Search Results (108)

The shortest path problem is algorithmic and involves finding the least costly path (in terms of distance, time, cost, or other criteria) between two nodes in a graph. This problem is fundamental in graph theory and has applications in logistics, networks, mapping, and more. Several methods have been used to solve this problem. In this paper, we applied the ant colony algorithm to optimize the travel path of product quality technicians in a textile company specializing in washing and dyeing denim items. The company aims to minimize distances and costs between its subcontractors. The method has demonstrated a significant impact on distance and cost reduction while contributing to the reduction of the environmental effects. Full article

This study examines stakeholder perspectives regarding the feasibility, benefits, and challenges associated with the development of multipurpose shipyards that encompass shipbuilding, repair, and recycling within Indonesia’s maritime industry. A convergent mixed-methods approach was utilised to collect quantitative and qualitative data from 37 stakeholders, including managers, employees, shipowners, regulators, subcontractors, academics, and community representatives. The Stakeholder Salience Model and Diffusion of Innovations theory provided the integrated statistical and thematic analysis. Results indicated significant stakeholder support (97.3%) for multipurpose shipyards, with 81.1% expressing positive perceptions and 16.2% very positive perceptions. Results indicate that ship repair (97.3%) and shipbuilding (86.5%) are seen as critical activities, with 59.5% of respondents highlighting the importance of ship recycling. The advantages of the multipurpose yard concept for Indonesia included improved operational efficiency (70.2%), increased market competitiveness (54.1%) and job creation (91.9%). Major challenges identified include technical complexities (62.2%), regulatory ambiguities (45.9%), substantial capital investment (43.2%), and skill shortages (40.5%). The study suggests improvements in governmental regulations, financial support for businesses, and training for the workforce. Phased implementation and stakeholder collaboration can align economic, environmental, and safety objectives, potentially decreasing Indonesia’s dependence on foreign shipping services. This study integrates stakeholder theory with innovation diffusion, providing replicable insights for sustainable practices in shipyards within archipelagic economies like Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, where similar geographic and infrastructure challenges shape the maritime industries. Full article

Appropriate subcontracting strategy optimizes large-scale engineering project organization, enhancing implementation efficiency. However, numerous subcontractors increase the transaction costs of project subcontracting management. This study classifies subcontracting costs into coordination, monitoring, and negotiation costs based on transaction cost economics (TCE), and divides contractor management control into behavior and outcome control. This study aims to examine the causal mechanisms between subcontractor dispersion and the three types of transaction costs, plus the moderating effects of behavior and outcome control. Data is collected through a survey questionnaire and is analyzed by Partial Least Squares (PLS) analysis. Results show that the extent to which work is distributed among multiple subcontractors is positively related to transaction costs. Behavior control exercised by general contractors significantly suppresses the increase in transaction costs (especially the monitoring costs) resulting from subcontractor dispersion. However, outcome control does not exhibit a significant moderating effect on the relationship between subcontractor dispersion and transaction costs. The findings contribute to the theory of TCE and fill the gap in the research on the effective application of different management control modes. The findings help project managers choose an appropriate mode of management control to effectively manage subcontracting. Full article

As one of the main sources of global greenhouse gas emissions, the low-carbon transformation and emission reduction in the construction industry are inevitable requirements for addressing climate change. Under cap-and-trade regulations, Carbon emission rights have become a key production factor. However, the price of carbon emission rights is highly random. Taking the EU carbon market in 2024 as an example, the carbon price fluctuated by more than 35%, soaring from 65 euros per ton to 80 euros per ton and then falling back. Such sharp fluctuations not only increase the cost uncertainty of enterprises but also complicate the investment decisions for emission reduction. Therefore, enterprises can enhance the flexibility of carbon emission rights trading decisions through option strategies, helping them hedge against the risks of carbon price fluctuations, and at the same time improve market liquidity and risk management capabilities. Against this background, based on the carbon cap-and-trade policy, this paper introduces the two-way option strategy into the construction supply chain game model composed of general contractors and subcontractors, and studies to obtain the optimal carbon reduction volume, carbon option purchase volume, maximum expected profit of general contractors, subcontractors and profit distribution ratio. This study shows that two-way options play a crucial role in optimizing supply decision-making and emission reduction strategies. Under the decentralized model, emission reduction responsibilities are often shifted to subcontractors by the general contractor, resulting in a decline in overall mitigation effectiveness. Furthermore, appropriately lowering the carbon emission benchmark can strengthen enterprises’ incentives for emission reduction and significantly enhance the profitability of the supply chain. The study further suggests that general contractors should enhance their competitiveness by developing environmentally friendly technologies and improving their ability to reduce emissions on their own. Meanwhile, subcontractors need to actively participate in the collaborative efforts through revenue-sharing contracts. This study reveals the strategic value of two-way carbon options in construction supply chain carbon trading and provides theoretical support for the formulation of carbon market policies, contributing to the low-carbon transition of the construction supply chain. Full article

