【Keynote Speech】Industry 4.0 Smart Prefabrication Yard for Modular Construction Fit-out

【Abstract】This talk first presents a case of prefabrication yard shared by different construction module producers and construction sites with particular housing production in Hong Kong. The aim is to innovate Industry 4.0-compliant smart prefabrication yard technologies and solutions. FIRST, smart digitization technologies will be innovated to elevate the traditional prefabrication yard (PY) into a smart prefabrication yard (SPY) as a cyber-physical system (CPS). Real-time visibility and traceability are developed and employed to facilitate SPY’s inbound / outbound operations, inventory management and fit-out operations. SECOND, the SPY provides a new opportunity for transforming construction module logistics from traditionally m2m (many producers to many sites) delivery mode into a new mode of two legs with the first leg in between multiple module producers and the SPY, and the second leg between the SPY and multiple construction sites. This new mode not only facilitates cross-docking operations, but also allows stakeholders to share logistics resources and services while achieving Just In Time (JIT) delivery performances. THIRD, the SPY provides a new business model of carrying out off-site fit-out construction operations in addition to those at the module production factories and construction sites. This is particularly important when modules are produced by different factories but share similar fit-out operations and materials from the same suppliers. The positive risk and resource pooling effects can then be fully utilized. FINALLY, the developed smart technologies and solutions will be demonstrated, tested and further refined through our industrial collaborator and its business partners. Project deliverables will be integrated to form a lab testbed SPY platform with “what you see is what you get” facilities. Key components will be demonstrated and evaluated impact pilot implementations within industrial collaborators. Insights and lessons will be used to compile handbooks on technology roadmap, implementation guidelines, and good practice case for substantiating wider research impacts.

【Biography】George is Chair Professor of Smart Manufacturing at Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He gained BEng and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Southeast University (China) and Cardiff University (UK) respectively. He has conducted research projects in areas of Smart Manufacturing, Logistics, and Construction Systems Analytics through IoT-enabled Cyber-Physical Internet with substantial government and industrial grants exceeding HK$120M. He collaborated closely with industries through joint projects and start-up companies. He has published extensively and his works have been widely cited by research communities. He serves as associate editors and editorial members for several international journals. He is Chartered Engineer (CEng), Fellow of ASME, CILT, HKIE, IET, and IISE.