, meet market demand; and furthermore, overcome the dependence on skilled labour. Despite the well‐documented benefits of OSP, the construction industry seems to be somewhat hesitant in effectively responding to those calls. Forming part of a triangulated research, this paper aims to explore the European Union (EU) construction industry main patterns of concern with regard to OSP. The findings from this paper are set to guide the development of an OSP training and education model (not reported in this paper).Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative approach using the content analysis technique was employed to analyse secondary data (transcripts) from 54 open‐ended questionnaires carried out under the ManuBuild EU research project, to deeply explore the EU construction industry main perceptions/concerns which may represent a barrier to t...

New offsite production and business models in construction: priorities for the future research agenda

Despite the benefits offered by offsite construction, as a percentage, the offsite market is still relatively small. This phenomena is complex; but for brevity, includes a myriad of factors, not least: lack of awareness; supply chain challenges (capacity and knowledge); cultural perception; lack of viable business process models/solutions; and paucity of skills (design/manufacturing/construction). However, many governments are still promoting the offsite agenda through various conduits. Given this, a CIB Task Group (TG74) developed a research roadmap for new production and business models for the construction industry uptake. This paper summarises the work of TG74, where people, process and technology drivers were investigated for construction, manufacturing and design and mapped against three levels of priority and three timeframes. Results indicate that for people drivers, new skills are urgently needed in the design field within a 0–5 year timeframe (compared to a timeframe of 6–10 years for the manufacturing sector). Regarding process drivers, construction process was classed as high priority, followed by design process and manufacturing process. Finally, for technology drivers, construction technology was identified as being high priority, followed by design technology and manufacturing technology, all of which need to be addressed in the medium term. This study presents a roadmap for future uptake.

Promoting Off-Site Construction: Future Challenges and Opportunities

DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)AE.1943-5568.0000081IntroductionWhile manufactured construction can be traced back to approxi-mately 1851 (Gibb 2001), in the last two decades, a resurgencehas occurred, which has now started to gain increased popularityand momentum (Arif and Egbu 2010). For example, in the UnitedKingdom (UK), the off-site construction industry grew from£2.2 billion in 2004 to £6 billion in 2006 (Goodier and Gibb2007); and the UK is not unique in the adoption of manufacturedconstruction, as different types of off-site construction techniquesare quite common worldwide.However, if off-site construction is to make a sustained positivecontribution in the marketplace, research is needed to identify thepervadingissuesthatconstraintheuptakeofthis,orconversely,canpromote this in a more reasoned and defendable way, especiallytaking into consideration the existing societal, cultural, and currentbusiness models associated with conventional thinking and prac-tice. Cognizant of this, a task group (TG74) was commissionedby the International Council for Research and Innovation in Build-ing and Construction (CIB). This group had a mandate to leadinternational research strategy to address theories relating to pro-duction and business models within the built environment disci-plines; it was also tasked with developing an off-site builtenvironment research roadmap for construction. This paperpresents preliminary findings of a TG74 workshop that focusedon identifying the core drivers, variables, and strategic prioritiesfacing the construction industry in the short to medium term.CIB Background and Task Group 74CIB is the acronym of the French (former) name ConseilInternational du Bâtiment (in English this is InternationalCouncil for Building). The name CIB was revised in 1998 toInternational Council for Research and Innovation in Buildingand Construction but the acronym CIB was retained. CIB was setupin1953 withfunding fromthe United Nations withamandatetostimulate and facilitate international cooperation and informationexchange between governmental research institutes in the buildingand construction sector. Currently, it has 500 organizations asmembers and 5,000 experts from these organizations who partici-pate in the research activities of CIB. CIB addresses issues relatedto current areas of research in the building and construction sectorwiththeformation oftaskgroupsandworking commissions.Thesetask groups and working commissions act as platforms for re-searchers and practitioners to exchange ideas. The funding of thesetask groups and working commissions is the responsibility ofmembers participating in them.Background for the WorkshopTG74 is a task group consisting of researchers, academics, andpractitioners associated with manufactured construction research,teaching, and practice. The purpose of this workshop was to de-veloptheresearchagendaforoff-siteconstruction,withaparticularemphasis on short- to medium-term (0–10 years) priorities. In thisrespect, the TG74 presented a nine-item agenda framework fordiscussion (see Table 1), the rubrics of which had been developedover the course of six months with leading domain experts andmembership participants of TG74. The individuals who led discus-sions on individual areas are listed in Table 1 below.Within the contextof off-site construction, each of the three ma-jor areas of process, technology, and peoplewere analyzed for theirimpact on design, manufacturing, and construction. The findingsfrom this workshop would help inform strategic thinking, leadingto the development of a research roadmap for off-site manufactur-ing. This paper presents the results of this workshop.Theinitialnineareasproposedfortheworkshopweredevelopedover a period of six months with academics and practitioners. Thisculminated in three online conference validation sessions hostedover the Internet. These conference sessions were used to garnerinternationalfocusandestablishcorepriorityareasforthein-personworkshop session. Individuals participating in these workshopswere located in the UK, Scandinavia, Germany, and Australia.The results of this in-person workshop are presented in this paper.Specific topics identified in these nine areas through onlineworkshops were:Design technology:• Technology embedded in the product (in the factory);• Technology underpinning the business process;• E-readiness of organizations (and the supply chain):holistic implications on the business;• Building information modeling (BIM) for off-site (productand process): potential to exploit.Manufacturing technology:• Justifiable automation: how much is enough? (e.g., optimi-zation, business case, payback);• Product and process design: design for manufacture (DIM)(software and systems development, decision supportsystem, integrated product delivery, etc.);• Supply chain management: manufacturing resourceplanning (MRP) and enterprise resource planning (ERP)expensive (inflexible and somewhat limited);• Modelingandsimulation:trainingneeded(e.g.,systemsana-lysis, discreet event simulation, and modeling).