Market-Driven Requirements Engineering (MDRE) integrates traditional Requirements Engineering (RE) practices, such as Requirements Elicitation and requirements prioritization, with market analysis. Offering software products to an open market has become a trend, yet it has many challenges. In MDRE, there are diverse sources for requirements including support teams, subcontractors, sales, and marketing teams. So, the MDRE process must provide ongoing requirements gathering techniques to ensure no crucial requirements are overlooked. It is generally possible for users to search and download software applications through app stores (such as the Google Play Store and Apple App Store) for various purposes. Users are allowed to express their opinions about the software applications by writing text messages which are widely known as “app reviews”. Utilizing these app reviews as a source of requirements while planning to develop a similar software application may have promising results. Therefore, the concept of “App Reviews Utilization” has emerged and can be applied for various purposes. This research utilizes app reviews in Requirements Elicitation while developing a software product in the market-driven development context. Furthermore, these reviews may be noisy and informally expressed. This paper proposes a framework, Automatic Requirements Elicitation from App Reviews (AREAR), that integrates Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques with pre-trained Language Models to automatically elicit requirements from available app reviews while developing a market-driven software product. AREAR employed the Bidirectional Encoder Representation from the Transformers (BERT) Language Model. The proposed framework achieved an improved Accuracy and ${\mathrm{F}}_1$ score as compared to previous research. Full article

Construction delays are a repeated problem in government buildings projects in Kuwait, always leading to increased costs and schedule slippage. This pilot study investigates key delay factors and corresponding solutions strategies by analyzing the responses from 60 construction professionals representing project management consultants (PMCs), contractors, and consultants. Using a structured questionnaire and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), the study identifies and validates critical delay constructs and explores useful solutions measures from stakeholders’ perspectives. The findings provide foundational data to refine the main study and enhance model validity for structural equation modeling (SEM). The top of the delay factors are poor contractor monitoring, weakness of consultant project management team, and design faults. Recommended solutions strategies include establishing a monitoring system to track subcontractor progress and addressing potential delays proactively, ensuring timely approval for the required workforce, and establishing clear delivery schedules. The results validate the questionnaire’s reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.920) and provide insights into urgency areas for delay mitigation in the Kuwaiti governmental building construction sector. Full article

Construction costs have increased significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic due to supply chain disruption, labour shortages, and construction material price hikes. The market is increasingly demanding innovative construction methods that can save construction costs, reduce construction time, and minimise waste and carbon emission. The prefabrication system has been used for years in industrial construction, resulting in better performance in regard to structure stability, the control of wastage, and the optimisation of construction time and cost. In addition, prefabrication has had a positive contribution on resource utilisation in the construction industry. There are various types of prefabricated wall systems. However, the majority of comparative studies have focused on comparing each prefabrication wall system against the conventional construction system, while limited research has been conducted to compare different prefabrication structures. This study examined four prominent prefabricated wall systems, i.e., precast walls, tilt-up walls, prefabricated steel-frame walls, and on-site-cut steel-frame walls, to determine which one is more suitable for the construction of industrial buildings to minimise cost, time delay, and labourer utilisation on construction sites, as well as to enhance structure durability, construction efficiency, and sustainability. One primary case project and five additional projects were included in this study. For the primary case project, data were collected and analysed; for example, a subcontractor cost comparison for supply and installation was conducted, and shop drawings, construction procedures, timelines, and site photos were collected. For the additional five projects, the overall cost data were compared. The main research finding of this study is that factory-made precast walls and tilt-up wall panels require similar construction time. However, on average, tilt-up prefabrication construction can reduce the cost by around 23.55%. It was also found that prefabricated frame walls provide cost and time savings of around 39% and 10.5%, respectively. These findings can provide architects, developers, builders, suppliers, regulators, and other stakeholders with a comprehensive insight into selecting a method of wall construction that can achieve greater efficiency, cost savings, and environmental sustainability in the construction of industrial and commercial buildings. Full article

