With more than 25 years of experience in the construction industry, Ryan Ware is founder of Cleveland-based Connective Consulting Group. Opinions are the author’s own.
A new way of building has the power to revolutionize the way the AEC industry operates, but adoption of it has been slow. What is driving the slow adoption? Is it the solutions, 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 yet to be fully embraced.
Often, industrialized construction is confused with offsite and/or prefabrication. While it is true that these methods of construction are part of IC, it is the convergence of technology that allows for better design integration and straight-to-factory production of these solutions.
The real acceleration provided by IC is through the layers of things like technology, automation, robotics and AI to better support manual labor, both onsite and off. Industrialized construction is the overarching idea of this converging of technologies and methods.
IC also creates a new type of labor force within the industry, thus taking aim at solving the skilled labor shortage by reinventing it for future workers, while making it better for current labor forces.
One reason industrialized construction has had slow adoption is that most architectural and construction firms are used to doing things the way they were taught to do them over decades. Another reason is those focused on portions of industrialized construction sometimes lack an understanding of what architects and construction teams need to succeed.
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 adequate training can encourage more industry professionals to explore industrialized construction solutions.
Delivery model. The traditional design-bid-build model negates the advantages of IC. Models like design build and integrated project delivery can increase efficiency and minimize risk, fostering a better environment for exploring new construction methods.
Value proposition. Industrialized construction's benefits must outweigh its risks. However, some proponents of these methods fail to align their value proposition properly, often overselling their solutions, when there is no magic bullet. A realistic approach that acknowledges human complexity and focuses on process changes can help in better understanding and more willingness to embrace IC.
Could the implementation of a more uniform, value-driven process change things? Could using an effective delivery model lead to more willing participants that can drive a smoother adoption of IC? 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 IC, the construction industry needs to promote a learning environment. Individuals need to be encouraged to be curious and to try new approaches without the fear of retribution when things do not 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 must change its understanding of what and when training can occur. IC is a process change, not a swapping out of a simple specification for a product.
So, learning more is going to require more effort than attending a seminar, attending a lecture or reading an article. It will require programs, which generally include multiple workshops and courses, which can help pique participant interest in industrialized construction, propel them to dive deep into it and increase their interest in exploring the field.
Offer incentives. These are a great way to encourage people to try out new things. Offering incentives to individuals interested in exploring industrialized construction can make the field attractive to others. These incentives can take the form of awards, recognitions, partnerships or bonuses.
For instance, the Design-Build Institute of America offers certifications to be recognized as a design-build professional. A similar certification targeted at recognizing industrialized construction experts could go a long way in serving as a motivation to learn and embrace industrialized construction.
Partnering with firms actively engaged in industrialized construction and offering grants for training would also help drive its 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 to understand how to properly integrate technologies. It is not enough that these technologies are available, there is a need for all parties in the construction process to know how to incorporate them in the right way.
Hence, proper education on the utilization of available technologies and tools is necessary to optimize construction outcomes.
Share success stories. Sharing cases where IC has been successfully used in projects can encourage individuals to explore the field and get 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 intelligent failures than we can from blind success.
Most people want data, and data follows many iterations to create a feedback loop that is beneficial. Sharing how challenges were addressed, changes made, and how the teams can mitigate risk shows a recognition that risk is real, and that those in IC are not just passing it on but being an active partner in mitigating.
Get out of the training room. By taking individuals to construction sites that are actively engaged in industrialized construction, they get to see for themselves how projects are being executed using this method. Seeing real-life examples can help inspire curiosity in individuals.
These experiences should be more than one day to provide adequate insight into the topics of IC exploration. Leaders must not see these as overhead that is putting the teams behind on projects and costing them money, but rather an investment into the company’s future.
The fact remains that industrialized construction is here to stay. A few simple steps can help participants understand they are part of a journey not an event, making the process more valuable and mutually beneficial to all.
