Remanufacturing in the construction industry: key factors, job competencies, and implementation framework

Purpose This study aimed to develop an implementation framework for remanufacturing indirect building components based on the key factors and job competencies of remanufacturing. The key factors constitute the challenges and opportunities that must be addressed, while the job competencies represent skills, characteristics, and behaviors required to execute tasks successfully. Design/methodology/approach This study proceeded in four stages. First, literature labeling identified the potential remanufacturing factors. Second, the Delphi method screened and validated these factors, producing a prioritized set of key factors, and those that required specific job competencies were determined. Third, these results were consolidated to develop a remanufacturing implementation framework for indirect building components. Fourth, case studies were done to evaluate the framework. The approach yielded a validated factor list, a competency model of hard and soft skills, and empirical evidence of the framework’s feasibility and practical utility. Findings The findings from the case studies showed that the implementation framework provides valuable guidance for companies. Its inclusive design accommodates organizations of varying sizes, enabling both large and small-to-medium companies to develop effective operating models. The concept of job competencies offers a valuable reference for corporate talent allocation while allowing for application-specific adjustments. The managers of the case companies praised the framework for its user-friendly interface, clear structural design, and insightful presentation. The framework’s combination of graphics, text, and directional arrows enhances concept comprehension, demonstrating accessibility and practicality for both specialists and general users. Originality/value This study has systematically identified 13 key factors for remanufacturing execution. In order to overcome complex technical aspects of remanufacturing, the concept of job competencies has been introduced. The combination of these two elements has created a novel and comprehensive remanufacturing implementation framework for indirect building components. The framework provides the foundation for achieving the sustainability goals of a built environment, transforming sustainability from a vision into actionable norms.