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With over 25 years of experience in the construction industry, Ryan Ware is the founder of Cleveland-based Connective Consulting Group. The opinions are the author’s own.
A new way of building has the power to revolutionize the way the AEC industry operates, but its adoption has been slow. What is driving slow adoption? Is it the solutions, the technology, or the complexity of human operating systems?
Industrialized construction integrates advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, prefabrication, design for manufacturing and assembly, additive manufacturing and other innovations to design and build structures. This convergence of technology and manufacturing is a fairly modern approach to construction, and it has not yet been fully embraced.
Industrialized construction is often confused with off-site and/or prefab. While it is true that these construction methods are part of the IC, it is the convergence of technology that allows better integration of design and direct factory production of these solutions.
Ryan Ware
Permission granted by Connective Consulting Group
The real acceleration provided by IC goes through the layers of things like technology, automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence to better support manual work, both onsite and offsite. Industrialized construction is the general idea of this convergence of technologies and methods.
IC also creates a new kind of workforce within the industry, aiming to solve the skilled workforce shortage by reinventing it for future workers, while improving it for the workforce current work
One of the reasons industrialized construction has had slow adoption is that most architecture and construction firms are used to doing things the way they were taught for decades. Another reason is that those who focus on parts of industrialized construction sometimes don’t understand what architects and construction crews need to be successful.
Barriers to adoption
Despite its advantages, several barriers hinder the adoption of industrialized construction. They are:
Willingness to try. The construction industry is inherently risk averse. To learn and adopt new methods, industry professionals must be willing to try new approaches. However, financial constraints for training often hinder this willingness. Reallocating funds for proper training may encourage more industry professionals to explore industrialized construction solutions.
Delivery model The traditional design-bid-build model negates the benefits of IC. Models such as design-build and integrated project delivery can increase efficiency and minimize risk, fostering a better environment for exploring new construction methods.
Value proposition. The benefits of industrialized construction must outweigh its risks. However, some proponents of these methods fail to properly align their value proposition, often outselling their solutions, when there is no magic bullet. A realistic approach that recognizes human complexity and focuses on process changes can help lead to better understanding and greater willingness to embrace CI.
Could implementing a more uniform, value-based process change things? Could using an effective delivery model lead to more willing participants who can drive smoother CI adoption? Could increasing our curiosity and willingness to accept that it will take time to learn the new process improve the speed of adoption?
where to start
To get the most out of CI, the construction industry needs to promote a learning environment. Individuals need to be encouraged to be curious and try new approaches without fear of retribution when things don’t go as planned the first time. Here are some ways to start exploring to help combat the barriers:
Rethink training. Investing in training and continuing education programs is one of the best ways to start adopting industrialized construction. However, the industry needs to change its understanding of what and when training can take place. IC is a process change, not a simple specification change for a product.
Therefore, learning more will require more effort than attending a seminar, attending a conference, or reading an article. It requires programs, which usually include various workshops and courses, which can help to arouse participants’ interest in industrialized construction, prompt them to delve into it, and increase their interest in exploring the field.
Offer incentives. This is a great way to encourage people to try new things. Offering incentives to people interested in exploring industrialized construction can make the field attractive to others. These incentives can take the form of prizes, recognition, collaborations or bonuses.
For example, the Design-Build Institute of America offers certifications to be recognized as a design professional. A similar certification aimed at recognizing industrialized construction experts could go a long way in motivating people to learn and adopt industrialized construction.
Partnering with companies that are actively engaged in industrialized construction and offering training grants would also help drive adoption.
Understand new technologies. Technology is the backbone of industrialized construction. From the design to the execution stage, proper integration of technology is important.
An essential step in adoption is understanding how to properly integrate technologies. It is not enough that these technologies are available, it is necessary that all parts of the construction process know how to incorporate them in the right way.
Therefore, proper education on the use of available technologies and tools is necessary to optimize construction results.
Share success stories. Sharing cases where CI has been successfully used in projects can encourage people to explore the field and gain some success of their own. It is also important to share what has already been learned through the not-so-successful stories. We can learn more from smart failures than from blind success.
Most people want data, and data follows many iterations to create a feedback loop that is beneficial. Sharing how challenges have been addressed, changes made, and how teams can mitigate risk shows recognition that risk is real and that ICs don’t just pass it on, but are an active partner in mitigating- the
Exit the training room. By taking people to construction sites that are actively engaged in industrialized construction, they can see for themselves how projects are executed using this method. Seeing real-life examples can help inspire curiosity in people.
These experiences should last more than one day to provide adequate insight into the topics of IC exploration. Leaders should not see them as a burden that is setting teams back on projects and costing them money, but rather an investment in the future of the company.
The truth is that industrialized construction is here to stay. A few simple steps can help participants understand that they are part of a journey not an event, making the process more valuable and beneficial for all.
