Flying factory for construction works - Revision history

Designing Buildings at 07:04, 9 December 2022

2022-12-09T07:04:21Z

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	= Introduction =		= Introduction =

Designing Buildings at 07:02, 9 December 2022

2022-12-09T07:02:05Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:02, 9 December 2022
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		+	= Introduction =
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	Prefabrication in the construction industry refers to manufacturing that takes place off site, under factory conditions, with the completed components then being transported to site for incorporation into the works.		Prefabrication in the construction industry refers to manufacturing that takes place off site, under factory conditions, with the completed components then being transported to site for incorporation into the works.

−	As a technique, prefabrication is particularly suited to high-volume, repetitive components, or products that require ~~factory~~ conditions to achieve the desired level of quality. It can also allow parallel working on different aspects of a project simultaneously. However, transportation costs can be high, there may be storage requirements, and the costs of establishing a long-term facility can be high, posing a significant business risk, particularly where long-term demand may be unpredictable. See Prefabrication for more information.	+	As a technique, prefabrication is particularly suited to high-volume, repetitive components, or products that require controlled conditions to achieve the desired level of quality. It can also allow parallel working on different aspects of a project simultaneously. However, transportation costs can be high, there may be storage requirements, and the costs of establishing a long-term facility can be high, posing a significant business risk, particularly where long-term demand may be unpredictable. See Prefabrication for more information.

−	~~Flying factories (sometimes referred to as field factories)~~ are ~~temporary facilities used to manufacture prefabricated components. They are different from conventional off-site~~ factories ~~in that they only operate for the duration of a project and are then closed. Operations may then 'fly' to a new location to service another project.~~	+	= What are flying factories? =

−	The term is thought to originate with ModCell, a company that uses straw bales to form prefabricated panels. Locating fabrication facilities close to sources of straw ~~has~~ enabled them to remain flexible and reduce their costs.	+	Flying factories (sometimes referred to as field factories) are temporary facilities used to manufacture prefabricated components. They differ from conventional off-site factories in that they only operate for the duration of a project and are then closed. Operations may then 'fly' to a new location to service another project.
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		+	The term is thought to originate with ModCell, a company that uses straw bales to form prefabricated panels. Locating fabrication facilities close to sources of straw enabled them to remain flexible and reduce their costs.
		+
		+	= What are the advantages of flying factories? =

	Flying factories have the advantage of being able to locate close to, or even on construction sites, or close to sources of materials and so reduce transportation costs, disruption and delays. It can also be more flexible, as leases or buildings are temporary, and so facilities can be scaled up or scaled down to suite the demand from a particular project.		Flying factories have the advantage of being able to locate close to, or even on construction sites, or close to sources of materials and so reduce transportation costs, disruption and delays. It can also be more flexible, as leases or buildings are temporary, and so facilities can be scaled up or scaled down to suite the demand from a particular project.
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	Ref. Construction Manager Magazine, Skansa's flying factories take of in Slough 2 October 2015.		Ref. Construction Manager Magazine, Skansa's flying factories take of in Slough 2 October 2015.

−	Mark Wray, lead technologist at Innovate UK, which provided a £750,000 grant for the project said, “The biggest barrier at the moment is that offsite manufacture is established in a building, tied to a fixed location, with all the associated costs. At present the high level of capital investment needed to establish an offsite manufacturing facility means that it is not feasible unless you have a large funding mechanism.	+	Mark Wray, lead technologist at Innovate UK, which provided a £750,000 grant for the project said, “The biggest barrier at the moment is that offsite manufacture is established in a building, tied to a fixed location, with all the associated costs. At present the high level of capital investment needed to establish an offsite manufacturing facility means that it is not feasible unless you have a large funding mechanism. Based on the feedback we have received, this is a viable solution that will be well received by the industry. This is not just for the big players like Skanska and Laing O'Rourke, but also SMEs. We believe the lower start-up costs offered by flying factories will appeal to smaller players.”

−	~~“Based on~~ the feedback we have received, this is a viable solution that will be well received by the industry. This is not just for the big players like Skanska and Laing O'Rourke, but also SMEs. We believe the lower start-up costs offered by flying factories ~~will appeal to smaller players.”~~	+	= What are the disadvantages of flying factories? =

	The disadvantages of flying factories include:		The disadvantages of flying factories include:
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	* They may not be suited to fabrication processes that require complex machinery.		* They may not be suited to fabrication processes that require complex machinery.
	* They may be constrained by the availability of local space and qualified labour.		* They may be constrained by the availability of local space and qualified labour.
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		+	= Other definitions of flying factories =

