Prefabrication: 4 steps to a long-term strategy for better project outcomes | Dump Trucks Charlotte NC

Industry benchmarks show 61 percent of typical construction projects are behind schedule, while 49 percent are over budget. As an industry, why are we satisfied with these results and what can be done to improve the way projects are delivered in the future? 

While COVID-19 is testing the limits of companies across industries, it’s also forced people to explore new and, in many cases, better ways of getting things done. 

The construction industry is no different. Prefabrication has been around for decades and proven to accelerate project timelines, reduce jobsite congestion and lower risk. During the pandemic, as many projects came to a halt, prefabrication plants continued to operate with social distancing protocols and safety measures in place. For some, Covid-19 was the nudge they needed to give prefabrication a chance. This begs the question, could prefabrication be the answer to the construction industry’s bounce back from Covid-19?

As the economy begins to recover and gain traction, speed to market will be incredibly important. Off-site construction can deliver a project between 30-50 percent faster than traditional methods because construction of the building occurs simultaneously with the site and foundation work. Given that the build takes place in a controlled environment, schedule delays due to weather and other external factors are a non-issue.

Prefabrication represents a major paradigm shift for owners and project teams and should be considered part of the strategy from the outset of a project. The nature of prefabrication requires solid teamwork, early design decisions and a continuous, iterative estimating process. Ideally, owners will consider offsite construction even before a project is conceived, so they can achieve the benefits of improved schedules, cost certainty and reduced risks that are inherent with offsite construction. 

To leverage prefabrication, the construction industry must evolve culturally and modify processes to achieve improved outcomes. So how does one get started with a strategy to reap the benefits prefabrication can offer? 

1. Become familiar with the off-site continuum, otherwise known as the range of prefabricated building solutions. The continuum ranges from single trade to multi-trade and volumetric solutions. Understanding the differences in solutions is necessary to make an educated decision on which prefabrication strategy is ideal for a given project. 

2. Examine previous projects to discover where prefabrication could have been beneficial. Nearly any structure or envelope solution with significant repetition is well suited for prefabrication. If prefabrication is the goal for a project, the design team can engage with the prefabricator at the project's conception for help identifying the best areas and solutions for prefabrication.  

3. Meet with prefabricators and ask to tour their facilities to understand the solutions they provide. Prefabricated systems have come a long way and offer high-quality finishes, aesthetic versatility and most importantly, design flexibility. Take the time to find a reputable prefabricator with experience collaborating with design teams and making their vision a reality. 

4. Engage early. Traditional construction is risky, and prefabrication is a process that can reduce that risk, but it needs to be part of the overall project strategy from the beginning. Early engagement, whether during predesign or schematic design, is critical to gain the cost benefits of prefabrication.  A commitment to the design columbus oh dump truck company needs to happen at an early stage so that the design is optimized for manufacturing.