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Al-Mutairi, Y (2015) Development of implementation strategies for offsite construction techniques in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Unpublished PhD Thesis, School of the Built Environment, University of Salford.

  • Type: Thesis
  • Keywords: environmental impact; fabrication; interview; labour productivity; offsite; productivity; Saudi Arabia
  • ISBN/ISSN:
  • URL: http://usir.salford.ac.uk/id/eprint/36251/
  • Abstract:
    Offsite construction is considered a new method of building in Saudi Arabia in comparison to other developed countries. The aim of this research is to examine the main factors affecting offsite construction in Saudi Arabia in order to propose a feasible strategy for its wider implementation. The broad range of factors affecting the impact of its application, the reasons for its use, and the challenges it faces were extracted from the existing literature. As a result, each reflects a factor affecting offsite construction. To achieve the research aim, the researcher adopted a mixed method approach, combining Semi-Structured interviews and Questionnaires. The interviews were administered amongst 6 expert participants in the construction industry in Saudi Arabia, while 136 participants from this industry filled in the questionnaire. All of the data were gathered and analysed based on scientific methods of analysis. The interviews revealed many factors that affect the implementation of offsite construction in Saudi Arabia and highlighted that there are four main offsite construction techniques (Offsite preassembly, Hybrid system, Panelised system and Modular building); this was also confirmed by the questionnaire. The questionnaire revealed that an increase in labour productivity and product quality as well as an overall reduction in project schedule are the main attributes of offsite construction. However, there are many challenges facing offsite construction in Saudi Arabia, including inflexibility in making on-site changes, limited design options, associated costs and risks, low awareness and resistance to OCT. An ISM validation confirmed similar outcomes. All of these factors are discussed in relation to the literature review in the discussion chapter, based on which the researcher developed an OCT implementation strategy which he tested using the ISM methodology. In its investigation of the viability of offsite construction in Saudi Arabia, this study extends its scope beyond standard considerations of time and cost in construction, to examine these and other factors in the context-bound circumstances in which they are applied. This approach sets the background for a detailed examination of offsite fabrication in Saudi Arabia. This study considers the individual factors of cost, quality, environmental impact, negative perceptions, etc., and some of the implementation-related drivers and barriers. It also includes an examination of the social and cultural factors which could hasten the successful implementation of OCT, such as Saudi society’s capacity to collaborate by adopting an open-minded, questioning approach to sharing information and to innovate by anticipating and responding to change.