{"id":87881,"date":"2021-03-04T11:09:21","date_gmt":"2021-03-04T11:09:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/?p=87881"},"modified":"2022-07-01T16:37:07","modified_gmt":"2022-07-01T15:37:07","slug":"platform-construction-innovation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/building-control-news\/platform-construction-innovation\/87881\/","title":{"rendered":"Standardising structural elements: A platform for construction innovation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Building envelope<\/a> manufacturers SFS<\/a> and the Construction Innovation Hub<\/a> discuss how they are using \u2018platforms\u2019 to bring about construction innovation. Learning from other manufacturing sectors is the key to making this a reality<\/h2>\n

The challenges facing the construction industry<\/a> are well documented and age-old. First, there\u2019s the wastage of both time and resources \u2013 more often than not frontline workers are waiting for materials to be delivered, while stock already at site gets lost, stolen or damaged.<\/p>\n

Then there\u2019s the fragmentation. With different stakeholders getting involved at every level, decision-making is slow and, more often than not, projects boil down to costs. And this slowness isn\u2019t just limited to project progress either \u2013 the traditional construction model is cumbersome, and real change is hard to implement.<\/p>\n

All the while, skills are disappearing faster than ever. An ageing workforce and not enough
\nyoung people joining construction is signalling a challenging time ahead for our industry.<\/p>\n

Yet building and infrastructure is vital to our economy and our recovery from this pandemic, which the government recognises and is investing in. We\u2019re two years into a 10-year programme where over \u00a3600bn of government investment is expected.<\/p>\n

There appears to be no slowdown expected either, despite the pandemic. If anything,
\nresolve is now stronger than ever before, with “building back better” the slogan on
\neverybody\u2019s lips. In June, analysis of the National Infrastructure & Construction<\/a>
\nProcurement Pipeline<\/a>, it sets out that up to \u00a337bn of planned procurement is expected
\nbetween 2020-21, with 340 procurements across 260 projects and programmes.<\/p>\n

To deliver on this expectation, the industry knows it has to change \u2013 and change fast. To this end, SFS<\/a> is one of the key partners involved in the Construction Innovation Hub\u2019s Platform Design Programme<\/a>, designed to deliver revolutionary change in the coming years.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Platforms for success<\/h3>\n

Today, carmakers can freely share subassemblies like the floor pan, drivetrain, suspension
\nand axles between each other. This greatly reduces cost and complexity, allowing more
\nflexibility to scale and “chop and change” options based on this method. So why can\u2019t the
\nconstruction industry adopt a similar philosophy?<\/p>\n

The Construction Innovation Hub is now making this a reality through its Platform Design Programme. Looking at digital tools and Modern Methods of Construction<\/a> (MMC), the Hub is blending expertise from a range of organisations.<\/p>\n

These include the Manufacturing Technology Centre<\/a> (MTC), the Centre for Digital Built Britain<\/a> (CDBB) and the Building Research Establishment<\/a> (BRE), along with government partners and industry specialists like SFS.<\/p>\n

Elements of buildings will be broken down into subassemblies, which include:<\/h4>\n