| Author: | Chan, Eugene Kwan Fung |
| Title: | Identifying the critical success factors in the learning curve of high-rise steel modular integrated construction in Hong Kong |
| Advisors: | Ni, Meng (BRE) |
| Degree: | DIREC |
| Year: | 2024 |
| Subject: | Learning curve (Industrial engineering) Construction industry -- Management Modular construction Tall buildings Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations |
| Department: | Department of Building and Real Estate |
| Pages: | xv, 255 pages : color illustrations |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | Housing supply has been a long-term challenge in Hong Kong. Prompting the Hong Kong Government to implement the 10 year housing strategy starting in 2014. In 2022 it was reported 1/3 of the public housing supply would be achieved within 5 years of the projected 10 years. Initiatives were put forth to expedite construction including adopting steel modular integrated construction (MiC) methodology for Light Public Housing (LPH). Learning curve studies in construction have traditionally investigated productivity models of individual construction activities to project the end time and cost. This approach was criticised for oversimplification and its inability to capture the complexities of a construction project. While learning curve studies in High-Rise construction have taken another approach, using floors rather than construction trades as the primary production units. These studies found that a learning rate would occur in the initial 2-3 floors upon which a critical floor and learning rate becomes a fixed. This phenomenon was also identified in the recent pilot Steel MiC Projects in Hong Kong. Existing literature has not provided insight into the causation and challenges faced in the learning period. In investigating the pilot High-Rise Steel MiC projects in Hong Kong and synthetising findings from teamwork studies in aviation, healthcare and military industries. Team training studies within these industries are highly developed, with reported success as mitigation measures and long term development. There is opportunity in examining these studies to synthesis into the construction industry. This research project provides insights and recommendations to reduce the learning period in High-Rise Steel MiC construction and contributes to the body of knowledge in learning curve in High-Rise Steel MiC in Hong Kong. To address the research gaps, a mixed-methods approach combining literature reviews, semi-structured interviews and a quantitative survey was used in the thesis to triangulate and verify the data. Literature reviews in team training studies from the aviation, healthcare and military industries to formed the basis of the questions in the semi-structure interviews . The interviews conducted with professionals involved in the pilot High-Rise Steel MiC in Hong Kong. Experience shared in the interviews provided insight into the obstacles faced during learning period and the teamwork behaviours in typical floor constructions were then used to develop a quantitative survey. The key findings (N=46) highlight the top five influencing factors in learning curve are team work factors (TWF) and taskwork factors (TSF), TWF3 Work Sequence, TSF2-2 Safety Preparation Works, TSF6 Connection System, TWF1 Team Leadership and TSF1 Factory and Delivery. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted grouping the critical success factors into 3 learning success components: LSF1 taskwork’s LSF2 team coordination and LSF3 team communication. Five guideline and recommendations were then developed to address critical success factors identified in this study these are location, design and planning criteria, cultivating learning period through a process of resource planning and overcoming challenges, crew member team training, culture development of long term teams and performance monitoring. The insights in this study potential to reduce overall construction period and improve project outcomes; safety and quality of site works by resolving the challenges that would be faced in the learning period and ultimately contribute to the advancement of High-Rise Steel MiC industry in Hong Kong. The survey results revealed significant correlation with participants who had involvement in steel MiC experience and concrete MiC experience, highlighting the relevance in experience with MiC and also providing a basis for future research whether the critical success factors identified in this study could also be applied to High-Rise Concrete MiC projects. |
| Rights: | All rights reserved |
| Access: | restricted access |
Files in This Item:
| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7619.pdf | For All Users (off-campus access for PolyU Staff & Students only) | 8.44 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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