BRIDGING AUTOMATION AND ROBOTICS IN INDUSTRIALIZED BUILDING SYSTEM (IBS): CHALLENGES, IMPACTS, AND STRATEGIES OF ADOPTIONS

Authors

  • Mohd Ashraf Mohd Fateh School of Construction and Quantity Surveying, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, MALAYSIA
  • Aizad Danial Aniszam School of Construction and Quantity Surveying, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, MALAYSIA
  • Cheng Siew Goh Department of Architecture and Built Environment, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UNITED KINGDOM
  • Hanah Zakariah Civil Engineering and Construction Department, Faculty of Engineering, Science and Technology, Kuala Lumpur University of Science and Technology, De Centrum City, Jalan Ikram-Uniten, 43000 Bangi, Selangor, MALAYSIA
  • Mohd Sofiyan Sulaiman Faculty of Ocean Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21300 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, MALAYSIA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11113/jurnalteknologi.v88.25642

Keywords:

Industrialised Building System (IBS), SDG No. 9, Automation and Robotics, Fourth Industrial Revolution, Construction 4.0

Abstract

The Industrialised Building System (IBS) was introduced in Malaysia in the early 1960s to address the growing demand for affordable housing, reduce reliance on foreign labour, and enhance the overall quality and productivity of the construction sector. Recently, the construction industry has begun integrating automation and robotics, aligning with the global shift towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0). The Construction 4.0 Strategic Plan (2021–2025) further emphasises digitalisation, robotics, and automation to improve industry efficiency and sustainability. However, the construction industry has been slow to adopt these advancements, limiting the full benefits of automation in IBS. Persistent challenges, including resistance to change, high initial investment costs, a shortage of skilled personnel, and technical complexities, hinder widespread adoption. This research examines the integration of automation and robotics in IBS to enhance construction productivity. A questionnaire survey was used for the data collection exercise. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistical methods utilising the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software. The study is guided by three (3) objectives: (1) To identify barriers to the integration of automation and robotics in IBS, (2) To analyse the impact of automation and robotics on construction productivity compared to conventional IBS, and (3)To propose strategies to improve the adoption of these technologies.Findings reveal that the integration of automation and robotics in (IBS) facessignificant barriers, primarily due to the high costs of investment. The mainimpact that automation...read more in the PDF file.

References

[1] M. A. Mohd Fateh and N. N. Nijar, “PERSPECTIVE ANALYSIS ON IBS PROVISION IN STANDARD FORM OF CONTRACT IN MALAYSIA,” MALAYSIAN CONSTRUCTION RESEARCH JOURNAL (MCRJ), vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 87–105, 2019.

[2] CIDB, “Construction 4.0 Strategic Plan (2021-2025) Next Revolution of the Malaysian Construction Industry,” 2020.

[3] M. Zairul, “A thematic review on Industrialised Building System (IBS) publications from 2015-2019: Analysis of patterns and trends for future studies of IBS in Malaysia,” Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 635–652, 2021, doi: 10.47836/PJSSH.29.1.35.

[4] D. M. Anderson, Design for Manufacturability: How to Use Concurrent Engineering to Rapidly Develop Low-Cost, High-Quality Products for Lean Production, Second Edition, 2nd Editio. New York: Productivity Press, 2020.

[5] H. Balogun et al., “Artificial intelligence for deconstruction: Current state, challenges, and opportunities,” Automation in Construction, vol. 166, p. 105641, 2024, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2024.105641.

[6] CIDB, “LAPORAN PELAKSANAAN KAEDAH IBS (ICU),” Kuala Lumpur, 2017.

[7] H. Bon-Gang, N. Jasmine, and T. J. Z. Kang, “Challenges and Strategies for the Adoption of Smart Technologies in the Construction Industry: The Case of Singapore,” Journal of Management in Engineering, vol. 38, no. 1, p. 5021014, Jan. 2022, doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000986.

[8] Construction Industry Development Board Malaysia, “CR 4.0 In Construction,” CIDB Malaysia publication. Accessed: Jan. 22, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.cidb.gov.my/eng/cr-4-0/

[9] M. R. Yusof, M. N. Abd Rashid, and M. A. Mohd Fateh, “Adopting automation and robotics in Malaysian industrialised building system: An Asian perspectives,” in AIP Conference Proceedings, 2023. doi: 10.1063/5.0167654.

