Identification of critical factors influencing prefabricated construction quality and their mutual relationship

Prefabricated construction quality can not only influence the service life and function of buildings, but is also closely associated with the users’ safety. Therefore, effective quality management is significant for the development of this type of construction method in this industry. The current research regarding quality management in the field of construction mainly focuses on on-site construction, while lacking extensive attention to prefabricated construction. Based on the existing literature and expert opinions from the construction firms, the government, and academia, this paper summarizes 23 critical factors that affect the quality management of prefabricated construction, adopts the interpretation structure model-matrix cross-reference multiplication applied to a classification (ISM-MICMAC) to analyze the hierarchical relationship between these factors, and further investigates the influence degree of the relationship by using the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL). The result shows that the government guidance is the most important influencing factor, and other factors, including integration in the supply chain, laws and regulations, codes and standards for prefabricated components, technology, and professional personnel, etc., also play a critical role in the quality management of prefabricated construction. These factors can affect the quality of raw materials for the production, manufacturing and transport equipment of prefabricated components through assembly and design schemes, ultimately resulting in an influence on the quality of prefabricated construction. The study aims to identify a mutual relationship between the critical factors affecting prefabricated construction quality, which can help managers to have a better understanding of the quality of prefabricated construction, and take effective measures to improve the status quo as well as promote the sustainable development of prefabricated construction.