Challenges of Automation and Robotics in Engineering

Despite playing a vital role in the global economy, the construction sector is battling inefficiencies and declining productivity levels. This study examines the barriers to the adoption of robots and automated systems, which have the ability to resolve these problems but are particular to the construction sector. A mixed research methodology was used, including a thorough examination of the literature, the gathering of qualitative information via three focus groups with 28 experts, and the gathering of quantitative information through an online questionnaire. The discovered limiting variables were subjected to principal component and correlation analysis in order to categorise and reveal unrecognized linkages. The issues were divided into four major groups and given relevance scores: contractor economic considerations, customer economic factors, technical and work-culture issues, and poor business case issues. Notably, no significant relationships between these variables were discovered. The findings presented in this study can guide the creation of practical mitigation strategies. It is a valuable resource for stakeholders looking to understand the main industry-specific obstacles.