3D Printing Technology for Precast Concrete: A Business Process Perspective from Indonesian Construction Sector

Indonesia’s National Medium-Term Development Plan highlights the critical need for housing development amidst a pronounced housing shortage. The inefficiencies of conventional construction methods, marked by delayed project durations, escalated costs, limited quality control over high-quality buildings with complex geometries, and significant construction waste, necessitate innovation solutions. In contrast, additive manufacturing, particularly 3D concrete printing (3DCP) technology, has emerged as a paradigm shift within the construction sector due to its cost-effective and waste-reducing capabilities. This precision-driven approach for concrete placement, governed by an automated control system, offers an innovative alternative to conventional practices. This research introduces a comprehensive business process model for 3D printing-based precast concrete production in residential development projects in Indonesia. Through a mixed-methods approach, including case studies, benchmarking, expert validation, and life cycle cost analysis, the findings illustrate the financial viability of 3DCP technology. An initial investment of USD 1,577,874 is required to implement this technology in residential construction, projected to yield a first-year revenue of USD 1,765,455 and a ten-year cumulative income of USD 17,654,553. Moreover, with an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 17%, surpassing the construction company’s Minimum Attractive Rate of Return (MARR) of 13%, the study highlights the economic feasibility of adopting 3DCP technology in addressing Indonesia’s housing development challenges.