Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department

Document Type

Dissertation

Abstract

Off-site construction relies on structured production environments where tasks are performed across sequential workstations. While prior research has focused on productivity, process improvement, and material flow, limited attention has been given to how workforce organization influences operational outcomes. In particular, the distinction between team and crew structures, widely discussed in organizational research, has not been systematically examined in controlled construction settings. This dissertation develops and applies a laboratory-based experimental framework to study team and crew dynamics in off-site construction. A scaled framing system is used to replicate workstation-based production while maintaining consistent task conditions, layout, and materials. Workforce structures are defined using established constructs and translated into standardized operating procedures to enable controlled comparison. Three studies are conducted within this framework. The first study establishes how team and crew structures can be represented in a controlled laboratory environment while preserving task sequencing and interdependence. The second study examines whether participants perceive the assigned organizational structures as intended. Results show strong alignment between assigned and perceived conditions, indicating that the experimental representation is valid. The third study evaluates operational efficiency by comparing value-added and non-value-added activity across team and crew conditions at the workstation level. While descriptive differences are observed at specific workstations, statistical analysis shows no significant difference in overall efficiency between the two structures. These findings suggest that the impact of organizational structure on efficiency is not universal and depends on task characteristics and workstation context. The primary contribution of this dissertation is the development of a controlled and reproducible experimental framework for studying workforce organization in off-site construction. This approach provides a foundation for systematically evaluating coordination strategies in standardized production environments.

Date

7-16-2026

Committee Chair

Nahmens, Isabelina

LSU Acknowledgement

1

LSU Accessibility Acknowledgment

1

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Available for download on Friday, July 16, 2027

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