Process Coordination and Automation in Modular Construction Supply Chain Using Smart Contract and RPA

Abstract

The integration of off-site manufacturing with onsite construction in the Modular Construction Supply Chain (MCSC) presents significant challenges due to the differences in production methods and geographical distances.While various technologies have transformed construction practices, substantial improvements are still needed in on-and off-site coordination to mitigate delays, ensure quality, and lower costs.Blockchain-enabled smart contracts offer a promising workflow engine for enhancing processoriented MCSC coordination.Additionally, Robotic Process Automation (RPA) holds the potential to further refine the modules within MCSC processes and automate tasks.This paper, therefore, aims to develop a new workflow engine that combines blockchain-enabled smart contracts, RPA, and related visualization technologies to address the coordination challenges inherent in MCSC.Demanddriven process modeling and smart contracts conversion with RPA actions are conducted with the MCSC coordination unit configuration, and the initial system is developed and validated in a realworld case study.Industrial requirements and feedback are collected and analyzed via questionnaires and interviews.Finally, practical implications are discussed, and the integration of RPA and AI is identified as a promising exploration for future work in MCSC coordination.