Technology adoption: breaking down barriers using a virtual reality design support tool for hybrid concrete

The use of hybrid concrete technologies as a viable solution to traditional frame design has been inhibited by a general lack of information. The uptake of this technology has therefore been slow and parochial, as designers have tended to stay loyal to ‘traditional’, tried and tested technologies—their ‘comfort zone’. This research identifies the barriers associated with technology adoption at industry, organization and individual levels; and uses hybrid concrete as the core context for discussion. The role of an enabling design support tool (HyCon) is presented, which can allow designers to overcome these inhibitors by providing an immersive, interactive and information‐rich environment through which design solutions can be explored. This collaborative research project describes a ‘proof of concept’ design support tool to promote the use of hybrid concrete in structural frames. It encompasses knowledge creation, application and sharing functionality, to envision support and use of this new technology—thereby promoting organizational learning. Research findings note that, while design tools have a valuable role to play, it is also important to appreciate that the uptake of any new technology is a social phenomenon, and that subsequent adoption/uptake requires careful embedding and augmentation into company organizational systems in order to leverage advantage.

Offsite Production in the UK: The Construction Industry and Academia

Abstract The UK construction industry has long been criticized for its poor performance, poor image and inability to attract and retain workers. Offsite production (OSP) under the overarching umbrella of modern methods of construction (MMC) was sought by the UK Government to ameliorate the UK construction industry, meet market demands and overcome manual skill shortages. Nevertheless, professional skills shortages are argued to be as acute as manual skills shortfalls. In this respect, industry—academia collaboration is anticipated to provide professional skills needed for OSP and, hence, effect change. This paper reports the findings from the first stage of an ongoing triangulated research project. In this context, a survey was carried out to capture the perceptions of both the UK construction industry and academia with respect to OSP and preferable means for collaboration, in an attempt to explore common grounds for possible collaborations. A quantitative approach was primarily used for data collection and analysis. The findings from 36 large construction organizations (representing a 20% response rate) and 20 construction-related higher-education institutions (representing a 32% response rate) suggested that although the industry considered OSP to be the future of the UK construction industry, there seemed to be uncertainty about what OSP actually entailed. Notwithstanding these issues, academia either did not know or refuted that OSP is the future of the construction industry, hence suggesting a lack of shared understanding between industry and academia with respect to skills requirements and preferred means for collaboration. Further research is needed to bridge the gap between these apparent polarized views.

Carbon emission reduction strategies in the UK industrial sectors: an empirical study

Purpose – The problem of climate change is one aspect of the broader problem of sustainability. Many businesses in most sectors now accept that they must address the issue of climate change in order to survive and grow in ever‐changing entangled business economies. Due to mounting pressure from stakeholders, top executives of many organisations are now implementing various carbon emissions reduction strategies. However, the extent to which businesses embrace climate change and carbon management as an integral pillar of their business models remains unclear and poorly understood. This paper seeks to address these issues.Design/methodology/approach – The aim of this research is to investigate the key carbon emissions reduction initiatives currently being implemented in the UK industrial sectors so as to improve their competitiveness. In order to achieve this aim, a mixed research methodological approach was adopted to collect and analyse data. Four industry sectors were examined, specifically: energy and ut...