[10] T. D. Oesterreich and F. Teuteberg, “Understanding the implications of digitisation and automation in the context of Industry 4.0: A triangulation approach and elements of a research agenda for the construction industry,” Computers in Industry, vol. 83, pp. 121–139, 2016, doi: 10.1016/j.compind.2016.09.006.

[11] M. N. Abd Rashid, M. R. Abdullah, D. Ismail, and M. N. Mahyuddin, “Towards Automation And Robotics In Industrialised Building System ( IBS ): A Literature Review,” 2018.

[12] W. Lu, L. Yuan, and F. Xue, “Investigating the bulk density of construction waste: A big data-driven approach,” Resources, Conservation and Recycling, vol. 169, no. June, 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.105480.

[13] G. Ofori, “Preparing Singapore’s construction industry for the knowledge-based economy: practices, procedures and performance,” Construction Management & Economics, vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 113–125, 2003.

[14] J. Stentoft, K. Adsbøll Wickstrøm, K. Philipsen, and A. Haug, “Drivers and barriers for Industry 4.0 readiness and practice: empirical evidence from small and medium-sized manufacturers,” Production Planning & Control, vol. 32, no. 10, pp. 811–828, Jul. 2021, doi: 10.1080/09537287.2020.1768318.

[15] R. Mahbub, “Investigation Into the Barriers To the Implementation of Automation and Robotics Technologies in the Construction Industry,” Queensland University of Technology, 2008.

[16] X. Ma, C. Mao, and G. Liu, “Can robots replace human beings? —Assessment on the developmental potential of construction robot,” Journal of Building Engineering, vol. 56, p. 104727, 2022, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2022.104727.

[17] H. A. Q. Almatari, M. Chan, and M. A. N. Masrom, “Factors inhibiting the adoption of industrial revolution 4.0 in Malaysian construction industry,” Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, vol. 13, no. 4, pp. 1041–1065, Jan. 2024, doi: 10.1108/SASBE-10-2022-0232.

[18] M. Javaid, A. Haleem, R. P. Singh, and R. Suman, “Enabling flexible manufacturing system (FMS) through the applications of industry 4.0 technologies,” Internet of Things and Cyber-Physical Systems, vol. 2, pp. 49–62, 2022, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iotcps.2022.05.005.

[19] [19] U. Khalid, A. Sagoo, and M. Benachir, “Safety Management System (SMS) framework development – Mitigating the critical safety factors affecting Health and Safety performance in construction projects,” Safety Science, vol. 143, p. 105402, 2021, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2021.105402.

[20] P. Love, D. Edwards, and E. Wood, “Loosening the Gordian knot: the role of emotional intelligence in construction,” Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 50–65, Jan. 2011, doi: 10.1108/09699981111098685.

[21] M. A. Mohd Fateh, A. N. Supian, and C. S. Goh, “Managing Emotional Intelligence of Construction Players During COVID-19 in Malaysia,” Journal of Construction in Developing Countries, vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 191–210, 2024, doi: 10.21315/jcdc-04-23-0036.

[22] F. G. Feldmann, “Towards Lean Automation in Construction—Exploring Barriers to Implementing Automation in Prefabrication,” 2022. doi: 10.3390/su141912944.

[23] Z. Zhou, E. Abdi, C. P. Chea, and Y. Bai, “Global path planning for autonomous construction vehicles in building construction: A comparative study with a focus on vehicle kinematic characteristics,” Journal of Building Engineering, vol. 93, p. 109837, 2024, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2024.109837.

[24] C. Gravina da Rocha, S. Korb, and R. Sacks, “Work structuring and product design for customized repetitive projects,” Construction Management and Economics, vol. 40, no. 7–8, pp. 526–547, Aug. 2022, doi: 10.1080/01446193.2021.1936100.

[25] J. T. Licardo, M. Domjan, and T. Orehovački, “Intelligent Robotics—A Systematic Review of Emerging Technologies and Trends,” 2024. doi: 10.3390/electronics13030542.

[26] H. He, J. Gray, A. Cangelosi, Q. Meng, T. M. McGinnity, and J. Mehnen, “The Challenges and Opportunities of Human-Centered AI for Trustworthy Robots and Autonomous Systems,” IEEE Transactions on Cognitive and Developmental Systems, vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 1398–1412, 2022, doi: 10.1109/TCDS.2021.3132282.

[27] A. N. F. A. Zuhairi, M. A. M. Fateh, and W. T. Hong, “ENHANCING LEADERSHIP BEHAVIOUR TO IMPROVE EMPLOYEE MOTIVATION DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC,” Malaysian Construction Research Journal (MCRJ), vol. 17, no. 3, pp. 209–227, 2023.

