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Adopting Product Modularity in House Building to Support Mass Customisation

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  • Cecília G. da Rocha

    (Building Innovation Research Unit (NORIE), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Osvaldo Aranha, 99, 3° Andar, CEP 90035-190 Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil)

  • Carlos T. Formoso

    (Building Innovation Research Unit (NORIE), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Osvaldo Aranha, 99, 3° Andar, CEP 90035-190 Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil)

  • Patrícia Tzortzopoulos

    (School of Art, Design and Architecture, University of Huddersfield, Queensgate, HD1 3DH Huddersfield, UK)

Abstract

Product modularity is a concept that can contribute to the improvement of product quality and production efficiency in house-building. However, there is a lack of consensus in the literature on the concepts that define product modularity. Furthermore, little attention has been given to the differences between building construction and manufacturing, for which product modularity was originally developed. This research aims to address that gap by adapting the conceptualization of product modularity so that it can effectively be used in the house-building industry. The methodological approach adopted in this study was Design Science Research, and two empirical studies were carried out on construction companies based in Brazil and in the U.K. Those studies are used to illustrate the applicability and utility of the proposed concepts and tools. Research findings indicate that the adoption of product modularity concepts results in benefits to both traditional construction technologies and pre-fabricated building systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Cecília G. da Rocha & Carlos T. Formoso & Patrícia Tzortzopoulos, 2015. "Adopting Product Modularity in House Building to Support Mass Customisation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(5), pages 1-19, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:7:y:2015:i:5:p:4919-4937:d:48690
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hua Wang & Chris Kimble, 2010. "Low-cost strategy through product architecture : lessons from China," Post-Print hal-02313415, HAL.
    2. Joan E. van Aken, 2004. "Management Research Based on the Paradigm of the Design Sciences: The Quest for Field‐Tested and Grounded Technological Rules," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(2), pages 219-246, March.
    3. Alford, Dave & Sackett, Peter & Nelder, Geoff, 2000. "Mass customisation -- an automotive perspective," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 65(1), pages 99-110, April.
    4. Hans Voordijk, 2009. "Construction management and economics: the epistemology of a multidisciplinary design science," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(8), pages 713-720.
    5. Ulrich, Karl, 1995. "The role of product architecture in the manufacturing firm," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 24(3), pages 419-440, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Holopainen, Jani & Mattila, Osmo & Pöyry, Essi & Parvinen, Petri, 2020. "Applying design science research methodology in the development of virtual reality forest management services," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    2. Carlos T. Formoso & Patrícia A. Tillmann & Cynthia dos S. Hentschke, 2022. "Guidelines for the Implementation of Mass Customization in Affordable House-Building Projects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-15, March.
    3. Marta Pędzik & Joanna Bednarz & Zdzisław Kwidziński & Tomasz Rogoziński & Jerzy Smardzewski, 2020. "The Idea of Mass Customization in the Door Industry Using the Example of the Company Porta KMI Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-14, May.
    4. Cynthia dos Santos Hentschke & Carlos Torres Formoso & Marcia Elisa Echeveste, 2020. "A Customer Integration Framework for the Development of Mass Customised Housing Projects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-26, October.
    5. Luisa Felix Dalla Vecchia & Branko Kolarevic, 2020. "Mass Customization for Social Housing in Evolving Neighborhoods in Brazil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-19, October.
    6. Daniela D. Viana & Iris D. Tommelein & Carlos T. Formoso, 2017. "Using Modularity to Reduce Complexity of Industrialized Building Systems for Mass Customization," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-17, October.

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