Schedule Delay Leading Indicators in Precast Concrete Construction Projects: Qualitative Comparative Analysis of Korean Cases

Abstract

This paper analyzed 19 precast concrete (PC) construction project cases from Korea using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis to explore the relationship between the conditions of PC projects, observable at an early stage of the projects, and actual schedule delays. The following combinations of PC project conditions leading to schedule delays were identified: (1) the use of multiple types of PC components and nonuse of building information modeling (BIM) for schedule management; (2) PC construction included in the critical path, insufficient experience of the contractor in PC projects, and nonuse of BIM for schedule management; and (3) nonresidential building project, insufficient experience of the contractor in PC projects, and non-use of BIM for schedule management. To understand these findings more deeply, this research further investigated the relationships of the use of BIM with other schedule delay factors based on focus groups. The PC project schedule delay leading indicators identified in this research can help construction managers to mitigate schedule delay risks at an early stage in PC projects.