Download
1 / 8
80 likes | 82 Views
The construction industry is highly moving towards automation and is yielding better outcomes. This is will continue, resolving many existing issues.<br><br>
E N D
One of the biggest challenges related to the construction industry is the issue of productivity and meeting project deadlines. Though it started in the 2008-2009 recession period, it intensified off late. About 2 million workers left the construction industry by 2011 and even after a decade, the construction industry is struggling to cope up with the vacuum. In addition, BREXIT in Europe is also a major factor contributing to the skill gap. All these macro-economic trends hamper the growth of the construction industry as numerous timelines may be extended, leading to overall project delays. So let us see how the construction industry is responding to such trends and where does automation comes into the scene?
How does the industry respond to these challenges? The construction industry indeed needs to adopt technology solutions to overcome productivity challenges. And to face the reality, it is borrowing heavily from the manufacturing sector. The construction industry is now open to building homes in a factory off-site and installing the built homes onsite. Popular as modular or prefabricated buildings, the construction industry is increasingly adopting this form of buildings as the construction gets completed faster in comparison to the traditional way of construction. Sometimes, it takes almost half the time, leading to high savings.
When the construction industry adopts modular and prefabricated building practices, it makes way for automation in the construction business. This is a major game-changer as normally the construction sites heavily relied on manual processes such as bricklaying, installation, and carpentry that depend heavily on skilled labor. How is automation achieved? When the construction industry adopts modular and prefabricated buildings, it also led to the adoption of principles hitherto unutilized in the industry. A principle among them is the Design for Manufacturing Assembly (DfMA, which is increasingly being adopted by prefab manufacturers, that enables them to have a stronger design plan in comparison to traditional construction. When you adopt this process, you can succeed in making a building in a short span.
Adoption automation in the construction business, such as this has paved the way to the increased adoption of the Building Information Management (BIM) systems that typically create 3D design models for a building. When you bring in the BIM system, you effectively compute the time, materials used, and cost of materials used in constructing a building. In a way, BIM is an effective project management tool that industry stakeholders can employ to better track and manage construction projects. Apart from tools such as DfMA and BIM, the construction industry can also adopt different tools that can make construction projects more effective in terms of cost and time parameters.
How does automation benefit the construction industry? When you bring automation into the construction business, it benefits in multiple ways. It can help in the processing and installation of a variety of construction materials, including wood, composites, and plastics. When compared with traditional materials, such as concrete and steel, these materials are more sustainable. When you use wood for construction purposes, it emits a lower amount of CO2 to the environment than concrete. Also, it can be replenished through afforestation and reforestation activities. In a way, that proves automation in the construction business is highly beneficial for both the industry and for nature.
So what is the next step? One of the biggest advantages of technological solutions in construction is the possibilities that they open for you. When you have new technologies, such as additive manufacturing (3D printing), which is rapidly being deployed in the manufacturing sector, you can use 3D printing in building prototypes for homes. With that, you gain a better understanding of designs amongst stakeholders and enable better change management while executing projects. In conclusion, we can state that a shift from traditional models to the latest methods such as automation in the constructionbusiness, companies are going to experience massive outcomes, which will be positive.
