Product realisation process in industrialised house building is often characterized with Engineer-to-order production strategy (ETO). In ETO the design phase is a part of every house building project, and it relies on the combination of process predefinitions and product predefinitions. A challenge with the process part, is to identify, allocate, verify and secure requirements throughout the design process. One set of requirements can be traced to Miljöbyggnad, a climate certification system in Sweden, judged from a third-part evaluation of performance for energy, climate, inner and outer environment. Based on indicators the certification has the purpose for house-building companies to reach the goals for a green transition with climate neutral construction processes before 2050. Requirement management becomes a crucial part of the multi-storey housebuilding design phase, where unique layout and other client choices are present in each project. A prerequisite for the systematic requirement management is the definition of underlying information structures. The aim of this study is therefore to identify and describe how information can be structured for systematic management of Miljöbyggnad requirements in an industrialized house building context. In a qualitative study, with two industrialised house building companies, three representative house-building projects where followed, mapped, analysed and identified for analyses. One interesting analysis result from the study was how requirements were broken down along the design phase and how domains could support the work for each house-building project. Practical contribution, in how information standards could support Miljöbyggnad requirements, was identified align with multi-disciplinary roles in the design phase.

The construction industry has seen an increase in its complexity. This has meant an increased need for time-consuming and costly quality control. Moreover, the construction industry continues to perform detection-based quality controls with little to no focus on prevention. Quality control documentation is a source of information and data that can support the development of construction processes toward prevention. However, current documentations are ambiguous and subjective, so they remain ineffectual. A case study was performed to explore the causes of the ambiguity and subjectivity of traditional quality control documentation, and to analyze the identified project-variable procedure’s transformation into standardized or even automated documentation. Evaluating the traditional quality control’s preparation, inspection, and documentation phases highlighted unique challenges requiring tailored solutions. This study identifies the challenges of inaccurate data creation and data entry, unusable documentation, and inefficient documentation. Therefore, the usefulness of data structuring and process standardization became apparent. Hence, the study explores two solutions: a digitalized quality control system (DQCS) that ensures one accurate structured data entry method, and a centralized unit that prepares the necessary data for quality control inspections, instead of the unique preparation for each project. The results show the benefits of increased accuracy, usability, and efficiency for reliable on-site inspection and documentation.

This study explores how the logic of product modularity could be useful for the design of complete residential building areas. Previous research has noted that product modularity is usually only applicable if a ‘full modularization’ approach is pursued (i.e., an approach with completely defined modules). This is challenging in Engineer To Order production strategies. Therefore, an approach towards partial product modularity is sought instead. In this approach, the modules are lesser defined to allow flexibility following, e.g., architectural design freedom, as well as per project-specific requirements posed in house-building projects. This study identifies nine (9) ‘modules’ which are denominated as functional spaces. By explaining how unique project requirements affect functional spaces, some integral elements of house-building are detailed. By evaluating the functional spaces in regards to the level of predefinition, as well as the level of relationship, their level of modularity is explored. The usefulness of partial modularity for house-building is suggested to be for coordination of design work and support tools that aides design work. This study suggests that partial modularity can be a feasible approach towards modularity without the need for countermeasures in terms of increasing product predefinition.

Lending inspiration from the manufacturing industry, industrialized house-builders have adopted some of its characteristics such as high standardization of configurable products and manufacturing processes. Standardization of product and information flow within industrialized house-building has shown to beneficially increase offsite manufacturing efficiency. They have however not been able to transfer the increase in efficiency to onsite construction, leading to it being one of the key issues resulting in delays. For offsite manufacturing, previous research has suggested Bill of Material (BOM) as a structure to define information for in manufacturing phases. However, due to the variation in workflow between offsite manufacturing and onsite construction, the structure of a BOM for offsite manufacturing cannot be reused in onsite construction, ultimately resulting in increased data redundancy and recreation. A conceptual model of a BOM for onsite construction has been developed inspired by Bill of Materials (BOM), Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), Location Breakdown Structure (LBS), Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and Work Instructions (WI). The conceptual model utilizes space structure LBS to link spaces with SOPs. Furthermore, it also utilizes WBS to link SOPs with WIs. The BOM for onsite construction is generated by a transformation from offsite manufacturing P-BOM. Streamlining the information flow and transformation between manufacturing and construction phases open the possibility to develop IT-solutions for industrialized house-builders. By developing existing IT-systems to reduce data redundancy, the fragmentation between offsite manufacturing and construction sites could be utilized by reusing existing data. The conceptual model supports multiple information views and allows for information filtering determined by the performed work and project.

Well detailed, informative and accurate work instructions are a necessity to mitigate delays in construction. Today, this is done through a combination of shop drawings, documents, sheets, work pre-planning meetings and onsite verbal work instructions to transfer knowledge and information between all actors. Due to the subjectivity of these methods, many incorrect assumptions and man-made errors originated from miscommunication and misinterpretation can occur. Such issues are tough to identify prior to their occurrence on construction sites, leading to construction delays. Virtual Reality (VR) technology can simulate and visualize assembly processes using Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). The visualization aims to ensure a quality communication with skilled workers and to aid their interpretation of SOPs by reducing assumptions. As a result of a more effective education, it can support the collaboration between actors. Utilization of SOPs for visualization of Work Instructions (WI) and assembly processes are important, because many process WIs on construction sites are repetitive. Modularity can increase the efficiency by supporting instancing and variation creation of construction tasks and products. Interactivity can support the continuously changing status and demands of construction sites. A method has been iteratively developed to support visualization of modular and interactive SOPs within the context of industrialized house-building (IHB), to increase the quality and consistency of communication at construction sites. Concurrently to development of the method, a prototype using VR technology was developed. Interactive functionalities along with VR technology make it possible to adjust SOP and WI modules to suit the demands and conditions of the construction site, including real-time. As a result, the developed method is responsive and adjustable to conditions such as weather, man-made errors, assembly re-sequencing and re-scheduling. Combining product design, SOPs, WIs and assembly process in early stages of construction has shown to help identify potential issues and aid in planning for cautious measurements. Results show that by using the developed method, skilled workers were able to identify occurring miscommunications, and misinterpretations between them, site managers and foremen as well as ensuring their understanding.

