Purpose: A deeper understanding of what needs to be considered to improve the targeted incorporation of employees’ knowledge into continuous improvement (CI) programmes in industrialised housebuilding (IHB) is required. This paper aims to address the current lack of involvement and connect it to structural and corporate culture factors. To avoid misjudgements in improvement activities as well as to use the full potential of performance improvement ideas, CI tools and measures need to be adapted to facilitate this integration. Relevant factors are analysed and their influences on CI measures are assessed. Design/methodology/approach: The research approach is built upon an explorative case study supported by a comprehensive literature review. Empirical data were collected through participant observation, guided interviews and company documents. Findings: The influences on employee involvement within CI programmes and the corresponding suitability of important CI measures were evaluated on a set of relevant factors. These factors include unique building projects, project-based focus on order fulfilment, fragmented order fulfilment process, separation of order fulfilment activities in terms of space and time, procedural rules for dealing with on-site failures, short-term contracts with subcontractors and the practice of evaluating and monitoring performance on site. Research limitations/implications: The research paves the way for the development of suitable tools, measures and methods to effectively involve employees from all profession within a CI programme in IHB. The empirical part of this research is based on a single case study. Originality/value: This work extends the body of knowledge of CI application in the construction industry with an analysis of factors influencing its implementation and management.

Performance management systems (PMS) are essential instruments for the evidence-based management of on-site production within the industrialized housebuilding (IHB) sector. The information required for more evidence-based decision-making is determined by the business strategies and should be reflected in the design of the PMS. The aim of this study is to clarify, report on and analyze the influence which different strategic orientations have on the PMS. For this purpose, a multiple case study was conducted within the IHB sector of Austria, Germany and Switzerland. The findings revealed those business strategies which led companies to develop specific features within their PMS and showed which specific indicators are relevant for managing on-site performance. In addition, the findings identify weaknesses in performance measurement but also best practice examples. Based on the findings, a differentiated approach towards the ongoing refinement of PMS is suggested, allowing management to be more focussed on strategic objectives.

Measuring the performance of construction site processes is an essential for the continuous improvement in building production efficiency. However, little is known about how this is done by industrialized housebuilding (IHB) companies. The purpose of this paper was to extend the body of knowledge of IHB to on-site performance measurement and management (PMM), thereby identifying reference practices and potential areas for improvement in order to prepare the field for the further development of significant performance management systems (PMS). A multiple case study by means of semi-structured interviews with company managers of eight companies within the IHB sector from three Central European countries has been conducted. The results show that the companies, to a greater or lesser extent, collect data on: customer satisfaction, environmental protection and CO₂ emissions, operating efficiency, productivity, quality and work safety. The data can be used to perform performance measurements that provide feedback on these criteria. Reference practices of performance measurements and their benefit are identified. Digital tools are increasingly being used for data collection on construction sites, although paper-based tools such as site and working time reports are still in use. The findings establish a basis for the further development of PMS within the IHB sector.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to present a methodical procedure on how to prepare event logs and analyse them through process mining, statistics and visualisations. The aim is to derive roots and patterns of quality deviations and non-conforming finished products as well as best practice facilitating employee training in the food processing industry. Thereby, a key focus is on recognising tacit knowledge hidden in event logs to improve quality processes.Design/methodology/approach: This study applied process mining to detect root causes of quality deviations in operational process of food production. In addition, a data-ecosystem was developed which illustrates a continuous improvement feedback loop and serves as a role model for other applications in the food processing industry. The approach was applied to a real-case study in the processed cheese industry.Findings: The findings revealed practical and conceptional contributions which can be used to continuously improve quality management (QM) in food processing. Thereby, the developed data-ecosystem supports production and QM in the decision-making processes. The findings of the analysis are a valuable basis to enhance operational processes, aiming to prevent quality deviations and non-conforming finished products.Originality/value: Process mining is still rarely used in the food industry. Thereby, the proposed method helps to identify tacit knowledge in the food processing industry, which was shown by the framework for the preparation of event logs and the data ecosystem.