A Review of Human-Centric Construction Manufacturing: Current Practices and Research Opportunities

Abstract

Abstract The industrialization of the construction industry has transformed traditional practices by streamlining construction processes in controlled, factory-based environments through construction manufacturing production systems, in which building components are produced in factories and assembled on-site. Beyond improvements in efficiency and environmental performance, this production paradigm establishes long-term relationships between workers and management, creating an opportunity for human-centric construction manufacturing that prioritizes workers’ well-being as a core element of production within the Industry 5.0 paradigm. Human-centric construction manufacturing offers a practical means of integrating worker well-being, safety, mental health, inclusiveness, and skill development into construction production systems. Despite growing interest in human-centric considerations, existing research remains fragmented, loosely defined, and predominantly technology-driven. To address these gaps, this paper presents a scoping review on human-centric construction manufacturing that synthesizes key research themes, enabling technologies, emerging trends, research gaps, and future research directions within construction production systems. A total of 54 articles were included in the review, spanning three research areas examined from a human-centric perspective, i.e., ergonomics, safety, and workforce planning, each further categorized into subresearch areas. Workers’ mental health, equity, diversity, inclusion, and holistic well-being in the construction manufacturing paradigm remain significant and underexplored research opportunities. Among the most prominent technologies were simulation, virtual reality, optimization, sensing technologies, and 3D modeling, while computer vision, machine learning, robotics, and digital twins were less frequently applied, despite their strong potential to support human-centric construction manufacturing. Overall, this review establishes a comprehensive foundation for understanding the current state of human-centric construction manufacturing, identifies critical research needs, and provides guidance for future efforts toward developing safer, healthier, and more productive factory environments that support resilient construction manufacturing systems.