Improve Integrated Material Handling (IMH) Efficiency of Local High-Rise Building Projects by IMH Framework Optimization and Empirical Analysis

Fast urbanization and economic development lead to a prosperous high-rise building industry with high material handling efficiency (MHE). However, the integrated material handling (IMH) framework optimization and empirical studies on Chinese high-rise buildings are not in-depth. Here, the IMH practice in Chinese Chongqing high-rise building projects (CHBPs) was researched, and the effect factors of MHE were discussed to propose improvement strategies. A questionnaire survey (191 participants), qualitative topic analysis, quantitative descriptive statistics, reliability/correlation analysis, an independent sample t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and regression analysis were performed. As a result, the understanding of the IMH concept, effectiveness of training projects, and positive effect of regulations were found to favor an improved MHE. Moreover, a weak positive correlation between work experience and MHE was found. Through the proposed model development framework, the combination of theoretical analysis and empirical research can provide comprehensive tools and knowledge resources for IMH practices in CHBP to improve MHE. Through quantitative indicators such as the material handling efficiency index (MHEI), the training project impact score (TPIS) and the regulation perception index (RPI), this framework offers an objective basis for continuous monitoring and improvement.