A review on the interactions of robotic systems and lean principles in offsite construction
Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management
ISSN: 0969-9988
Article publication date: 4 March 2021
Issue publication date: 10 February 2022
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose is two-fold: (1) to explore the interactions of robotic systems and lean construction in the context of offsite construction (OC) that were addressed in the literature published between 2008 and 2019 and (2) to identify the gaps in such interactions while discussing how addressing those gaps can benefit not only OC but the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry as a whole.
Design/methodology/approach
First, a systematic literature review (SLR) identified journal papers addressing the interactions of automation and lean in OC. Then, the researchers focused the analysis on the under-researched subtopic of robotic systems. The focused analysis includes discussing the interactions identified in the SLR through a matrix of interactions and utilizing literature beyond the previously identified articles for future research directions on robotic systems and lean construction in OC.
Findings
The study found 35 journal papers that addressed automation and lean in the context of OC. Most of the identified literature focused on interactions of BIM and lean construction, while only nine focused on the interactions of robotic systems and lean construction. Identified literature related to robotic systems mainly addressed robots and automated equipment. Additional interactions were identified in the realm of wearable devices, unmanned aerial vehicles/automated guided vehicles and digital fabrication/computer numerical control (CNC) machines.
Originality/value
This is one of the first studies dedicated to exploring the interactions of robotic systems and lean construction in OC. Also, it proposes a categorization for construction automation and a matrix of interactions between construction automation and lean construction.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the National Science Foundation (NSF). This material is based on work supported by the NSF under Grant No. 1827733. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF. The second author was also supported by an Education Support Leave from the Technological University of Panama.
Citation
Gusmao Brissi, S., Wong Chong, O., Debs, L. and Zhang, J. (2022), "A review on the interactions of robotic systems and lean principles in offsite construction", Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, Vol. 29 No. 1, pp. 383-406. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-10-2020-0809
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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