[28] M. A. M. Fateh, N. A. A. Nik Mat, and R. Abd Rahman, “Payment Predicaments: Exploring Factors and Remedies for Main Contractor-Subcontractor Dynamics in Malaysia,” ASEAN Engineering Journal, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 91–101, 2024, doi: 10.11113/aej.v14.20767.

[29] S. Demirkesen and A. Tezel, “Investigating major challenges for industry 4.0 adoption among construction companies,” Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 1470–1503, Jan. 2022, doi: 10.1108/ECAM-12-2020-1059.

[30] Y. Barykina, “Risks of long-term leasing transactions for construction industry development,” IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, vol. 667, no. 1, 2019, doi: 10.1088/1757-899X/667/1/012011.

[31] Y. J. B. Hui, C. I. Ni, and S. Kamran, “Criticality of Construction Industry Problems in Developing Countries: Analyzing Malaysian Projects,” Journal of Management in Engineering, vol. 35, no. 5, p. 4019020, Sep. 2019, doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000709.

[32] A. E. Oke, J. Aliu, P. Fadamiro, P. S. Jamir Singh, M. S. Samsurijan, and M. Yahaya, “Robotics and automation for sustainable construction: microscoping the barriers to implementation,” Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 625–643, Jan. 2024, doi: 10.1108/SASBE-12-2022-0275.

[33] M. Regona, T. Yigitcanlar, B. Xia, and R. Y. M. Li, “Opportunities and Adoption Challenges of AI in the Construction Industry: A PRISMA Review,” Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, vol. 8, no. 1, 2022, doi: 10.3390/joitmc8010045.

[34] S. Akmam Syed Zakaria and K. M. Amtered El-Abidi, “Economic effects of migrant labor on industrialized building system (IBS) adoption in the Malaysian construction industry,” Architectural Engineering and Design Management, vol. 17, no. 1–2, pp. 50–66, Mar. 2021, doi: 10.1080/17452007.2020.1781587.

[35] N. Melenbrink, J. Werfel, and A. Menges, “On-site autonomous construction robots: Towards unsupervised building,” Automation in Construction, vol. 119, p. 103312, 2020, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2020.103312.

[36] Y. Pan and L. Zhang, “Roles of artificial intelligence in construction engineering and management: A critical review and future trends,” Automation in Construction, vol. 122, p. 103517, 2021, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2020.103517.

[37] J. K. Wong, W. F. Yusoff, and A. S. Ali, “Innovations in IBS: The use of advanced materials and methods in Malaysian construction,” Journal of Construction Innovation, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 33–50, 2020.

[38] Neuroject, “Construction robots in 2024: A comprehensive guide,” 2024.

[39] Boom and Bucket, “Robotic and automated systems in construction projects,” 2023.

[40] Gamuda Berhad, “The future of home building, Digital IBS.” Accessed: Nov. 27, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.gamuda.com.my

[41] X. Jin, “Role of Automation in Construction Quality Management,” Automation in Construction, vol. 110, p. 103031, 2020.

[42] T. M. Chan and H. Wang, “Automation and Robotics in Construction,” Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, vol. 145, no. 10, p. 4019073, 2019.

[43] Y. Gan, L. Shen, J. Chen, V. W. Y. Tam, Y. Tan, and I. M. C. S. Illankoon, “Critical factors affecting the quality of industrialized building system projects in China,” Sustainability (Switzerland), vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 1–13, 2017, doi: 10.3390/su9020216.

[44] Masjaya Eco Construction Sdn. Bhd., “Building Faster and Smarter with IBS Construction in Malaysia.” Accessed: Nov. 27, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://blog.ibsfocus.my/blog/building-faster-and-smarter-with-ibs-construction-in-malaysia-kontraktor-bina-rumah-atas-tanah-sendiri/

[45] Sibs AB, “SIBS building system saves time up to 50%.” Accessed: Nov. 27, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.sibs.com.my/traditional-vs-ibs-construction/

[46] M. Jacobsson and H. C. J. Linderoth, “Newly graduated students’ role as ambassadors for digitalisation in construction firms,” Construction Management and Economics, vol. 39, no. 9, pp. 759–772, Sep. 2021, doi: 10.1080/01446193.2021.1955398.

[47] D. Aghimien, C. Aigbavboa, A. Oke, and N. Koloko, “DIGITALISATION IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY: CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS PERSPECTIVE,” Proceedings of International Structural Engineering and Construction, vol. 5, Dec. 2018, doi: 10.14455/ISEC.res.2018.90.

