BRIDGING AUTOMATION AND ROBOTICS IN INDUSTRIALIZED BUILDING SYSTEM (IBS): CHALLENGES, IMPACTS, AND STRATEGIES OF ADOPTIONS

The Industrialised Building System (IBS) was introduced in Malaysia in the early 1960s to address the growing demand for affordable housing, reduce reliance on foreign labour, and enhance the overall quality and productivity of the construction sector. Recently, the construction industry has begun integrating automation and robotics, aligning with the global shift towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0). The Construction 4.0 Strategic Plan (2021–2025) further emphasises digitalisation, robotics, and automation to improve industry efficiency and sustainability. However, the construction industry has been slow to adopt these advancements, limiting the full benefits of automation in IBS. Persistent challenges, including resistance to change, high initial investment costs, a shortage of skilled personnel, and technical complexities, hinder widespread adoption. This research examines the integration of automation and robotics in IBS to enhance construction productivity. A questionnaire survey was used for the data collection exercise. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistical methods utilising the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software. The study is guided by three (3) objectives: (1) To identify barriers to the integration of automation and robotics in IBS, (2) To analyse the impact of automation and robotics on construction productivity compared to conventional IBS, and (3)To propose strategies to improve the adoption of these technologies.Findings reveal that the integration of automation and robotics in (IBS) facessignificant barriers, primarily due to the high costs of investment. The mainimpact that automation...read more in the PDF file.