An Investigation of the Supply Chain Process of Pre-Fabricated Construction Site

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would take this opportunity to thank my research supervisor, family and friends for their support and guidance without which this research would not have been possible.

DECLARATION

I, [type your full first names and surname here], declare that the contents of this dissertation/thesis represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation/thesis has not previously been submitted for academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University.

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Table of Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTii

DECLARATIONiii

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Research Background1

Aims and Objectives1

Research Questions2

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW3

Construction Industry3

Construction Industry of the United Kingdom3

History of Prefabrication4

Prefabrication6

Offsite Construction8

Conventional and Prefabricated Residential Construction9

CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY10

Research Design10

Literature Search11

Research Design11

Validity12

Ethical issues12

Reliability/Dependability13

CHAPTER 4: ANTICIPATED RESULTS14

REFERENCES15

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Prefabrication is a method of assembling and organising components of a building structure. It refers to the structure of building to any kind of manufacturing or residential or commercial sites. It also includes complete or partial transportation of assemblies to the site of construction where the structure is to be laid down (Brodersen, 2002, Pp. 89).

The research study mainly aims to research about the process of the pre fabrication. The study will take into account the supply chain process of the Pre fabricated construction sites. The word prefabrication is also applied to the production and manufacturing of various things besides the structuring at a fixed premises for construction. It is in continuous use when the fabrication of any material, machinery or section is shifted or transferred from one manufacturing location to another site. The section, material or machinery is supplied, assembled and made ready to fit (Gaskell, 2003, Pp. 78).

The construction is a major industry, both for its economic weight and its impact on the environment. Shipbuilding and aircraft construction, etc., are equivalent concepts in architectural construction, referring to the techniques of engineering specializing in ships, aircraft, etc. The construction sector has one of the highest accident rates in Europe. The supply chain of pre-fabricated construction is an important task that needs to be performed properly by the management.

Research Background

Prefabrication has been in use since ancient times. For instance, the oldest engineered roadway of the world, known as Sweet Track, was constructed in around 3, 800 BC contained sections of prefabricated timber that were brought to the site instead of getting assembled on-site (Hayden, 2003, Pp. 42).

Sri Lankan ancient king- Sinhalese has used prefabricated technology for constructing building in order to erect the huge structure, dating around 2000 years old. During the 20th century, the method was extensively used for constructing prefabricated housings, like UK to replace the homes that were bombed during the World War II (Brown, 2004, Pp. 32).

Aims and Objectives

The aims and objectives of the research study are as follows:

To assess the concept of the pre-fabrication in the construction industry.

To examine the strategies of the supply chain that is applied to the pre-fabricated construction sites.

To evaluate the factors that affects the process supply chain of pre-fabrication within the ...