Purpose: The purpose is two-fold: (1) to explore the interactions of robotic systems and lean construction in the context of offsite construction (OC) that were addressed in the literature published between 2008 and 2019 and (2) to identify the gaps in such interactions while discussing how addressing those gaps can benefit not only OC but the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry as a whole.Design/methodology/approach: First, a systematic literature review (SLR) identified journal papers addressing the interactions of automation and lean in OC. Then, the researchers focused the analysis on the under-researched subtopic of robotic systems. The focused analysis includes discussing the interactions identified in the SLR through a matrix of interactions and utilizing literature beyond the previously identified articles for future research directions on robotic systems and lean construction in OC.Findings: The study found 35 journal papers that addressed automation and lean in the context of OC. Most of the identified literature focused on interactions of BIM and lean construction, while only nine focused on the interactions of robotic systems and lean construction. Identified literature related to robotic systems mainly addressed robots and automated equipment. Additional interactions were identified in the realm of wearable devices, unmanned aerial vehicles/automated guided vehicles and digital fabrication/computer numerical control (CNC) machines.Originality/value: This is one of the first studies dedicated to exploring the interactions of robotic systems and lean construction in OC. Also, it proposes a categorization for construction automation and a matrix of interactions between construction automation and lean construction.

The increasing demand for multifamily housing in the United States requires alternatives for building more affordable and sustainable housing to improve the quality of life for millions of families. Offsite construction (OSC) strategies may be a viable alternative for tackling this problem. Although the use of OSC is significant in the multifamily housing market in the world and it is also very promising in the US, a scarce amount of literature has focused on this topic. The purpose of this study is to identify specific factors that affect decisions on the use of OSC in multifamily housing in the US. Focusing on the sustainability dimensions of construction—social, environmental, and economic—the authors reviewed literature that was published between 2000 and 2019 and identified factors that are related to OSC adoption in general construction, in housing construction, and, more specifically, in multifamily housing construction in the US. Subsequently, a discussion on some important factors affecting decisions on the use of OSC in the American multifamily market is provided. The discussion focused on factors that, although important, have been under explored in the literature that addresses the use of OSC in multifamily projects, especially in the US, which are: customer’s attitude, building performance, and building comfort and indoor environmental quality (IEQ). In addition, a brief discussion regarding the importance of design to the uptake of OSC in multifamily projects is provided. This is one of the first studies dedicated to exploring the social, environmental, and economic factors that affect the use of OSC in multifamily housing in the US. The study also identifies research gaps, which serve as a roadmap for future research.

Purpose: This study focuses on identifying key principles for implementing strategic changes in design and construction companies interested in successfully using offsite construction (OSC) in multifamily housing projects, considering the need for more affordable and sustainable multifamily housing in the United States of America (USA).Design/methodology/approach: Using mixed methods, the study involved three phases of data collection and data analysis: (1) delphi survey, (2) online survey, (3) proposition of principles and validation interviews.Findings: The key principles identified by the present research are (1) develop product-oriented business model, (2) promote leadership and mindset engagement with OSC principles, (3) engage in partnerships and more innovative contractual models, (4) shift toward digital transformation, (5) develop training and knowledge management strategies, (6) adopt lean construction (LC) practices, (7) develop training and knowledge management strategies and (8) integrate logistics and supply chain management with AEC (architecture, engineering and construction) processes.Practical implications: The implementation of the principles and strategic changes identified in this study aims to prepare design and construction companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to embrace the increasing use of OSC in multifamily projects in the USA, which will make them more efficient and resilient and, ultimately, will contribute to the construction of more affordable and sustainable multifamily housing projects in the USA.Originality/value: This is the first research to address holistic strategies to support design and construction companies in adopting OSC.

Students learn and study in different ways, depending on their personality types. As a result, a significant number of learning style models have emerged to enhance the learning process. Previous research on construction management undergraduate students’ learning styles in the United States revealed that they are visual, active, sensing, and sequential learners. This information is vital to guide instructors’ teaching methods. Expanding on the visual aspect of learning, the goal of this study, presented here as a full paper, is to understand how confident undergraduate construction management students are with regard to their abilities to visualize construction methods necessary to build a structure based on information they read in plans and specifications and which topics they have most difficulties in visualizing. The researchers also analyzed potential differences in gender and school year related to their general confidence level in understanding construction plans using statistical inferential tests. Findings revealed that male students are more confident in their abilities than females and that senior students are the most confident, followed by juniors, and the group of freshmen and sophomores (analyzed together). When gender and school year are analyzed as a set, it is interesting to notice that the group of the female freshman and sophomore students are more confident than juniors and seniors. In relation to topics, mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) plan information was found to be the most challenging for the students. For the researchers, the findings helped to define the most challenging topics and also understand students’ differences that can be used to develop further instructional materials. In addition, results will help faculty from undergraduate, construction management programs to identify students’ difficulties in visualization, so they can adequately address those during instruction, improving students’ motivation and self-confidence. Finally, results suggest that further studies related to students’ self-confidence, academic year and gender in construction management education need to be performed.