Automation in Modular Construction Manufacturing: A Comparative Analysis of Assembly Processes

According to the UNHCR, 117.2 million people have been displaced in 2023, with the rate and scale of displacement surpassing the resources available to assist those impacted. Modular construction is favored over traditional methods to meet the urgent demand for affordable housing as it overcomes challenges like long project timelines, high costs, and safety and environmental issues. However, manual assembly is often slow and prone to errors, resulting in inefficiencies and higher costs. While advanced technologies could improve the process, there is limited research on automating assembly in modular construction. This research aims to assess how automation affects the time efficiency and cost of the modular construction process, aiming to improve affordable housing production by automating modular construction. The research follows a quantitative approach, collecting data through simulation to evaluate the effectiveness of integrating robotics in modular construction assembly processes. It compares the performance of automated and manual assembly processes, focusing on resource utilization, time savings, and cost implications. The results reveal that modular manufacturing automated assembly offers faster assembly times and improved cost efficiency, leading to higher productivity and lower overall construction costs. By conducting a detailed analysis, this research provides insights that can guide the integration of automation into modular construction manufacturing.