A conceptual management framework for improving the lifting and implementation of prefabricated construction in the Australian context
Creators: name: Zhang, Zhiming
Publisher: name: RMIT University
Year: 2024
Subjects: classificationCode: 400505
subject: Construction materials

description: The study described in this thesis investigates how to improve the implementation of prefabricated construction in the Australian context. This goal is achieved through exploring the major developments in the current Australian prefabricated construction industry;  identifying  the challenges encountered during the implementation of prefabricated construction and the relevant recommendations to address them; and developing approaches to manage these challenges and executing these recommendations.  

The Australian prefabricated construction market has been developing rapidly in recent years, and it is expected to grow from a current 5% to 15% in 2025. Also, new prefabrication-related technologies, materials, systems and services are springing up in the current Australian market. However, the uptake of prefabricated construction has not been warmly embraced by the industry, due to a wide range of challenges encountered during the implementation. Among these challenges, lifting is identified as one of the major aspects affecting the implementation of prefabricated construction by many previous studies. Nonetheless, there is a lack of recommendation in previous studies to improve lifting-related activities in prefabricated construction. Also, there is a lack of strategy found in previous studies to guide the lifting operation of prefabricated items under wind conditions.

To improve the implementation of prefabricated construction in the Australian context, this research set up seven objectives: (1) to understand the industry development (including typical prefab systems) in  prefabricated construction; (2) to identify emerging benefits and challenges of implementing prefabrication from industry perspectives; (3) to identify recommendations and responsible parties for tackling the challenges in prefabrication; (4) to identify the specific lifting-related challenges in Australian prefabricated construction from industry perspectives; (5) to identify the recommendations corresponding to these lifting-related challenges;  (6) to develop a method to assist crane operators controlling the lifting operational safety of prefabricated items in wind conditions; (7) to develop a management framework to assist stakeholders improving the lifting-related tasks from different stages in Australian prefabricated construction. 

To achieve these research objectives, a comprehensive research methodology including literature review and two rounds of industrial interviews was structured. Through Round 1 interview, factors reflecting the current industry development in Australian prefabricated construction (including typical prefab systems) and emerging benefits and challenges of implementing prefabrication were identified. Further, recommendations and key responsible parties were identified to tackle the challenges in Australian prefabricated construction.  Also, through Round 1 interview analysis, lifting is highlighted as a dominant factor affecting the planning, design, production and on-site installation of prefabricated construction. 

Round 2 interview is therefore conducted to further investigate the specific lifting-related challenges and identify corresponding recommendations to address them. As an outcome, 26 critical lifting challenges and 37 corresponding recommendations were respectively identified and proposed. In particular, the challenge “C17-Management of wind impact on lifting safety” is identified as the most critical lifting-related challenge in Australian prefabricated construction. Hence, a prework checklist and a construction site 3D model were developed to assist crane crew in minimising the risks associated with the lifting operation of prefabricated items in wind conditions. 

As the final research outcome, a conceptual management framework was developed to assist different stakeholders in improving the lifting-related tasks in Australian prefabricated construction. This framework presents critical lifting challenges, corresponding recommendations, related key tasks and related key stakeholders by different stages. Therefore, this management framework can also assist in improving lifting-related activities in prefabrication, based on different life cycle stages. The validity of major research outcomes in this research were tested through qualitative questionnaires. The overall comments collected from participants were positive and all research outcomes were highly recognised. 

This research made contributions to both academic knowledge and prefabrication industry practice from many different aspects.  In terms of academic knowledge, there is a lack of research to investigate what the specific lifting challenges in prefabrication are, or to provide adequate recommendations to tackle these lifting challenges. Furthermore, there is a lack of methods in previous studies to guide the lifting operation of prefabricated items under wind conditions. This study filled these major research gaps by identifying a series of challenges and recommendations, and by developing a prework checklist and management framework. Regarding industry practice, this developed prework checklist and construction site 3D model provided a valuable reference for Australian industry practitioners to improve lifting safety under wind in prefabricated construction, and for industry organisations to improve the current related guidelines.  This developed management framework assisted in managing these critical lifting challenges and executing the corresponding recommendations, from two perspectives: tasks from different stages and different stakeholders. Besides that, this research provides a valuable reference for all parties in the prefabrication supply chain to update their knowledge on prefabricated construction and crane lifting in the Australian context.