Assessing the Transition toward Industrialized Housing Construction in Jordan
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Abstract
The transition toward industrialized housing construction involves shifting from traditional, craft-based practices to standardized, process-oriented, and technology-driven production systems. This study examines the extent to which such a transition is occurring in Jordan’s residential construction sector by assessing the presence of key building industry characteristics and identifying major implementation gaps. A structured questionnaire, based on Lessing’s industrialized construction framework, was used to evaluate eight core characteristics: process planning and control, off-site prefabrication, advanced technical systems and automation, information and communication technology (ICT), stakeholder relationships, supply chain integration, customer focus, and performance measurement. Data were collected from 203 construction professionals representing a wide range of residential sector stakeholders. The results indicate a partial and uneven adoption of industrialized construction practices. While planning, basic ICT usage, and performance measurement show moderate levels of implementation, critical features such as off-site prefabrication, automation, standardized systems, and long-term stakeholder collaboration remain weakly developed. Significant variability among firms highlights a fragmented production environment characterized by reactive logistics and limited supply chain integration. Overall, the findings suggest that Jordan’s housing sector exhibits a semi-industrialized profile, underscoring the need for coordinated policy support, capacity building, and enhanced stakeholder collaboration to advance industrialized housing construction.
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