Possibilities concerning industrialization in the construction sector with regard to the planning and construction of structures

Abstract

This thesis identifies numerous possibilities within organization, management, construction and tools with regard to industrialization in the construction industry. There are several management- and implementation principles like Lean and IPD that give great benefit in achieving flow within the work processes, BIM and the digitalization of the industry show great promise to reduce the dependency on paper and to improve visualization and communication of the construction project, and prefabrication and modularization prove to be a great leap in standardized production as well as providing safe and efficient building sites. It also shows, that although many of these are available, they are not being taken advantage of at the present time. The industry is hesitant to change ways which they know work and a fear of the new and untested is holding a lot of companies back. The thesis then goes on to study and analyze a current project in Norway where industrialization has been identified as a key goal and where the aim is to pioneer the Norwegian industry into an age of industrialization. The project shows great commitment towards Integrated Project Delivery and Building Information Modelling, but lacks in the construction by not employing the full aspect of prefabrication and modularization. Still the project is heading some key aspect within industrialization that show great promise of reducing time and cost in the planning and production of structures.