Delays in road construction projects pose significant challenges in the Philippines, resulting in increased costs, project overruns, and unmet infrastructure goals. Common causes include poor financial management, inadequate subcontractor performance, deficient planning, and regulatory bottlenecks. This study aims to develop a comprehensive and data-driven framework to mitigate construction delays using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). The methodology integrates literature review, expert surveys, and pairwise comparisons to identify and prioritize critical delay factors. Experts from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), private contractors, and academia contributed to the AHP model. The results highlight seven major factor groups: client-related, contractor-related, consultant-related, materials, labor and equipment, contractual issues, and external influences. AHP analysis identified financial management, planning and scheduling, and regulatory coordination as the most impactful causes. Based on these findings, a strategic framework was developed and visualized using a Fishbone Diagram to present mitigation strategies tailored to each factor. While environmental engineering principles—such as material efficiency, energy use optimization, and impact assessments—are acknowledged, they serve as guiding themes rather than formal components of the framework. The study offers practical, stakeholder-validated recommendations for both pre- and post-construction phases, including real-time monitoring, risk anticipation, and improved multi-agency coordination. This framework provides a scalable tool for DPWH and related agencies to improve infrastructure delivery while supporting long-term sustainability goals. Full article

Significant weather-induced delays often plague construction projects in India’s extremely cold regions, yet comprehensive studies addressing this issue remain scarce. This study aims to fill this gap by identifying key delay factors and proposing mitigation strategies for the construction industry. Through an extensive literature review, 42 delay factors were identified and categorized into four groups. A survey of 83 experts from cold regions was conducted to evaluate these factors’ significance to contractors and subcontractors. Employing exploratory factor analysis (EFA), structural equation modeling (SEM), and artificial neural networks (ANN), the study analyzed the relationships between these factors and ranked their impact. The findings reveal that snowfall, rainfall, and low temperatures are the most significant contributors to delays, with snowfall being the most influential (significance: 1.000), followed by rainfall (0.890) and low temperatures (0.790). This research establishes a risk hierarchy and develops a predictive model to facilitate the proactive scheduling of challenging tasks during favorable seasons. This study advances the understanding of weather-induced delays in India’s cold regions and offers valuable insights for project management in such climates. However, it underscores the importance of clearly articulating its novel contributions to differentiate it within the existing literature on weather-related construction delays. Full article

This article investigates the understanding and manifestation of safety culture within the Swedish construction industry. Specifically, through 20 interviews with safety leaders, this study explores the connection between safety culture and structures and processes on construction worksites. The theoretical framework draws on different perspectives on organisational culture, in general, and safety culture, in particular. The results highlight the importance that is placed on management and leadership in developing safety culture, with leaders setting examples and being actively involved in safety practices. Safety regulations are seen as crucial tools for change, influencing safety culture significantly. The size of the company and characteristics of employees, including challenges posed by subcontractors and language barriers, also impact safety culture. Safety training is essential for directing behaviours towards a good safety culture, and housekeeping is identified as an indicator of safety culture. In the discussion, the matter of understanding safety culture in relation to specific structures and processes on construction worksites is analysed, problematised and connected to prevailing perspectives within safety culture research. Full article

This study primarily aims to evaluate the relative importance of factors influencing project risk management. In particular, we seek to identify and prioritize the key factors affecting the bidding process within the cross-strait political and economic context. This research employs the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to calculate the relative weights of project risk factors. This study conducted AHP questionnaire interviews with 15 experts, including industry professionals, government project management executives with over 15 years of experience, and professors specializing in project risk management. Through pairwise comparisons across three hierarchical levels and twelve factors, this study identified the key influencing factors that account for 70% of the cumulative eigenvector weight. Based on seven key risk factors identified, namely, political factors, lack of professional skills among subcontractors, lack of professional skills among personnel, resident protests, insufficient project duration, insufficient manpower, and lowest bid awarded, a project management bid preparation checklist is developed. Political ideology is identified as the most significant risk factor for contractors. Implementing this checklist can effectively control approximately 70% of the identified risks. Full article

