Integrated Design Process for Modular Construction Projects to Reduce Rework

Hosang Hyun, Hyunsoo Kim, Hyun-Soo Lee, Moonseo Park and Jeonghoon Lee
Additional contact information
Hosang Hyun: Institute of Engineering Research, Seoul National University, Gwanak-ro 1, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Korea
Hyunsoo Kim: Department of Architectural Engineering, Dankook University, 152 Jukjeon-ro, Suji-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 16890, Korea
Hyun-Soo Lee: Department of Architecture and Architectural Engineering, Seoul National University, Gwanak-ro 1, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Korea
Moonseo Park: Department of Architecture and Architectural Engineering, Seoul National University, Gwanak-ro 1, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Korea
Jeonghoon Lee: Technical Policy Research Team, Construction Engineer Policy Institute of Korea, Eonju-ro 650, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 06098, Korea

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 2, 1-19

Abstract: In modular construction projects, unit production and onsite work are conducted concurrently, enabling shorter duration, lower cost, and improved quality. Because of the nature of the work, building design details should be determined early in the design phase, which requires information from participants. However, the design process for stick-built construction does not include such information, which leads to errors in design, such as omissions and conflicts of information from participants, causing reworking in the design phase. To reduce errors, an information flow should be identified representing when/what/how the information should be shared, and with whom. This paper proposes an integrated design process based on the information flow. To identify the flow, a precedence relationship between activities is represented using a dependency structure matrix (DSM). Then, the order of activities is rearranged using a partitioning algorithm. In this manner, unnecessary feedback and reverse information flow, which are related to errors, are reduced. Finally, the rearranged activities are proposed as an integrated design process. To validate the impact of the proposed process and methodology, interviews with experts were conducted. The validation results suggest that the project delivery method should also be considered in the early project phase in practical application.

Keywords: modular construction; rework; integrated design process; dependency structure matrix (DSM); process optimization (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 (4)

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