Stable relationality and dynamic innovation: two models of collaboration in SME-driven offsite manufacturing supply chains in housing construction

Abstract

PurposeThe study analyses collaborative practice in offsite manufacturing (OSM) housing supply chains, focusing specifically on supply chains driven by small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The study’s analysis builds on previous work where we argued that collaboration in OSM housing construction comprises nine elements. In this study, the authors demonstrate empirically that SMEs enact these collaborative practice elements in distinct ways, foregrounding key elements over others. One core model and two sub-models of collaboration emerge from our two case studies.Design/methodology/approachThe study analyses two SME-driven supply chains using qualitative case study techniques. Data were gathered through 12 semi-structured interviews conducted in two housing construction supply chains: one in South Australia, Australia, and another in Tasmania, Australia.FindingsA comparative case study of SMEs shows that collaboration in OSM supply chains has a number of common elements, including a champion for innovation, investment in long-term relationships, resourceful use of limited assets and physical co-location. However, SMEs can also enact these elements through a range of diverging collaborative strategies that can be distilled into different models: stable relationality and dynamic innovation.Originality/valueFindings provide a compelling empirical basis for arguing that SMEs can successfully lead OSM supply chains if key collaborative practice elements are strategically mobilised in ways that are suited to their strengths and limitations. The study therefore interrogates the widely held and often limiting assumption that OSM can only be driven by large organisations with access to capital assets, capacity to invest and undisputed bargaining power.

Appraising the nexus between influencers and sustainability‐oriented innovation adoption in affordable housing projects

“…This is because of the low levels of knowledge and expertise possessed by home designers and developers on sustainable methods of design and construction, new materials, and innovative technologies. This aligns with the findings of the studies by Jamaludin et al (2018) and Pablo and London (2020). The conventional procurement systems used in the South African housing sector further exasperate the adoption of SOIs on affordable housing projects, emulating the findings of Karji et al (2019).…”

“…This is because of the low levels of knowledge and expertise possessed by home designers and developers on sustainable methods of design and construction, new materials, and innovative technologies. This aligns with the findings of the studies by Jamaludin et al (2018) and Pablo and London (2020).…”

“…As such, the lack of technical knowledge and understanding constitute barriers to the successful deliver of sustainable and affordable housing (Adabre & Chan, 2020). Since most affordable housing projects in developing countries are constructed by small-to-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) with low internal knowledge and expertise about SOIs, housing developers tend to appoint external experts to assist thereby adding to overhead costs of projects and significantly impacting on the profitability of a development (Pablo & London, 2020). Innovation transfer endeavours within affordable housing projects are being severely hampered by a lack of proper understanding of innovation transfer issues and their interrelationships with company capabilities and processes, and the knowledge characteristics of the technologies being transferred (Khan et al, 2019).…”

“It's your fault!” – said a public client to modernity advocates: an exploration of UK public sector’s viewpoints on the modern methods of construction

“…Statistically, cost savings account for over 25 percent reduction compared to the traditional methods Sidwell, 2011, p.1083). Moreover, MMC has been discussed to meet critical sustainability goals (Goulding et al, 2015); such as achieving 51 percent carbon reduction (Monahan and Powell, 2011), and favouring of smaller companies (Pablo and London, 2020); such as lowering the entry points for smaller firms (Gbadamosi et al, 2020). In addition, MMC has been linked to promoting digitalisation in construction (Malik et al, 2019); such as the expanded use of virtual reality (Iuorio et al, 2019), and the enhanced use of BIM .…”

Implementation of BIM and Lean Construction in Offsite Housing Construction: Evidence From the UK

“…As shown in figure 4, respondents considered that effective collaboration would be the main benefit of integrating LC and BIM with a weighted average of 4.6. Because the production process of off-site construction is fragmented, and OSC projects should involve close cooperation of multiple interdependent stakeholders, better quality control is a major challenge to promote OSC projects (Pablo and London, 2020). LC tools such as Kanban and huddle meetings can provide a new platform to increase value to BIM and improve construction site collaboration (Von Heyl and Demir, 2019).…”