Conceptualisation of ambiguous-mixed-methods within building and construction research

Purpose – The use of mixed-methods research (MMR) within building and construction research (BCR) is studied in detail. A new MMR paradigm, defined as ambiguous mixed-methods research (AMMR), is conceptualised within a BCR context. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – Informal and inductive methodology combines experiential and anecdotal knowledge with synthesis of extant literature, to detail a cogent representation of the BCR research paradigm continuum. From this, the AMMR design is presented and its conceptualisation highlighted by reference to a small sample of published BCR studies. Findings – Paradoxically, the BCR paradigm continuum is dichotomous in its quantitative and qualitative extremes; while between these, coalesced paradigms permeate it. Influenced predominantly by worldview, many BCR researchers select a methodology that aligns with either continuum extreme. But, the authors conceptualise, in practice this often relies on ambiguous AMMR characteristics. Re...

Knowledge-based learning environments for construction

Abstract Developments in information technology have revolutionised the delivery of online learning to such an extent that interoperability, scalability, adaptability and mass-customisation are now becoming practical solutions for pan global delivery. However, whilst advocates of virtual learning environments, and advanced learning management systems often extol the virtues of e-learning per se, they often fail to articulate the limitations of such systems, especially concerning the ‘personalisation’ of the learning process and incompatibility with pedagogic needs. This paper presents an analysis of previous research in the field of knowledge based learning environments using the context of construction as an exemplar. A conceptual framework for developing a fully-customisable knowledge-based learning environment is proposed which uses knowledge objects linked to an object oriented database, the concept of which embraces interoperability, intelligent tutoring, shareability (learning content), and an intelligent interface to manage advanced learning object metadata.

The Pervasiveness of e-Readiness in the Global Built Environment Arena

Purpose – Electronic readiness (e‐readiness) presents a measure to which an organisation or business may be ready, prepared or willing to obtain benefits which arise from the digital economy. In this context, an advanced state of organisational e‐readiness is needed for businesses to expand domestically and internationally; to compete readily in the global open market. It is therefore imperative that organisations align their business strategies with e‐readiness strategies. This paper aims to focus on these issues.Design/methodology/approach – The paper investigates the initiation, development and practice of e‐readiness of nations, and presents a case for possible adoption for the built environment area. By combining key indicators of e‐readiness of nations and achieving business success and competitive advantage, the pervasiveness of e‐readiness within the built environment arena is determined. The validity of this initial research is further endorsed through industry collaboration research.Findings – T...

Successful education for AEC professionals: case study of applying immersive game-like virtual reality interfaces

BackgroundGlobal competition and the transdisciplinary nature of evolving Architecture-Engineering-Construction (AEC) activities makes it progressively important to educate new AEC professionals with appropriate skill sets. These skills include the ability and capability of not only developing routine projects, but also delivering novel design solutions and construction processes (some of which may be unknown), to feasible, surprising, or potentially patentable solutions. For example, despite recent innovations in immersive visualisation technologies and tele-presence decision-support toolkits, the AEC sector as a whole has not yet fully understood these technologies, nor embraced them as an enabler.MethodsGiven this, this paper proposes a new approach for delivering education and training to address this shortcoming. This approach focuses on doing traditional (routine) work with creative thinking in order to address these challenges. This rationale is based on the principles of Successful Education as a new paradigm for engineering education, which is inspired by the Theory of Successful Intelligence, by the Medici Effect and Leonardo da Vinci’s Seven Principles. The paper presents the educating AEC professionals is presented the AEC sector. The Theory of Successful Intelligence and its three forms of intelligence (Practical, Analytical, and Creative), are supported by lessons learned from the Renaissance, including the Medici Effect and da Vinci’s Seven Principles.ResultsBased on these theoretical pillars, a new approach to educating AEC professionals is presented with a proof-of-concept prototype that uses a game-like virtual reality (VR) visualisation interface supported by Mind Mapping is introduced as an exemplar.ConclusionThe developed interface in this study applies Game Theory to non-collocated design teams in accordance with Social Sciences Theory (social rules) and Behavioural Science Theory (decision making). It contributes by supporting new insights into AEC actor involvement, pedagogy, organisational behaviour, and the social constructs that support decision making.