[48] T. Kaiv, “Enhancing construction efficiency: Key factors and strategies.” Accessed: Nov. 27, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.bauwise.com

[49] M. Javaid, A. Haleem, R. P. Singh, and R. Suman, “Substantial capabilities of robotics in enhancing industry 4.0 implementation,” Cognitive Robotics, vol. 1, pp. 58–75, 2021, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cogr.2021.06.001.

[50] S. A. A. Rahim, M. A. S. Hashim, and W. S. Shen, “A Potential Study of Automation System in Industrialised Building System (IBS) in Enhancing Malaysian Construction Industry’s Performance.,” INTI Journal, vol. 2020, no. August, pp. 1. Ryu J, McFarland T, Banting B, Haas CT, Abdel-R, 2020.

[51] C. R. Ahn, L. SangHyun, S. Cenfei, J. Houtan, Y. Kanghyeok, and C. Byungjoo, “Wearable Sensing Technology Applications in Construction Safety and Health,” Journal of

Construction Engineering and Management, vol. 145, no. 11, p. 3119007, Nov. 2019, doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0001708.

[52] B. Xiao, C. Chen, and X. Yin, “Recent advancements of robotics in construction,” Automation in Construction, vol. 144, Dec. 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.autcon.2022.104591.

[53] A. Attalla, O. Attalla, A. Moussa, D. Shafique, S. B. Raean, and T. Hegazy, “Construction robotics: review of intelligent features,” International Journal of Intelligent Robotics and Applications, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 535–555, 2023, doi: 10.1007/s41315-023-00275-1.

[54] J. Tilley, “Automation, robotics, and the factory of the future,” Modern Vision. Accessed: Nov. 27, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/operations/our-insights/automation-robotics-and-the-factory-of-the-future#/

[55] G. Wu et al., “Factors influencing the application of prefabricated construction in China: From perspectives of technology promotion and cleaner production,” Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 219, pp. 753–762, 2019, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.02.110.

[56] X. Yin, H. Liu, Y. Chen, and M. Al-Hussein, “Building information modelling for off-site construction: Review and future directions,” Automation in Construction, vol. 101, pp. 72–91, 2019, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2019.01.010.

[57] M. N. Rashid, M. R. Abdullah, D. Ismail, and M. H. Saberi, “Automation and robotics in Industrialized Building System (IBS): The potential criteria for Measurement,” International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, vol. 9, no. 7, 2019, doi: 10.6007/ijarbss/v9-i7/6201.

[58] S. Maity, “Identifying opportunities for artificial intelligence in the evolution of training and development practices,” Journal of Management Development, vol. 38, no. 8, pp. 651–663, Jan. 2019, doi: 10.1108/JMD-03-2019-0069.

[59] M. M. Al-Shammari, “Business process reengineering for designing a knowledge-enabled customer-centric competitiveness strategy,” Business Process Management Journal, vol. 29, no. 6, pp. 1706–1733, Jan. 2023, doi: 10.1108/BPMJ-02-2023-0074.

[60] S. Parascho, “Construction Robotics: From Automation to Collaboration,” Annual Review of Control, Robotics, and Autonomous Systems, vol. 6, pp. 183–204, 2023, doi: 10.1146/annurev-control-080122-090049.

[61] S. N. Naghshbandi, L. Varga, and Y. Hu, “Technologies for safe and resilient earthmoving operations: A systematic literature review,” Automation in Construction, vol. 125, p. 103632, 2021, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2021.103632.

[62] J. Bughin et al., “ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE THE NEXT DIGITAL FRONTIER?,” 2017.

Graphical Abstract

Downloads

Published

01-11-2026

Issue

Vol. 88 No. 6 (2026): November 2026

Section

Science and Engineering

License

Copyright of articles that appear in Jurnal Teknologi belongs exclusively to Penerbit Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (Penerbit UTM Press). This copyright covers the rights to reproduce the article, including reprints, electronic reproductions, or any other reproductions of similar nature.

How to Cite

BRIDGING AUTOMATION AND ROBOTICS IN INDUSTRIALIZED BUILDING SYSTEM (IBS): CHALLENGES, IMPACTS, AND STRATEGIES OF ADOPTIONS. (2026). Jurnal Teknologi (Sciences & Engineering), 88(6). https://doi.org/10.11113/jurnalteknologi.v88.25642