Designing with the detail of assembly in mind, and making sure that M&E engineers work closely with architects and structural engineers, we deliver built assets with performance as part of their DNA.
It would be even quicker if the tent was pre-erected, of course, but this doesn’t make sense from a transportation and logistics perspective.Instead, they use a component kit-of-parts that is easily handled and takes up very little space during transportation.
A permanent building may have different drivers, but lessons can still be learned from highly efficient on-site works such as the circus tent.. One aim of a fully considered DfMA strategy is to enable smooth running of the construction site.To create a well-orchestrated assembly line with productive workers carrying out pre-determined, standardised and well-understood tasks in predictable timeframes..In short, we want construction sites to be more like factories.. Off-site and modular construction: are factories really all that great?.
Prefabrication in factories (off-site construction) is often thought of as a panacea, a sure-fire way for construction sites to achieve greater productivity.However, factories can also be run inefficiently, and if traditional construction methods are simply shifted into a factory setting, the benefits of MMC can be diluted or lost..
In some cases, building off-site in a factory may even be less efficient than on-site construction.
For example, prefabricated 3D modules (used in modular construction) involve many additional costs compared to conventional build.Adopting a DfMA Mindset.
Successfully realising the benefits of DfMA is not easy, especially for complex projects like battery factories.Simply converting a design into prefabricated parts can add logistical complexity, transport costs, and supply chain fragmentation, while also forcing design compromises..
The key to successful DfMA is embedding the mindset early on, rather than identifying small prefabrication opportunities late in the process.. For DfMA to deliver its full value, the right team must be in place from the start, including designers, specialist consultants, the client, the general contractor, and the supply chain.Clients must understand the challenges and believe in the approach.
(Editor: Smart Towels)