IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v12y2020i21p8996-d436954.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Critical Factors Influencing the Sustainable Construction Capability in Prefabrication of Chinese Construction Enterprises

Author

Listed:
  • Pei Dang

    (College of Management and Economics, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China)

  • Zhanwen Niu

    (College of Management and Economics, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China)

  • Shang Gao

    (Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia)

  • Lei Hou

    (School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia)

  • Guomin Zhang

    (School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia)

Abstract

Compared with the conventional cast-in-situ method, prefabricated construction (PC) is a sustainable construction method. In China, the sustainable performance qualities of PC—such as its improved quality, lower cost and shorter turnaround—have barely been achieved. This is likely attributable to the weak sustainable construction capability of construction enterprises in undertaking PC projects. This study observed that there is relatively scant research on critical influencing factors relating to this capability, after investigating the most recent literature about PC development obstacles. Without a clear understanding of this knowledge, construction enterprises are unlikely to formulate effective measures to enhance their sustainable construction capability to tackle efficiency, cost, risk, and broader performance issues in PC. Therefore, this study identified 27 factors from the literature and interviews, ranked these factors using the Entropy method and the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP), examined the top five critical factors, and discussed the problem-solving measures. This study drew the conclusion that construction enterprises should focus on PC business scope expansion, project delivery quality improvement, and technology investment and innovation, as well as the return on investments in technology. It is also suggested that incentivised strategies be formulated by the Chinese government in order to improve industry practitioners’ capability of implementing sustainable PC projects. This will eventually expedite the industry’s transformation towards leaner, more efficient and sustainable practice.

