Advancing BIM and Sustainability with Coopetition: Evidence from the Portuguese Stone Industry

Abstract

The construction industry plays a crucial role in the global economy but faces persistent challenges such as inefficiency, high costs, and significant environmental impact. Building Information Modelling (BIM) has been proposed as a solution to enhance efficiency and sustainability through digital representations of construction projects. However, the full potential of BIM has yet to be realized. A contributing factor to this gap is that construction manufacturing companies, which produce upstream parts and products used downstream in construction, are often overlooked in discussions of BIM’s benefits. This study explores the potential of coopetition networks to help manufacturing companies better align with BIM dimensions. Coopetition networks, which integrate competitive and cooperative strategies, present a promising method to enhance the effectiveness of manufacturing companies. Focusing on the Portuguese Ornamental Stone industry, the study employs an experimental pilot network facilitated by the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) to assess the effects of competition on labour productivity, on-time delivery, and environmental performance among stone companies. The findings indicate that coopetition networks significantly improve alignment with BIM requirements, enhancing operational efficiency and sustainability. Despite being limited by a small sample size, this research offers valuable insights into the role of manufacturing companies in BIM-enhanced construction projects and the broader applicability of coopetition networks in advancing BIM objectives. These results highlight the potential of coopetition networks as a strategic approach to improving performance in the construction industry.