Supply Chain Management for Prefabricated Building Projects in Hong Kong

TLDR

Prefabricated building projects are increasingly popular worldwide, yet their complex supply chains require effective management to avoid cost overruns and schedule delays. This study quantitatively analyzes production, transportation, and assembly in a Hong Kong prefabricated building project to critique its supply chain management. Automated data‑collection technologies were employed to capture real‑time information on precast components throughout the supply chain. The analysis revealed severe issues—limited resource planning, assembly delays, overproduction, excess inventory, and long lead times—stemming from poor planning, communication, and workflow control, providing stakeholders a comprehensive view to improve PBP supply chain performance.

Abstract

Prefabricated building projects (PBPs) have gained worldwide popularity over the past few decades because of their various benefits. Supply chain management (SCM) is critical to the successful delivery of PBPs because supply chains are complex, involving multiple processes and stakeholders. Poor SCM in PBPs causes cost overruns and schedule delays. This study investigates production, transportation, and assembly in a PBP in Hong Kong to quantitatively analyze and critique its SCM. Automated data collection technologies were adopted to obtain real-time information on precast components throughout the supply chain. Findings from the study show that limited consideration of resource planning, significant assembly delay, overproduction, excess inventory, and long lead times are severe problems. The root causes of these problems include poor supply chain planning, poor communication between stakeholders, and poor workflow control. This study objectively reveals the true picture of SCM for PBPs using real-time information on an entire supply chain. The results provide an in-depth understanding of SCM in PBPs, which will be of great value to stakeholders in improving PBP supply chain performance.