Digital Technologies as Enablers of Component Reuse : Value Chain Perspectives in Construction & Manufacturing
Thakuri, Prabhat Kiran (2022)
Thakuri, Prabhat Kiran
2022
Master's Programme in Industrial Engineering and Management
Johtamisen ja talouden tiedekunta - Faculty of Management and Business
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2022-10-11
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202209197154
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202209197154
Tiivistelmä
Our planet is experiencing climate emergency due to the overconsumption of natural resources and ever-increasing carbon footprint. The construction and manufacturing industries are by far the biggest contributors to this grim situation. Hence, it is of paramount importance that the current economic model in those industries shifts from conventional linear to circular. Among the different circular economy (CE) approaches, adopting the component reuse practices is more imperative; because, after reduce, reuse is considered to be the least resource and energy intensive CE principle. With regard to transformation of the construction and manufacturing industries towards component reuse, digitalization could play a major enabling role. However, how the digital technologies such as BIM, digital twin, IoT (sensors and RFIDs), and robots could facilitate the component reuse practices is still an underexplored field of study. Additionally, the studies thus far in this direction lack the integrative approach both from multi-technology and multi-stakeholder perspectives. Therefore, the objective of this research is to investigate the perspectives of value chain actors, in construction and manufacturing, on how the digital technologies can advance component reuse practices.
To address the research objective, this study employs qualitative research methodology and therein, multiple case study method. For the selection of most relevant cases, purposive sampling strategy was used. As a result, ten cases were selected, out of which, six are from the construction industry and the remaining four belong to manufacturing industry. To garner the primary data from those cases, semi-structured elite interviews were carried out. Subsequently, the data analysis process proceeded from within-case analysis to cross-case analysis. Finally, the findings from construction industry were juxtaposed to the findings from manufacturing industry, in order to examine the similarities and differences in how the digital technologies can advance component reuse practices in each industry.
The findings of this study suggest that both the construction and manufacturing industries are becoming more perceptive to the need circular economy transformation. They recognize that the digital technologies are de facto the cornerstones in their efforts to adopt component reuse practices. The results demonstrate that collectively the BIM and IoT in construction, similar to digital twin and IoT in manufacturing, enables several component reuse practices- namely, DfDR, predictive maintenance, logistics & inventory management, quality & lifecycle assessment, and component disassembly planning. In addition, a few digital technology-enabled reuse practices were identified, that are peculiar to each industry. Robots, for instance, were recognized for the potential to partially automate some repetitive processes in construction industry, but that was not the case in manufacturing. Nevertheless, this study indicate that, for the technologies to be optimal in their enabling role, their current technological capabilities need to be developed further in the future.
This study enriches the literature stream in circular economy and digitalization both in terms research methodology and findings. By taking a broader and integrative stance and through comparative study of two industries, this study validates several previous findings and also pro-poses novel findings of its own. To the practitioners the findings will provide comprehensive in-sights that may be useful in their efforts to adopt or foster digitalization in component reuse context. Finally, this study identifies a few directions for future research that may result in promising outcomes.
To address the research objective, this study employs qualitative research methodology and therein, multiple case study method. For the selection of most relevant cases, purposive sampling strategy was used. As a result, ten cases were selected, out of which, six are from the construction industry and the remaining four belong to manufacturing industry. To garner the primary data from those cases, semi-structured elite interviews were carried out. Subsequently, the data analysis process proceeded from within-case analysis to cross-case analysis. Finally, the findings from construction industry were juxtaposed to the findings from manufacturing industry, in order to examine the similarities and differences in how the digital technologies can advance component reuse practices in each industry.
The findings of this study suggest that both the construction and manufacturing industries are becoming more perceptive to the need circular economy transformation. They recognize that the digital technologies are de facto the cornerstones in their efforts to adopt component reuse practices. The results demonstrate that collectively the BIM and IoT in construction, similar to digital twin and IoT in manufacturing, enables several component reuse practices- namely, DfDR, predictive maintenance, logistics & inventory management, quality & lifecycle assessment, and component disassembly planning. In addition, a few digital technology-enabled reuse practices were identified, that are peculiar to each industry. Robots, for instance, were recognized for the potential to partially automate some repetitive processes in construction industry, but that was not the case in manufacturing. Nevertheless, this study indicate that, for the technologies to be optimal in their enabling role, their current technological capabilities need to be developed further in the future.
This study enriches the literature stream in circular economy and digitalization both in terms research methodology and findings. By taking a broader and integrative stance and through comparative study of two industries, this study validates several previous findings and also pro-poses novel findings of its own. To the practitioners the findings will provide comprehensive in-sights that may be useful in their efforts to adopt or foster digitalization in component reuse context. Finally, this study identifies a few directions for future research that may result in promising outcomes.