Suggested Citation

  • Pei Dang & Zhanwen Niu & Shang Gao & Lei Hou & Guomin Zhang, 2020. "Critical Factors Influencing the Sustainable Construction Capability in Prefabrication of Chinese Construction Enterprises," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-21, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:21:p:8996-:d:436954
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/21/8996/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/21/8996/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yue Zhai & Yelin Fu & Gangyan Xu & George Huang, 2019. "Multi-period hedging and coordination in a prefabricated construction supply chain," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 57(7), pages 1949-1971, April.
    2. Ye, Jun, 2010. "Fuzzy decision-making method based on the weighted correlation coefficient under intuitionistic fuzzy environment," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 205(1), pages 202-204, August.
    3. Hong Xue & Shoujian Zhang & Yikun Su & Zezhou Wu, 2017. "Factors Affecting the Capital Cost of Prefabrication—A Case Study of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-22, August.
    4. Kaicheng Shen & Chen Cheng & Xiaodong Li & Zhihui Zhang, 2019. "Environmental Cost-Benefit Analysis of Prefabricated Public Housing in Beijing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-21, January.
    5. Serdar Kale & David Arditi, 2006. "Diffusion of ISO 9000 certification in the precast concrete industry," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(5), pages 485-495.
    6. Yanhu Han & Miroslaw J. Skibniewski & Lufan Wang, 2017. "A Market Equilibrium Supply Chain Model for Supporting Self-Manufacturing or Outsourcing Decisions in Prefabricated Construction," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-18, November.
    7. Lara Jaillon & C. S. Poon, 2008. "Sustainable construction aspects of using prefabrication in dense urban environment: a Hong Kong case study," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(9), pages 953-966.
    8. Wei Pan & Alistair Gibb & Andrew Dainty, 2007. "Perspectives of UK housebuilders on the use of offsite modern methods of construction," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(2), pages 183-194.
    9. Zhai, Yue & Zhong, Ray Y. & Huang, George Q., 2018. "Buffer space hedging and coordination in prefabricated construction supply chain management," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 192-206.
    10. Yue Zhai & Ray Y. Zhong & Zhi Li & George Huang, 2017. "Production lead-time hedging and coordination in prefabricated construction supply chain management," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(14), pages 3984-4002, July.
    11. Low Sui Pheng & Shang Gao & Jun Liang Lin, 2015. "Converging early contractor involvement (ECI) and lean construction practices for productivity enhancement," International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 64(6), pages 831-852, July.
    12. Zhang, Hong & Gu, Chao-lin & Gu, Lu-wen & Zhang, Yan, 2011. "The evaluation of tourism destination competitiveness by TOPSIS & information entropy – A case in the Yangtze River Delta of China," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 32(2), pages 443-451.
    13. Lei Jiang & Zhongfu Li & Long Li & Yunli Gao, 2018. "Constraints on the Promotion of Prefabricated Construction in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1, July.
    14. Yuanyan Gan & Liyin Shen & Jindao Chen & Vivian W. Y. Tam & Yongtao Tan & I. M. Chethana S. Illankoon, 2017. "Critical Factors Affecting the Quality of Industrialized Building System Projects in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-13, February.
    15. Long Li & Zhongfu Li & Guangdong Wu & Xiaodan Li, 2018. "Critical Success Factors for Project Planning and Control in Prefabrication Housing Production: A China Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-17, March.
    16. Huakang Liang & Shoujian Zhang & Yikun Su, 2017. "Evaluating the Efficiency of Industrialization Process in Prefabricated Residential Buildings Using a Fuzzy Multicriteria Decision-Making Method," Mathematical Problems in Engineering, Hindawi, vol. 2017, pages 1-12, September.
    17. Kamali, Mohammad & Hewage, Kasun, 2016. "Life cycle performance of modular buildings: A critical review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 1171-1183.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Hui-Ping Tserng & I-Cheng Cho & Chun-Hung Chen & Yu-Fan Liu, 2021. "Developing a Risk Management Process for Infrastructure Projects Using IDEF0," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-22, June.
    2. Truong Dang Hoang Nhat Nguyen & Hyosoo Moon & Yonghan Ahn, 2022. "Critical Review of Trends in Modular Integrated Construction Research with a Focus on Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-23, September.
    3. Ayaz Ahmad Khan & Rongrong Yu & Tingting Liu & Ning Gu & James Walsh, 2023. "Volumetric Modular Construction Risks: A Comprehensive Review and Digital-Technology-Coupled Circular Mitigation Strategies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-34, April.
    4. Tian Zhu & Guangchen Liu, 2022. "A Novel Hybrid Methodology to Study the Risk Management of Prefabricated Building Supply Chains: An Outlook for Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-22, December.
    5. Al-Hussein M. H. Al-Aidrous & Nasir Shafiq & Yasser Yahya Al-Ashmori & Al-Baraa Abdulrahman Al-Mekhlafi & Abdullah O. Baarimah, 2022. "Essential Factors Enhancing Industrialized Building Implementation in Malaysian Residential Projects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-18, September.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Lei Jiang & Zhongfu Li & Long Li & Tiankun Li & Yunli Gao, 2018. "A Framework of Industrialized Building Assessment in China Based on the Structural Equation Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-20, August.
    2. Yang Liu & Jianjun Dong & Ling Shen, 2020. "A Conceptual Development Framework for Prefabricated Construction Supply Chain Management: An Integrated Overview," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-29, March.
    3. Kaicheng Shen & Chen Cheng & Xiaodong Li & Zhihui Zhang, 2019. "Environmental Cost-Benefit Analysis of Prefabricated Public Housing in Beijing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-21, January.
    4. Wen Jiang & Yichao Hua & Meng Yuan & Igor Martek & Weiling Jiang, 2024. "Pricing Models under Three-Echelon Prefabricated Construction Supply Chains with Consumer Preferences," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-25, January.
    5. Yongsheng Jiang & Dong Zhao & Dedong Wang & Yudong Xing, 2019. "Sustainable Performance of Buildings through Modular Prefabrication in the Construction Phase: A Comparative Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-15, October.
    6. Wen Jiang & Meng Yuan, 2022. "Coordination of Prefabricated Construction Supply Chain under Cap-and-Trade Policy Considering Consumer Environmental Awareness," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-22, May.
    7. Hong Xue & Shoujian Zhang & Yikun Su & Zezhou Wu, 2018. "Capital Cost Optimization for Prefabrication: A Factor Analysis Evaluation Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-22, January.
    8. Weiping Jiang & Lirong Luo & Zezhou Wu & Jianbo Fei & Maxwell Fordjour Antwi-Afari & Tao Yu, 2019. "An Investigation of the Effectiveness of Prefabrication Incentive Policies in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-24, September.
    9. Zezhou Wu & Lirong Luo & Heng Li & Ying Wang & Guoqiang Bi & Maxwell Fordjour Antwi-Afari, 2021. "An Analysis on Promoting Prefabrication Implementation in Construction Industry towards Sustainability," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-21, October.
    10. Lei Jiang & Zhongfu Li & Long Li & Yunli Gao, 2018. "Constraints on the Promotion of Prefabricated Construction in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1, July.
    11. Hosang Hyun & Hyung-Geun Kim & Jin-Sung Kim, 2022. "Integrated Off-Site Construction Design Process including DfMA Considerations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-20, March.
    12. Alasdair Reid, 2023. "Closing the Affordable Housing Gap: Identifying the Barriers Hindering the Sustainable Design and Construction of Affordable Homes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-27, May.
    13. Yu, Sisi & Liu, Yanfeng & Wang, Dengjia & Bahaj, AbuBakr S. & Wu, Yue & Liu, Jiaping, 2021. "Review of thermal and environmental performance of prefabricated buildings: Implications to emission reductions in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    14. López-Guerrero, Rafael E. & Vera, Sergio & Carpio, Manuel, 2022. "A quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the sustainability of industrialised building systems: A bibliographic review and analysis of case studies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    15. Kangning Liu & Yikun Su & Shoujian Zhang, 2018. "Evaluating Supplier Management Maturity in Prefabricated Construction Project-Survey Analysis in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-21, August.
    16. Seoyoung Jung & Seulki Lee & Jungho Yu, 2021. "Identification and Prioritization of Critical Success Factors for Off-Site Construction Using ISM and MICMAC Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-21, August.
    17. Andrew Agapiou, 2021. "An Exploration of the Best Value Perceptions of Small Housebuilding Developers towards Offsite Construction," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-19, April.
    18. Zhai, Yue & Choi, Tsan-Ming & Shao, Saijun & Xu, Su Xiu & Huang, George Q., 2020. "Spatial-temporal hedging coordination in prefabricated housing production," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    19. Xin Jin & Geoffrey Q. P. Shen & Qian-Cheng Wang & E. M. A. C. Ekanayake & Siqi Fan, 2021. "Promoting Construction Industrialisation with Policy Interventions: A Holistic Review of Published Policy Literature," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-23, November.
    20. Hong Xue & Shoujian Zhang & Yikun Su & Zezhou Wu, 2017. "Factors Affecting the Capital Cost of Prefabrication—A Case Study of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-22, August.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:21:p:8996-:d:436954. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.