Identification of Learning Effects in Modular Construction Manufacturing

Abstract

<p>The effects of learning in real-life <a href="https://www-sciencedirect-com.eproxy.lib.hku.hk/topics/engineering/modular-construction" title="Learn more about modular construction from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages">modular construction</a> (MC) factories and their application for productivity improvement are not well understood, despite the shift from on-site construction to factory-based MC facilitated by automation and robotics. Informed by learning curve theory, this paper describes the learning effects of modular construction manufacturing (MCM) and their implications for MCM management. The Stanford-B model was identified as the best fit when comparing four learning curves in relation to a Hong Kong case study, revealing that the learning rate in modular construction manufacturing (MCM) fluctuates rather than following a linear pattern. These learning effects in MCM bridge the gap between the disorder of on-site construction and the structured production of manufactured goods. This research unveils the previously unexplored “black box” of learning effects in MCM, unlocking the potential offered by MC.<br></p>