Benefit evaluation of design for excellence in industrialized construction projects

Abstract

The leaders of construction innovation in China promote the integration of production best practices such as design for Excellence (DfX) in industrialized construction (IC) projects as a strategic path to leverage radical performance improvements in productivity, cost, quality, circularity, and sustainability. Despite its maturity in the manufacturing industry, the implementation of DfX methods in China's IC projects remains low. One widely cited reason for the sluggish interest is a poor understanding of the holistic business benefits that DfX methods could offer in IC projects. This study identified and evaluated 23 perceived benefits of DfX methods in IC projects in China. Quantitative data were collected using structured questionnaires administered to 229 IC academics and industry practitioners in China. Statistical analysis showed that all the benefits were perceived as significant. Based on mean significance indices, the top five perceived significant benefits include: "improves component design and production efficiency,""facilitates standardization and customization,""reduces labor requirements and improves productivity,""reduces labor, inventory and development costs,"and "reduces material and construction wastes."The study grouped the benefits into four clusters, namely, improved project design productivity, efficiency, and management; shortened design and construction time; life cycle cost savings; and improved flexibility, adaptability, and circularity. This study constitutes the first holistic evaluation of the benefits of DfX methods in IC projects. The evaluated benefits may serve as a basis for measuring the business benefits to justify investments in DfX in IC projects. The outcome constitutes a starting point for developing evidence-based DfX performance measurement metrics, indicators, and tools in the future.