This study compared the influencing factors affecting safety behavior and perception between main contractor managers (CMs) and subcontractor workers (SWs) at Korean construction sites. The safety level, policies, and management capabilities of the main contractor are closely related to the safety behavior of the SWs since CMs have a key role in ensuring work order authority and safety responsibility during the work process. To compare the difference in safety behavior between CMs and SWs, ten hypotheses were prepared, and surveying was conducted. Using the responses of 1219 CMs and 1191 SWs, a frequency analysis, intensive validity analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis were performed; discriminant validity was verified; and a structural equation model was constructed and compared. The results showed that the factors affecting safety behaviors and perceptions were significantly different between CMs and SWs. The WSB (workers’ safety behavior) for CMs was affected, from most to least, by the MSP (manager’s safety perception; 0.382), incentives (0.166), WSP (workers’ safety perception; 0.143), and the MSB (manager’s safety behavior; 0.134). However, for SWs, the WSB was affected, from most to least, by the MSP (0.440), WSP (0.184), the MSB (0.130), and incentives (0.083). Awarding an incentive as a way to encourage safe behavior is an important influencing factor affecting safety behavior for CMs, while workers’ safety perception (WSP) is an important factor for SWs. The results can contribute to the implementation of effective safety and accident prevention activities at construction sites by comparing the influencing factors for the safety behaviors and perceptions of CMs and SWs, which can increase the effectiveness of the safety climate and reduce the possibility of accidents. Full article

The fashion industry has a detrimental environmental impact throughout its supply chain operations that needs immediate attention. Limited work focuses on measuring the environmental sustainability of clothing products made from post-consumer waste in the circular economy. This research aims to evaluate the environmental sustainability of fashion products made from post-consumer waste using the Higg Index tool developed by the Sustainable Apparel Coalition. Three t-shirt manufacturers—namely factory A (LEED certified), factory B (non-LEED certified), and factory C (Sub-contract) were considered as case studies. Data were collected through practice-based qualitative questions to manufacturing practitioners, which were supplemented by triangulations, and scores were obtained using the Higg Index product environmental sustainability tool. The findings highlight significant variations in most subsection analyses for product environment sustainability dimensions, scoring 369.5 (73.9%), 277.6 (55.5%), and 153.5 (30.7%) out of 500 by factories A, B, and C, respectively. Findings reveal significant differences in scores (from low to high) for the three t-shirt manufacturers. Various subsections revealed deficiencies in actual policies including product design, materials selection, manufacturing operations, and priorities regarding subcategories. Products made in a green factory and embracing the circular economy achieved the highest score, while the sub-contractor factory product obtained the lowest score. Findings highlight poor and emerging sustainable practices, identify challenges, and suggest improvement in the above-mentioned categories. The research urges stakeholders to embrace sustainable practices for fashion products to reduce environmental impact through life cycle stages and benefit the industry. Full article

The construction industry is currently facing several challenges, such as increased complexity, rapid technological development, and early retirements of experts. The involvement of knowledgeable contractors during early design will provide significant benefits, resulting in good-quality design and enhanced construction performance, particularly in specialized areas like electrical disciplines. In this study, the authors conducted a survey with 82 industry experts to identify the benefits, barriers, and key selection criteria of Early Electrical Contractor Involvement (EECI) in construction projects. The survey results indicate that the benefits of EECI outweigh the barriers. Cost savings emerged as the most significant benefit of EECI for most participants, while the requirement for a high level of cooperation and transparency was identified as the most challenging barrier. This study also revealed the discrepancies in the assessment of benefits and barriers of EECI based on the participant’s role. Additionally, collaboration and teamwork were identified as essential factors for the successful implementation of EECI. However, companies remain reluctant to change contracting methods, as they tend to adhere to familiar practices despite the potential advantages of EECI. This study validates the importance and effectiveness of EECI with regard to construction projects and contributes to the existing body of knowledge in early contractor involvement, electrical subcontracting, and design quality improvement. Furthermore, the outcome of this study provides industry practitioners with a better understanding of EECI and can also be used for education purposes. Full article

The current research investigates cost overrun factors in structural projects, focusing on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region using Egypt as a model. A systematic literature review was conducted, analyzing 405 research papers published between 2000 and 2024, from which 69 relevant papers were selected to identify 48 key factors contributing to cost overrun. Using K-means clustering, these factors were grouped into three clusters based on their probability and impact, which were classified for their risk levels. To ensure robust analysis, a survey was conducted to gather expert opinions, resulting in 369 valid responses from owners, contractors/subcontractors, and management firms/consultants. The fuzzy group decision-making approach (FGDMA) was conducted to rank all 48 factors, offering a detailed assessment of their relative importance. Based on these rankings, the top 20 factors were identified for analysis to examine variations in stakeholder priorities, capturing differences in perspectives among multi-stakeholders. Sensitivity analysis and Tornado charts explored the critical variations among stakeholders, with management firms/consultants and owners prioritizing design-related risks, such as inconsistencies and delays in approvals, while contractors/subcontractors focused more on material waste. This novel integration presents a structured approach for analyzing, prioritizing, and mitigating cost overrun risks, offering a comprehensive framework that provides practical insights for stakeholders to improve cost and risk management strategies. Full article