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A supply chain perspective of prefabricated housebuilding diffusion in New Zealand

Rehan Masood (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand)
Krishanu Roy (School of Engineering Academic, The University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand)
Vicente A. González (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada)
James B.P. Lim (School of Engineering Academic, The University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand)
Abdur Rehman Nasir (Department of Construction Engineering and Management, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan)

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management

ISSN: 0969-9988

Article publication date: 14 February 2023

335

Abstract

Purpose

Globally, prefabrication in housebuilding has evolved as an innovative approach to attain sustainability and affordability. However, the SC, including non-producers and producers, of prefabricated housebuilding projects is still not perceptually aligned, hindering innovation diffusion. This paper investigates the contemporary industry perspective on PHB for conceptualisation, market share and growth, innovation diffusion and the producer's role in the context of New Zealand.

Design/methodology/approach

An exploratory qualitative research design was chosen to learn the perceptual stance of the industry. A semi-structured survey was conducted, followed by interviews with selected supply chain participants, who were producers and non-producers and had relevant experience in the PHB industry.

Findings

This study reports the common terminologies used by supply chain members, with justification and explanation. Further, the perceived market share and growth of the PHB industry are obtained and compared with subsequent studies to determine the capability and capacity. The perception of the diffusion of PHB by type is reported to portray the overall trend of the industry. In the last, the role of producers as the suppliers of PHB projects is investigated to establish the stakeholder positional criticality.

Practical implications

This study can help researchers and practitioners gain insight into the PHB industry from a multi-dimensional perspective. This study is a potential first step to formalise the policy, programme, strategies and action plan for the uptake of the PHB in the New Zealand.

Originality/value

PHB diffusion in the supply chain perspective, considering multi-dimensional aspects, has not been considered in previous studies as government agencies produce most of the literature. This academic research establishes the theoretical linkage towards PHB diffusion and reports the current status.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Authors thank the National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan, for partial funding under Faculty Development Programme. Authors thank, specifically, OffsiteNZ for providing resources and support for data collection from prefabricated housebuilding companies and also appreciate participation in surveys by several organizations within New Zealand construction industry.

Citation

Masood, R., Roy, K., González, V.A., Lim, J.B.P. and Nasir, A.R. (2023), "A supply chain perspective of prefabricated housebuilding diffusion in New Zealand", Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-10-2022-0941

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited

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