Industrialized house-building companies predefine parameters in platforms. To identify processes platforms the use of work break down structures that support the assembly processes for small house building companies were studied. A case study of the onsite assembly activities were chosen at one small Swedish house builder that offer customization within their products. Based on the assembly processes, a work breakdown structure of the workflow predefinitions was identified for the process that didn’t compromise with product customization. Small companies can predefine elements within the product to simplify the work process on site. The work break down structure becomes a tool to find parts and process that predefine a house building platform. It can also be used for planning, delivery, cost, and resources in an overall view of the project. Because of the importance of planning during projects, together with the possible standardization of the company’s process, the use of a work break down could contribute to increase efficiency for onsite work.

Managing digital information in construction is commonly described through Building Information Modelling (BIM), which advocates seamless chains of information, increased coordination between different actors and a life-cycle perspective on information management. However, low adoption outside the design phase entails that handling information in production is in many cases manual and paper-based, which increases vulnerability for upstream errors materialising downstream in production. Furthermore, issues with interoperability surround many areas when managing digital information. For industrialised house-builders, the transmitter and receiver of information are in many cases integrated within the same company or based on long-term collaboration. This affects their ability to manage information and utilise design information, which implies that their strategy for digital information management (DIM) might benefit from being addressed differently compared to more traditional BIM-based approaches. In this paper, we describe and discuss an implemented DIM-solution at an industrialised house-builder in order to address the benefits and challenges with DIM when managing information from design to production. The results imply that in order for several different functions within the company to reap benefits, a customised DIM-solution adapted after the company's specific needs is a well-suited approach forward to avoid sacrificing functionality when utilising design information.

Industrialized house-building companies predefine parameters in platforms. In the strive to identify efficient information flow with automation and configuration, the design process requires a breakdown of the product structure of a building to digitally communicate between information systems. The level of predefinitions varies between industrialized house-builders according to market position, type of building processes, and maturity in business. The client decoupling point according to the predefinitions of house-building as a product is central for how and when production information is created. Bill of materials is a breakdown structure that visualize relations and the transformation between engineering, preparation, and production processes from a life cycle perspective. A case study at eight house-building companies was chosen with the aim to identify relations between the level of predefinitions and breakdown structures. House-building platforms with a high level of predefinition on layouts, components, and interfaces show a tendency to use less time in BIM-tools for engineering work and a high level of parameters in manufacturing configuration systems to prepare for production. Meanwhile, the opposite with low levels of predefinitions on components and interfaces focus on BIM-tools for engineering work with longer lead times. An interesting outcome is those with a high level of predefinitions in interfaces but lower levels on component dimensions. These companies have the ability to position their offer to a wide market with flexibility in the engineering work and need to communicate the high levels of interface parameters for the manufacturing sequence with a breakdown of the product together with architects.  

The aim of the project “Biobased building and living for the future” was to create conditions for increased use of bio-based products and services in the construction sector in Sweden and Europe and to increase the competitiveness of the Swedish timber manufacturing industry. The project has shown ways to develop E-commerce, parts of the production where increased digitalization leads to increased capacity and quality, as well as solutions for development of floor systems, external walls and tall timber buildings. The project has shown development opportunities to increase the use of bio-based products that implemented will increase competitiveness.

The project has been divided into eleven sub-projects to study the various aspects of external factors, market conditions and business models, process development and product development. Within each sub-project, several workshops have been carried out to jointly evaluate results and decide the next step in the sub-project. Through joint workshops, the partners have also been able to meet and share results across the subprojects and spread knowledge and create networks within the industry. The last part is perceived as very valuable by both the companies and the academy / institute.

For the joinery value chain, a current situation analysis has been carried out and shown how the development of E-commerce platforms must be combined with process development in order to have a large effect. The results will be utilized in the companies' strategy work ahead. For the timber building value chain, demonstrators have shown development opportunities for both process and product development. The next step for the companies is to evaluate the various solutions linked to their own production conditions.

Predefinitions in house-building platforms is developed as routines to manage project building information models over to production data by documents and digital drawings. Visualisation of the information flow in the industrialised house-building process is hard to track and information are often presented as islands, seldom described in the flow for the entire process. Interactive visualisation, using game technology, has open up for new applications of data -transformation, -visualization and -simulation of project information which is less studied in the context of industrialised house-building. This paper tries to address this issue via a combination of game engine technology and the predefined industrialised house-building process. The game engine technology allow development for end -user demands and functionality to express and visualise values for the daily planning and execution of processes. In a case study approach the development and analysis of four building projects were studied and chosen to the range of product platform predefinitions. Based on object structure for different views, models and the related metadata were visualised with an immersive virtual environment prototype. The prototype, based on game engine technology, was developed to manage incoming building projects variations that followed house-building platform predefinitions. As a visualising tool of engineering, on-site planning and production process the game engine technology simulates and visualize views on product structures, production information, assembling and operation instructions by interactive functions in the game environment.