	NB The BIM Overlay to the RIBA Outline Plan of Work, published by the RIBA in 2012 suggests that a field factory is: 'A factory facility set up near to the construction site. A field factory might manufacture modules from scratch or might preassemble flat pack components before assembly on site. Field factories minimise the logistics associated with transporting modules and also enable larger modules to be manufactured due to the removal of transportation constraints. Field factories also allow the use of local or community labour sources, which can benefit the local economy of a project. Longer term, it is likely that field factories will increasingly involve the assembly of larger preassemblies as construction moves further and further towards fully assembled buildings.'		NB The BIM Overlay to the RIBA Outline Plan of Work, published by the RIBA in 2012 suggests that a field factory is: 'A factory facility set up near to the construction site. A field factory might manufacture modules from scratch or might preassemble flat pack components before assembly on site. Field factories minimise the logistics associated with transporting modules and also enable larger modules to be manufactured due to the removal of transportation constraints. Field factories also allow the use of local or community labour sources, which can benefit the local economy of a project. Longer term, it is likely that field factories will increasingly involve the assembly of larger preassemblies as construction moves further and further towards fully assembled buildings.'

Designing Buildings at 10:40, 2 December 2022

2022-12-02T10:40:05Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:40, 2 December 2022
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	* Prefabrication.		* Prefabrication.
	* Rolling work site.		* Rolling work site.
		+	* Satellite compound.

	[[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:Construction_management]] [[Category:Construction_techniques]]		[[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:Construction_management]] [[Category:Construction_techniques]]

Designing Buildings at 10:22, 2 December 2022

2022-12-02T10:22:06Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:22, 2 December 2022
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	[https://www.architecture.com/knowledge-and-resources/resources-landing-page/dfma-overlay-to-the-riba-plan-of-work DfMA Overlay to the RIBA Plan of Work, Mainstreaming Design for Manufacture and Assembly in Construction, 2nd Edition], published by the RIBA in 2021, defines a field factory as: ‘A temporary factory facility set up near to the construction site to manufacture modules or preassemble flat pack components before assembly on site. The work carried out in them counts as offsite construction. They can also help with transportation logistics’		[https://www.architecture.com/knowledge-and-resources/resources-landing-page/dfma-overlay-to-the-riba-plan-of-work DfMA Overlay to the RIBA Plan of Work, Mainstreaming Design for Manufacture and Assembly in Construction, 2nd Edition], published by the RIBA in 2021, defines a field factory as: ‘A temporary factory facility set up near to the construction site to manufacture modules or preassemble flat pack components before assembly on site. The work carried out in them counts as offsite construction. They can also help with transportation logistics’

−	= Related articles on Designing Buildings ~~Wiki~~ =	+	= Related articles on Designing Buildings =

	* 3D printing in construction.		* 3D printing in construction.
−	* British post-war mass housing.
	* BSRIA launches Offsite Construction for Building Services topic guide.		* BSRIA launches Offsite Construction for Building Services topic guide.
	* Flat pack.		* Flat pack.
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	* On site.		* On site.
	* Prefabrication.		* Prefabrication.
		+	* Rolling work site.

	[[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:Construction_management]] [[Category:Construction_techniques]]		[[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:Construction_management]] [[Category:Construction_techniques]]

Designing Buildings at 06:34, 17 September 2021

2021-09-17T06:34:26Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:34, 17 September 2021
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	NB The BIM Overlay to the RIBA Outline Plan of Work, published by the RIBA in 2012 suggests that a field factory is: 'A factory facility set up near to the construction site. A field factory might manufacture modules from scratch or might preassemble flat pack components before assembly on site. Field factories minimise the logistics associated with transporting modules and also enable larger modules to be manufactured due to the removal of transportation constraints. Field factories also allow the use of local or community labour sources, which can benefit the local economy of a project. Longer term, it is likely that field factories will increasingly involve the assembly of larger preassemblies as construction moves further and further towards fully assembled buildings.'		NB The BIM Overlay to the RIBA Outline Plan of Work, published by the RIBA in 2012 suggests that a field factory is: 'A factory facility set up near to the construction site. A field factory might manufacture modules from scratch or might preassemble flat pack components before assembly on site. Field factories minimise the logistics associated with transporting modules and also enable larger modules to be manufactured due to the removal of transportation constraints. Field factories also allow the use of local or community labour sources, which can benefit the local economy of a project. Longer term, it is likely that field factories will increasingly involve the assembly of larger preassemblies as construction moves further and further towards fully assembled buildings.'
		+
		+	[https://www.architecture.com/knowledge-and-resources/resources-landing-page/dfma-overlay-to-the-riba-plan-of-work DfMA Overlay to the RIBA Plan of Work, Mainstreaming Design for Manufacture and Assembly in Construction, 2nd Edition], published by the RIBA in 2021, defines a field factory as: ‘A temporary factory facility set up near to the construction site to manufacture modules or preassemble flat pack components before assembly on site. The work carried out in them counts as offsite construction. They can also help with transportation logistics’

	= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =		= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =

Editor at 19:50, 9 October 2020

2020-10-09T19:50:52Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:50, 9 October 2020
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	* British post-war mass housing.		* British post-war mass housing.
	* BSRIA launches Offsite Construction for Building Services topic guide.		* BSRIA launches Offsite Construction for Building Services topic guide.
		+	* Flat pack.
	* In-situ.		* In-situ.
	* Just in time manufacturing.		* Just in time manufacturing.

