A Modular Industry Call to Action
By Shawn Horton – Brave Control Solutions
The construction industry, today, stands precariously poised on the precipice of a pivotal moment in its illustrious history. The clamoring demand for solutions transcending mere efficiency and cost-effectiveness now includes an urgent plea for environmental sustainability. It is within the context of this juncture that offsite modular construction emerges as a true game-changer, igniting passions and inspiring change. However, for this game-changing potential to fully materialize, the industry itself must embark on a transformational journey, necessitating a radical reassessment of its very structure and approach. In this impassioned article, we venture deeper into three paramount facets, each imperative for the evolution of the offsite modular construction sector.
All photos courtesy of Brave Control Solutions
Emulating the Automotive Tier Supplier Model: Unite for Change
The first call to action is clear – the offsite modular construction industry must broaden its horizons to not just meet but to anticipate scalability. It beckons the embrace of a model akin to the Tier supplier system, an established pillar of high-volume production in the automotive industry. Here, Tier suppliers serve as the sturdy bedrock, providing essential components to multiple end assemblers.
Translating this concept into the world of offsite construction requires a resolute commitment to invest in automated equipment and cutting-edge factories with the capacity to churn out substantial volumes. Just as Tier suppliers specialize in the precise manufacture of specific components, modular construction companies should focus on crafting standardized modules, ready for seamless integration into a wide array of building projects. Specialization here is not just about economies of scale; it offers the transformative potential to dramatically reduce costs while turbocharging efficiency.
Embracing the Tier supplier model is not just about poised readiness but a clarion call for collaboration. It necessitates a consortium of construction-based firms, harmonizing their efforts with manufacturing and logistics experts to weave the intricate ecosystem vital for a robust and successful supply chain. It’s a call for unity and the dawn of a new era in construction!
Diverse Forms and Customization: Unleash Creativity and Ingenuity
Offsite construction is anything but a one-size-fits-all solution. It thrives on versatility, offering a treasure trove of possibilities that can be woven together in countless innovative ways. This very flexibility is not just vital; it’s the catalyst for satisfying the burgeoning demand for unique, inventive, and tailored building solutions. Offsite construction, far from being limited to producing standardized structures, should be viewed as an expansive canvas upon which the most unique architectural visions are painted.
Picture, for example, a modular construction company offering a dazzling array of modules designed for a diverse range of purposes, spanning from residential units to office spaces and from healthcare facilities to educational institutions. These modules are not confining but liberating building blocks, ripe for creative customization, paving the way for the creation of diverse and distinctive structures. This approach not only nourishes the fertile ground for design creativity but also ensures streamlined and efficient production processes. It’s a creative renaissance and a call for imagination to lead the way!
Automation and Manufacturing Principles: Ignite Efficiency
Efficiency stands unwavering as the cornerstone of successful construction endeavors, and automation serves as the lynchpin in realizing this noble objective. The key lies in the astute deployment of automation in tasks that cry out for it, particularly in repetitive and labor-intensive realms. To achieve this, it is crucial to construct a supply chain system that harmonizes seamlessly with the proven principles of manufacturing.
By automating specific processes, such as the manufacturing of modules, companies can drastically slash production time and costs. This, in turn, empowers them to uphold unwavering standards of quality while ensuring the punctual delivery of projects. Yet, it is imperative to recognize that not all aspects of construction can be fully automated; the human touch remains irreplaceable in areas demanding creativity, problem-solving, and complex decision-making. It’s a clarion call for innovation, not obsolescence.
Safety and Cost Savings: A Pledge to Lives and the Bottom Line
In the quest for change, there is a promise that echoes loudly – improved safety aspects of modular offsite construction are not just a bonus but an imperative. This shift to a safer work environment, one not subject to the whims of unpredictable weather, not only promises to save lives but also to reduce costs. It’s a pledge that extends beyond dollars and cents; it’s a pledge to the lives of the dedicated people who build our world.
Government and regulatory: Fight the good fight.
Organizations such as the MHBA are already fighting on the one flank to get government legislation for offsite modular properly regulated. This is without a doubt needed for these changes to become effective. It is in addition to this that we must also collaborate and reform the industry on the other flank to meet the needs of the producers and the users alike.
In summary, the offsite modular construction approach isn’t just poised to revolutionize; it is now the clarion call for action, for a transformation that can and will redefine the construction industry. This isn’t a transformation of a single entity; it is a collective effort, a vibrant symphony of change that demands unity and action. It is a call for emulation of the Tier supplier model, a call for diverse construction forms that unleash creativity and customization, a call for automation that ignites efficiency, and a pledge for safer lives and reduced costs.
I ask those who share this vision to reach out, so we can begin this transformative journey where, indeed if there is a will, there is undeniably a way!
