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

Pei Dang, Zhanwen Niu, Shang Gao, Lei Hou and Guomin Zhang
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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

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 21, 1-21

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.

Keywords: prefabricated construction; sustainable construction capability; construction enterprise; Entropy method; fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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