Modular Construction Technologies, (an area of expertise here at IPSOFACTO) is full of fantastic new advances and ideas.
‘In-housing’ the technologies that were once ‘off-burdened’ to a low tech GC is no longer happening. It was bad and had to go. Factories now produce modules and assemblers now assemble those modules. Assemblers have become the modern-day GC; only needing to put the modular pieces together while offering a little light construction, only. (seaming, taping, painting, a little dry-walling)
But what are the technical shortcomings. All technology (since the beginning of time) becomes TOO complex. Simplicity doesn’t sell. Complexity sells. Greed causes complexity, to sell more BS. Complexity is bad.
So in Modular Construction, we need PM tools that anyone can use. CAD based programs need to be usable by low level admin and inside Sales staff. Having access to the technology by today’s less-then-brilliant tech users is the new requirement. You shouldn’t need a PhD to use modular construction technologies. In fact, in building buildings, you are most likely to find lowest level technology users out there, construction workers.
For Accountants; they need to change their brains….they need to understand modular manufacturing inventory management work flow rather than old fashioned construction. Accountants need applications to support them. For instance, on what continents are staff working. Where are the modules built and to where are they shipping? Where are these immense amounts of 3d and 2d data being stored? How is inventory managed and accounted?
Printing; using in house or cloud-based printing facilities. Who is doing the document preparation and where…. India. China. US. Patagonia?
The future big failures in new Modular Construction will use outdated and stupid tech; GSuite and a good plotter. yikes. That’s definitely the attitude of yesterday and not of tomorrow.
Repetition leads to perfection. Re-inventing wheels does not. When the correct mix and use of modular construction technologies is in play, repeating the same Bauhaus patterns will lead to the flare of IM Pei. But Modular lends itself to construction at breakneck speeds. Like when the Hulk destroys a city. Modular will help rebuild it in a few weeks (with the right technologies! ha!) Damn you, Hulk!
Modular construction techniques rely on technology and supports the use of (and further advances of) technology within the sector.
Some of the biggest wins to focus on are:
- Less waste
- Faster Speeds
- Faster permitting and inspection
- More efficient use of raw materials that are NOT wasted.
- Better inventory and accounting modeling
- Global Team sets
- Easier buying calculations, follow up, and leverage.
- Easier loan access (better numbers, better loans!)
- Greater standards for Fixtures and built in furnishings
- Standards for plumbing and electrical
- Eventual economies of scale at a global level (build identical buildings in cities thousands of miles apart, the modules coming from 1 single factory.
- Resale Standards and Comp reviews
And all of these incredible advances will require new technologies to manage them.
