Prefabricated bathroom pods: benefits and how they create value for consumers

Abstract

The industrialisation of construction processes is a tried and tested practice that has currently been gaining space. In the specific case of prefabricated bathroom pods, progress in the national construction sector has been modest, with only a small number of manufacturers, low production volumes and scarce academic literature. Such scenario hinders the decision making of builders, who have too few references to be able to quantify their benefits and establish comparisons with conventional building systems. Thus, this study brought together 14 industry experts in Brazil, and conducted Delphi rounds in a process of co-creating the value perceived by consumers of prefabricated bathroom pods. Over three rounds, experts defined and discussed the key benefits of this building system and the ways in which it creates value for consumers. This study creates a database that combines academic rigour with the practical experience of experts, offering decision makers more references to compare with conventional processes, and providing academics a starting point for the development of devices that can assist the decision-making process.

Keywords:
Prefabricated bathroom pods; Perceived value; Delphi; Co-creation