Modeling critical rework factors in the construction industry: Insights and solutions

Abstract

Construction professionals recognize rework’s negative impact on project performance, yet a comprehensive understanding of its critical factors still needs to be provided. Consequently, this study sought to inquire deeply into the causes of construction rework. A systematic framework was employed to achieve the research objectives. Initially, potential causes of rework were identified through a systematic literature review. Subsequently, a survey was developed and emailed to the sample group. Exploratory factor analysis was used to extract critical rework factors (CRFs) and normalized mean value analysis was used to evaluate the criticality of the obtained causes. Structural equation modeling was used to quantify and simulate the effect sizes of the components that were collected. Out of 43 possible causes, this study found 21 critical causes why rework occurs in the Turkish construction sector. Additionally, it uncovered four original CRFs, namely “management and planning deficiencies”, “design and time constraints”, “labor quality and compliance issues”, and “project dynamics and communication challenges”. While numerous studies have explored rework causes using different approaches and methodologies, there remains a lack of insight into the key factors leading to rework. Unlike earlier research, this study offers a thorough and quantitative identification of four distinct critical rework factors in Turkey. © 2025 by the authors.