Modern methods of construction - what did we learn?
22 Mar 24The potential benefits of modern methods of construction and production-focused delivery were made clear by speakers at GIRI's February members' meetings. However, they also pointed out potential pitfalls and the importance of considering all aspects of the construction process at an early stage, as well as the need to focus on a pipeline of work rather than approaching every project on a case-by-case basis. Here's what we learned.
Adopt new processes to solve old challenges
Applying a product platform approach to the current pipeline of social infrastructure in the UK could save almost two billion annually in capital expenditure and have an estimated £7.8 billion impact on GDP, said Trudi Sully from Mott MacDonald. However, she warned that it is not an overnight fix. “It takes time, it is iterative, and you need to keep going and keep investing to realise the benefits.”
Automation to reduce error and improve quality
Taylor Woodrow is developing a solution to bring the factory to site to achieve a better result on paving schemes, engineering manager Daniel Ferneyhough told GIRI members last month. He explained how the search for a safer, cleaner, more efficient solution to cutting paving resulted in the idea for a ‘factory in a box’.
Costain sees benefits of production-thinking approach
Applying modern methods of construction to a complex tunnel fit-out project helped Costain mitigate a predicted 72-week programme overrun, improve safety and sustainability, and reduce quality issues, said Simon Gilmour, head of design. He explained that the company talks about ‘production thinking’ rather than modern methods of construction. “We take a more holistic approach, and MMC is only a part of it.”
A product-led approach to bridge design
A modular approach underpinned by digital configuration has helped Laing O'Rourke significantly reduce the time required to design and deliver bridges, said civil engineering leader Phil Robinson. This meant a reordering of conventional design processes. “You can’t build a digital tool to configure products unless you know what the products are, and that requires upfront work. There’s no point approaching this on a project-by-project basis, and we need the support from clients and stakeholders to make it work efficiently.”
Getting it right with modern methods of construction
Successfully introducing new construction methods means considering interfaces, processes, and people, said Rennie Chadwick, global leader for transport and mobility at specialist consultancy Cohesive. He shared his personal experience of using modern methods of construction and what others can learn from the successes and mistakes of past projects.
Construction processes as part of the design phase
Understanding and considering the construction processes during the design phase leads to more successful outcomes, said Steve McKechnie from Arup. He illustrated this point with two examples of where design and construction went together with modern methods of construction to make light work of complex builds.
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