The role of the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) in enhancing performance within the construction industry

Construction continues to experience challenges in terms of a range of issues, namely an archaic process and activities, following procedures, data gathering and recording, monitoring, availability of skilled labour, and a declining interest in pursuing careers in the industry. Then, challenges are experienced in terms of performance relative to the project parameters of cost, environment, health and safety, productivity, quality, and time. Given the challenges and the advent of Industry 4.0, a study was conducted to determine the challenges experienced, performance relative to the project parameters, and the potential of Industry 4.0 to contribute to resolving the challenges. The study was quantitative in nature and entailed a self-administered questionnaire survey of medium to large general contractor members of the East Cape Master Builders Association (ECMBA) in the Port Elizabeth region. The findings include: respondents do understand Industry 4.0; a range of challenges, which negatively impact project and organisation performance, and the sustainability of organisations and the industry, are experienced in construction, and Industry 4.0 is perceived as having the potential to address the challenges experienced. Conclusions include that that there is: a need for improvement in performance in construction; potential to improve; a perceived need for the implementation of Industry 4.0, and a need for interventions to raise the level of awareness, and to integrate such technologies into built environment / construction education and training. Recommendations include: employer associations, professional associations, and statutory councils should raise the level of awareness relative to the potential implementation of Industry 4.0 in construction; case studies should be documented and the findings shared; tertiary built environment education programmes should integrate Industry 4.0 into all possible modules, and continuing professional development (CPD) should address Industry 4.0.