Manufacturers in the construction industry
A manufacturer is an organisation or business that produces goods to sell them to a customer. Manufacturers transform raw materials, components, assemblies, and so on, into finished products, often involving processes organised into a production line.
Manufactured products are commonly made on a large scale before being distributed to customers, wholesalers, distributors, retailers and so on.
Manufacturing operations tend to utilise one of the following types of production:
- Make-to-stock (MTS): Goods are produced by predicting the market and producing regardless of orders being received. There is the risk that producing too much will result in needing to sell any surplus at a loss, whereas producing too little will result in not selling enough to maximise profit or even cover operating costs.
- Make-to-order (MTO): Goods are produced when orders are received, making it easier to control inventory. However, this can result in longer waiting times for clients, and a steady stream of orders is required otherwise production will stop.
- Make-to-assemble (MTA): Component parts are produced in anticipation of orders for assembly. This means the manufacturer is ready to fulfil orders, but it can result in a backlog of parts that are waiting to be used if demand is slower than anticipated.
Testing and certification can be used to verify quality.
Manufacturers must adhere to certain standards and regulations when producing their goods. For example, the Eco-Design for Energy-Related Products Regulations 2010 requires manufacturers to achieve minimum standards for the amount of energy regulated products consume. A declaration of conformity must be drawn up by the manufacturer or importer and the CE mark applied.
In the construction industry, manufacturers are often referred to as suppliers. For more information see: Suppliers.
NB The Code for Construction Product Information, Version 1.0, published by CCPI in September 2021 defines a manufacturer as: “any natural or legal person who manufactures a Construction Product, or has a Construction Product designed or manufactured and places it on the market under their own name or trademark”.
Designing Buildings Wiki has a range of articles relating to manufacturing, including:
- 3D printing in construction.
- Advanced manufacturing.
- British Standards Institution BSI.
- Buildability in construction.
- Building information modelling and its effect on computer aided manufacture in the UK construction industry.
- Circular economy.
- Computer aided manufacturing CAM.
- Demand for Off-Site Construction Continues to Increase in the UK’s Manufacturing Sector.
- How Computer Aided Manufacturing is Changing the World.
- Intelligent building management systems IBMS.
- Intermediate product.
- Kitemark.
- Lean construction.
- Life cycle assessment.
- Manufacturing better buildings.
- Mean lean green.
- Modern methods of construction.
- Offsite manufacturing.
- Offsite manufacturing and standardised design.
- Prefabrication.
- Product transparency declaration.
- Purchase orders.
- Quality control for construction works.
- Virtual reality and manufacturing.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Building safety, a shifting landscape for professionals
A commentary from the insurance perspective.
In brief with further links.
Walter Segal: self-built architect
A definitive book on a pioneer of green architecture.
Funding for heritage on the high street
Using heritage as a catalyst for reviving historic centres.
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting update.
Declaration prioritising sustainable urbanisation adopted.
A small hidden, often distant but key building component.
Some brief words about the actuator.
CIAT Chief Executive steps down.
After 34 years at the Institute.
Volunteer opportunity launched by the ICE
To support the next generation of engineers.
Provisional findings show illegal cartels in the industry.
CIAT reporting from the Competition and Markets Authority.
Making sustainable construction number one priority.
The future of construction report.
Interview with ECA CEO.
Many provisions came into force on June 28, 2022.
With room to expand.
An information packed session at the BSRIA conference.
Refurbishment, Energy Efficiency, Indoor air and process.
Considering building acoustics with the AT Journal.
Why building acoustic considerations must be non-negotiable.
Create a profile, write informed product articles and share.
Aluminium Composite Panels (ACP) is one example.
Top 50 Women in engineering 2022.
Inventors and innovators at ICE.
Life, death and art at the Stuart court. Book review.
Real estate, place adaptation and innovation.
Review and comment on the revised draft before July 11.
We are indeed now 10 years old, so go on and be bold !
Write about something you know, help us build and grow !
IHBC's 25th anniversary 2022 Aberdeen School.
A blended event and triumphant return.
New Construction Leadership Council Co-Chair selected.
Mark Reynolds succeeds Andy Mitchell as Co-Chair of CLC
Designing Buildings is 10 years old.
Types of work to existing buildings.
From alteration to deconstruction on DB.