Study on Key Cost Drivers of Prefabricated Buildings Based on System Dynamics

Abstract

The prefabricated building as a major initiative has been put forward by China in recent years to promote the transformation and upgrading of the construction industry, but its rapid development also faces high cost constraints. Therefore, it is necessary and urgent to study the key cost drivers and cost control paths of prefabricated buildings. Most of the current research focuses on the construction cost of prefabricated building as a static object. This article, on the other hand, regards the construction cost of prefabricated building as a dynamic formation process and conducts systematic research from product systems, technical systems, construction processes, and management modes. The influence factors of prefabricated building cost are defined and screened with the help of HSM and previous research results. A cause-and-effect model and cost control model of prefabricated building cost driver are established. Based on the model test of the actual project, the cost generation of prefabricated buildings is simulated. Through sensitivity analysis, key cost drivers of prefabricated building are identified and ranked as degree of design standardization, unit price, prefabrication rate, information technology level, transportation mode, labor level, machinery level, transportation distance, etc. Accordingly, corresponding strategies are proposed for the cost control of prefabricated buildings.