Briefing: Industry 4.0 in construction: Radical transformation or restricted agenda?

Paul W. Chan

doi:10.1680/jmapl.20.00036

Briefing: Industry 4.0 in construction: Radical transformation or restricted agenda?

Paul W. Chan^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Design & Construction Management

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Abstract

The fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) is poised to transform the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) sector from a project-based industry to a market-based industrialised process. Yet, its (s)low uptake can be attributed to the current emphasis on technological adoption. In this briefing note, it is argued that ignoring non-technical aspects such as the social will to change and ethical choices can result in Industry 4.0 failing to deliver its transformative power in the AEC sector. Rather than focus on technology, questions are raised around systemic change by considering people and process issues. Furthermore, instead of focussing on the calculative value of Industry 4.0, there is also a need to consider (ethical) values when making decisions in the data-driven world of Industry 4.0.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	141-144
Number of pages	4
Journal	Proceedings of Institution of Civil Engineers: Management, Procurement and Law
Volume	173
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1680/jmapl.20.00036
Publication status	Published - 2020

Bibliographical note

Accepted Author Manuscript

Keywords

business
information technology
management

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10.1680/jmapl.20.00036

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title = "Briefing: Industry 4.0 in construction: Radical transformation or restricted agenda?",

abstract = "The fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) is poised to transform the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) sector from a project-based industry to a market-based industrialised process. Yet, its (s)low uptake can be attributed to the current emphasis on technological adoption. In this briefing note, it is argued that ignoring non-technical aspects such as the social will to change and ethical choices can result in Industry 4.0 failing to deliver its transformative power in the AEC sector. Rather than focus on technology, questions are raised around systemic change by considering people and process issues. Furthermore, instead of focussing on the calculative value of Industry 4.0, there is also a need to consider (ethical) values when making decisions in the data-driven world of Industry 4.0. ",

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Briefing: Industry 4.0 in construction: Radical transformation or restricted agenda?

Abstract

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Keywords

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