Over the years, the construction industry has resisted modernisation and has mostly been a traditional industry. But with the pandemic disrupting the traditional ways of working and giving rise to the need for social distancing on site, it has led to a major shift towards digitalisation. Companies have realised that in order to survive in these unusual circumstances, the use of digital technologies is absolutely essential. Besides, modern methods of construction also offer various benefits and ultimately result in increased efficiency, quality and productivity in the industry. This week, our panel at Resibuild talks all about the digital impact on construction efficiency. Here are some of the key takeaways from our panel discussion:
Digitalisation as a Tool
One of the main takeaways from the panel discussion is that digitalisation should be used as a tool. There are various ways that digital tools have been used to reduce time and increase efficiency and productivity in construction in the past year. But for companies who want to digitalise, they need to ensure that the digital tools that they implement should be easy to interpret by the end users and easy to integrate with existing systems. Digital tools need to be accessible, simple and straightforward, which will ultimately lower the risk of errors and complications in the process. Additionally, digital tools need to have a good user interface and should be accessible from phones, tablets and laptops.
Modern Methods of Construction and Increasing Efficiency
Modern Methods of Construction can be used to increase the efficiency of the construction industry. But to do so, MMC manufacturers need to set certain boundaries so that designers get a better understanding. This can greatly help reduce discourse between designers and manufacturers and increase efficiency, while saving time in the process. Another thing to consider is that MMC manufacturers and designers should look at digitalising processes rather than products as this reduces time and increases the efficiency of construction.
Digital Golden Thread of Information for Safety and Increasing Efficiency
The latest Building Safety reforms introduced the idea of creating a digital golden thread of information running through the entire lifecycle of a building. This can help build efficiency in the long run as the recording of data can be used to improvise and improve on future projects. Learning from the data can help to bring in standardised processes that can reduce construction time and increase efficiency.
More Conversation with Supply Chains
Digitalisation can help promote more conversation between the supply chain and stakeholders. Various digital platforms, when used to communicate with stakeholders in the supply chain, can be instrumental in reducing time, costs and errors, leading to greater efficiency in construction. Such tools can be employed on a weekly and monthly basis to convey updates, plan for future projects and discuss ideas.
Metrics for Efficiency
The metrics for efficiency at every stage of construction can differ. But there are certain variables that can be considered to measure efficiency, including quality, risk, time and costs. These may vary on a project-to-project basis as the requirements and goals for each may change, depending on the stakeholders involved. Ultimately, efficiency can be measured by maintaining or increasing the quality of construction while reducing or eliminating risk.
Join our panel of industry leaders including Tristan Parson from Sapphire Balconies, Stephen Hamil from NBS, Tom Cannon from Hill Group UK, Matt Warren from Lendlease and Jamie Parr from BD Solutions to understand their views on how digitalisation can help construction to increase efficiency. Log in to https://www.resi.build/pastevents and register to learn more.