When an onsite plumber alerts management that there’s a problem with the piping, odds are they’re right. Yet, in the case of Assembly OSM, a modular construction company, when one of their onsite plumbers alerted management to ‘non-compliant’ plumbing inside a pre-made building component, CEO Andrew Staniforth was quick to step in.
“[It’s] so hard,” Staniforth said, “because that person’s career has been built learning how to identify things so they can do their jobs better.”
In this case, Staniforth assured the plumber that this piping was 100% compliant and did not, in fact, need to be ripped out and completely redone—it was just designed differently to fit the needs of modular construction.
As modular construction continues to expand its reach into the AEC industry, traditional methods of design, fabrication, and construction are pushed and challenged. Much like the individual components of construction that come together and, if all goes right, fit together like puzzle pieces in a modular build, so must the individual players within a modular construction company if they want to pull it off.
Staniforth’s story was shared at our recent Offsite Construction Conference in Raleigh-Durham, NC. In a panel moderated by Audree Grubesic, founder of OffSite Dirt, industry experts Roger Krulak, founder and president of Fullstack Modular LLC, Vikas Enti, CEO of Reframe Systems, and Ariel Cooke-Zamora, product development lead for Serotiny Group, sat down alongside Staniforth to discuss how companies can successfully integrate modular construction. While the companies represented utilize a variety of production and design processes, and have different target markets, each panelist reiterated throughout that trust, transparency, communication and collaboration are vital to the success of any company looking to begin or continue modular construction.
Trust and Transparency
When asked about the future impact of modular construction on cost management and project timelines, the issues of transparency and trust were paramount. As demonstrated in the variety of companies represented on the panel, modular construction can take many forms. As an evolving industry, transparency in process and cost is vital for illustrating the benefits of modular construction to potential customers.
Serotiny Group tackles this challenge by offering a four- to six-week workshop process leading up to the bid. Each week, the customer will learn about a specific aspect of the building and modular system. That way, Cooke-Zamora says, “when [customers] see a number at the end of our bid process, they understand where that number comes from.”
Establishing a transparent basis for how to compare timelines for traditional and modular construction is equally crucial to illustrate the impact modular construction may have on a given project. Staniforth called for the adoption of a conventional measurement that is “honest and fair” based on proven timelines, rather than “a bid used to win a job.” Meanwhile, the potential control modular construction companies hold over various deliverables may offer a leg up against traditional competitors.
By manufacturing a majority of components in-house, modular companies can dictate production in ways that traditional construction companies typically can’t. Enti noted, “[it’s] less the actual time but [more] the predictability of that time that’s actually mattering more to our customers.”
Communication and Collaboration
Panelists offered several suggestions for how to manage onsite collaboration and communication, including bringing developers and contractors into the fold well before a project begins.
The majority of companies represented on the panel hire general contractors to complete the installation of their projects. Krulak stated unequivocally that to ensure a seamless installation, “training is the most important thing.” Laborers who are not yet used to modular techniques require a certain level of unlearning as these installations will not always look similar to traditional methods. Clear communication, which Krulak was quick to point out must include “easy-to-understand instructions,” as well as onsite oversight and support from internal teams is necessary for a successful installation.
The panel ultimately agreed that companies looking to incorporate modular should also expect to do some unlearning.
Reframe Systems has implemented a new method of hiring workers who move in shifts between manufacturing on the factory floor and installing onsite, ensuring that the workers who complete the install have an in-depth knowledge of the individual components and how everything fits together.
Cooke-Zamora furthermore suggested the need to move away from the “Master Architect” model of design and construction. Rather than relying on a highly-skilled and well-rounded individual with 20-plus years of training, companies can seek out multiple individuals skilled in one aspect of fabrication or design. These individuals require less training time, as they are focused on a single part of production, and can transition from a variety of backgrounds such as aerospace, automotive, and other related industries.
“I think for modular [construction], we need to work on creating specialists in their own niche within the modular process,” Cooke-Zamora said. “And we’re having to all work together.”
Watch the full panel now and stay tuned for more recordings from our 2024 Offsite Construction Conference.
Discussion
Be the first to leave a comment.
You must be a member of the BuiltWorlds community to join the discussion.