Economic and sustainable implications of standardised components and modular assembly

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Economic and sustainable implications of
standardised components and modular assembly
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introduction
I was claimed that research suggests that 80 of
inputs into buildings are repeated but the
problems lies in that developing a generic
approach is difficult given the unique nature of
each building
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introduction
This lecture will consider how standardisation
can help to reduce costs in both repeated
processes as well as one off buildings and look
at the economic implications of this.
Consideration will also be given to how modular
assembly can reduce the latitude that the client
usually enjoys in modifying the original design
brief, and the various sustainability issues that
are associated with this.
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What is Standardisation? 
Many components are standardised such as bricks
and masonry products, I section beams, timber
beams etc. The issue here then is not that of
standardised products but standardised processes
Therefore, if the materials could be put
together in a way that reduces the total man-
hour content, particularly on site, costs could
be reduced and project delivery quality
increased. Standardisation also makes prototype
testing more feasible, which in turn, helps
minimise defects
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What is Standardisation?
Investing in improved construction processes is
frowned upon by many practitioners because of the
one off supposition. No two buildings are the
same so how can standardisation work? No two
buildings are the same, civil infrastructure
needs to be fitted into confined spaces and
construction work needs to blend in with the
surrounding area. Soil conditions vary,
materials are re-used more and more. These are
examples of how some put the case against
standardisation in summary, circumstances are
unique to each project and hence so is the
product.  
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What is Standardisation
The standardisation of components and processes
is often achieved project by project.
Standardisation is rare between projects bar
where the product is small and familiar, and
generic to many different forms of building, such
as simple portal frames for example. The key to
success in standardisation is effective process
mapping and co-operation between key
stakeholders. Feedback on project outcomes
should be encouraged, from the front line to the
design team. This should generate opportunities
to learn to standardise and automate parts of the
process.
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Pre-assembly
Pre-assembly the process of completing certain
sections of the project away from the site.
Many components already used in the construction
process are pre-assembled, examples including
roof trusses, cladding panels and pre-cast
concrete sections. There are many advantages to
using pre-assembled, The industry now recognises
that pre-assembly can not only provide many
economic benefits, but also help firms develop
the sustainability strategies that the government
now requires of them.
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Key business benefits of standardisation and
pre-assembly

• The drive towards standardisation and
  pre-assembly should reap rewards for all involved
  in the production process. The two main benefits
  are
•  
• Improving customer satisfaction
• Increasing profitability
•  

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Improving customer satisfaction
Construction industry clients run businesses with
customers to whom they are providing a service or
product. Take for example the highly
competitive supermarket retailing sector. The
business knows that without customers, there is
no business. Its key processes are designed and
structured so that it can establish and nurture
loyalties with its customer base. To do this,
it must retain a competitive edge in all its
business dealings. To be successful at this,
processes and teams must be integrated and waste
must be reduced or eliminated by examining every
process in their supply chains, right down to the
most detailed level
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Improving customer satisfaction
Standardisation and pre-assembly can play a key
role in reducing not only the costs of the
project, but also play a pivotal role in reducing
some of the risks that will effect the business
of the client. The construction industry must
pay attention to the other agendas that the
client pursues in their business dealings, and
provide construction solutions that help meet
these requirements. This will lead to higher
levels of customer satisfaction.
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 Increasing profitability
Construction businesses must also concentrate on
their own processes and seek innovative ways to
reduce waste and cost in the construction
process, and achieve higher levels of
profitability. Standardisation and
pre-assembly can act as a positive driver in
increasing the profitability of firms through
waste reduction and on time project completion
targets.
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Increasing profitability
Achieving predictability of project outcomes
 Realising improved and predictable quality
Increasing productivity and efficiency
Improving Health and Safety Reducing
environmental impacts Enabling special projects
to proceed
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Key management issues
   Develop an inclusive partnering approach,
integrating design with construction needs
Challenge convention look for ways to streamline
construction and cut costs Assess carefully the
'knock-on' effects and related costs and savings
of procurement and prefabrication decisions.