Editor at 19:49, 9 October 2020

2020-10-09T19:49:41Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:49, 9 October 2020
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	* Prefabrication.		* Prefabrication.

−	[[Category:Construction_management]] [[Category:Construction_techniques]]	+	[[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:Construction_management]] [[Category:Construction_techniques]]

Designing Buildings at 06:38, 3 May 2020

2020-05-03T06:38:38Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:38, 3 May 2020
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	* British post-war mass housing.		* British post-war mass housing.
	* BSRIA launches Offsite Construction for Building Services topic guide.		* BSRIA launches Offsite Construction for Building Services topic guide.
		+	* In-situ.
	* Just in time manufacturing.		* Just in time manufacturing.
	* Kit house.		* Kit house.
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	* Off site materials.		* Off site materials.
	* Off-site prefabrication of buildings: A guide to connection choices.		* Off-site prefabrication of buildings: A guide to connection choices.
		+	* On site.
	* Prefabrication.		* Prefabrication.

	[[Category:Construction_management]] [[Category:Construction_techniques]]		[[Category:Construction_management]] [[Category:Construction_techniques]]

Designing Buildings at 16:05, 25 February 2020

2020-02-25T16:05:17Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:05, 25 February 2020
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	* They may be constrained by the availability of local space and qualified labour.		* They may be constrained by the availability of local space and qualified labour.

−	NB The BIM Overlay to the RIBA Outline Plan of Work, published by the RIBA in 2012 suggests that a field factory is: 'A factory facility set up near to the construction site. A field factory might manufacture modules from scratch or might preassemble flat pack components before assembly on site. Field factories minimise the logistics associated with transporting modules and also enable larger modules to be manufactured due to the removal of transportation constraints. Field factories also allow the use of local or community labour sources, which can benefit the local economy of a project. Longer term, it is likely that field factories will increasingly involve the assembly of larger~~<br />~~	+	NB The BIM Overlay to the RIBA Outline Plan of Work, published by the RIBA in 2012 suggests that a field factory is: 'A factory facility set up near to the construction site. A field factory might manufacture modules from scratch or might preassemble flat pack components before assembly on site. Field factories minimise the logistics associated with transporting modules and also enable larger modules to be manufactured due to the removal of transportation constraints. Field factories also allow the use of local or community labour sources, which can benefit the local economy of a project. Longer term, it is likely that field factories will increasingly involve the assembly of larger preassemblies as construction moves further and further towards fully assembled buildings.'
−	preassemblies as construction moves further and further towards fully assembled buildings.'	+

	= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =		= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =

Designing Buildings at 16:04, 25 February 2020

2020-02-25T16:04:56Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:04, 25 February 2020
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	* They may be constrained by the availability of local space and qualified labour.		* They may be constrained by the availability of local space and qualified labour.

−	NB The BIM Overlay to the RIBA Outline Plan of Work, published by the RIBA in 2012 suggests that a field factory is: 'A factory facility set up near to the construction site.~~<br />~~	+	NB The BIM Overlay to the RIBA Outline Plan of Work, published by the RIBA in 2012 suggests that a field factory is: 'A factory facility set up near to the construction site. A field factory might manufacture modules from scratch or might preassemble flat pack components before assembly on site. Field factories minimise the logistics associated with transporting modules and also enable larger modules to be manufactured due to the removal of transportation constraints. Field factories also allow the use of local or community labour sources, which can benefit the local economy of a project. Longer term, it is likely that field factories will increasingly involve the assembly of larger<br />
−	A field factory might manufacture modules from scratch or might preassemble flat pack components before assembly on site. Field factories minimise the logistics associated with transporting modules and also enable larger modules to be manufactured due~~<br />~~	+
−	to the removal of transportation constraints. Field factories also allow the use of local or community labour sources, which can benefit the local economy of a project. Longer term, it is likely that field factories will increasingly involve the assembly of larger<br />	+
	preassemblies as construction moves further and further towards fully assembled buildings.'		preassemblies as construction moves further and further towards fully assembled buildings.'