Benefits of construction robots for on-site lean construction: a comparison and evaluation framework

Abstract

Purpose The construction sector plays a critical role in the global economy. At the same time, it is constantly facing enormous economic, social and environmental challenges. Lean construction practices, ever since their emergence, have continued to bring many benefits to the construction industry. Studies showed that construction robots as an emerging technology have the potential to improve lean construction particularly around off-site construction, but the implications of robots for on-site lean construction have been rarely discussed. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the implications of single-task construction robots for on-site lean construction. Design/methodology/approach A comparison and evaluation framework is developed for data analysis on the micro, meso and macro levels based on the data collected in Singapore. Findings The results show that construction robots can provide many lean construction-related benefits for on-site lean construction in economic, social and environmental aspects, indicating that construction robots together with their compatible operating environment and optimized work processes can be a meaningful and powerful tool for on-site lean construction practices. Furthermore, lean methods in return also have the potential to continuously improve the design, development and deployment of construction robots, which indicates that construction robotics and lean construction are mutually beneficial. Practical implications The study also elaborates on how the development and deployment of robots are in line with various lean principles and methods. Various key stakeholders in the construction industry can benefit from the analysis framework and practical insights in this study at various levels when implementing on-site construction robots. Social implications Favorable policies and flexible incentives provided by governments to support both contractors and robot start-ups are crucial for the successful deployment of construction robots. Originality/value This study provides the first empirical evidence of the lean-related benefits of adopting construction robots on-site in the construction industry in Singapore and beyond.