Manufacturing and construction
The process for completing the design and construction of a building is often divided into stages. This can be helpful in establishing milestones for the submission of progress reports, the preparation of information for approval, client gateways, and for making payments.
However, there is a great deal of ambiguity between the naming of stages by different organisations and the definition of what individual stages actually include, and so it is important that appointment documents make it clear specifically what activities fall within which stage, and what level of detail is required.
‘Manufacturing and construction’ is a new stage introduced by the RIBA Plan of work 2020. This replaces ‘Construction’ in the 2013 edition and reflects the increasing prevalence of manufactured systems and components and volumetric construction.
The RIBA Plan of Work is published by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). Split into a number of key project stages, the RIBA Plan of Work provides a shared framework for design and construction that offers both a process map and a management tool.
The RIBA Plan of Work 2020 changed the structure of the stages as shown below:
| Stage | 2013 edition | 2020 edition |
| 0 | Strategic definition. | Strategic definition. |
| 1 | Preparation and brief. | Preparation and briefing. |
| 2 | Concept design. | Concept design. |
| 3 | Developed design. | Spatial coordination. |
| 4 | Technical design. | Technical design. |
| 5 | Construction. | Manufacturing and construction. |
| 6 | Handover and close out. | Handover. |
| 7 | In use. | Use. |
The 2020 edition of the RIBA Plan of Work suggests that stage 5, manufacturing and construction: ‘…comprises the manufacturing and construction of the Building Systems in accordance with the Construction Programme agreed in the Building Contract. Increasingly, digital technologies are being used to rehearse different construction activities, allowing Stage 5 to be faster and safer. As the construction industry moves towards greater uptake of offsite manufacturing, greater emphasis is also placed on the logistics of getting materials and large-scale components to site on time, and on the management of supply chain partners.’
Stage 5 concludes by issuing a practical completion certificate which allows the completed development to be handed over to the client. The Plan for Use Strategy described by the RIBA requires that several tasks are undertaken to prepare for this, before and after practical completion.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- BREEAM and RIBA stages.
- Comparison of BIM work stages.
- Governance for Railway Investment Projects (GRIP).
- NBS.
- OGC gateway review.
- Plan of work.
- Project lifecycle for major road projects.
- Record keeping.
- RIBA Plan of Work for Fire Safety.
- RIBA plan of work v project plans v OGC gateways.
- RIBA plan of work.
- RIBA plan of work 2020.
- RIBA.
Featured articles and news
Buildings that changed the future of architecture. Book review.
The Sustainability Pathfinder© Handbook
Built environment agency launches free Pathfinder© tool to help businesses progress sustainability strategies.
Government outcome to the late payment consultation, ECA reacts.
IHBC 2025 Gus Astley Student Award winners
Work on the role of hewing in UK historic conservation a win for Jack Parker of Oxford Brookes University.
Future Homes Building Standards and plug-in solar
Parts F and L amendments, the availability of solar panels and industry responses.
How later living housing can help solve the housing crisis
Unlocking homes, unlocking lives.
Preparing safety case reports for HRBs under the BSA
A new practical guide to preparing structural inputs for safety cases and safety case reports published by IStructE.
Male construction workers and prostate cancer
CIOB and Prostate Cancer UK encourage awareness of prostate cancer risks, and what to do about it.
The changed R&D tax landscape for Architects
Specialist gives a recap on tax changes for Research and Development, via the ACA newsletter.
Structured product data as a competitive advantage
NBS explain why accessible product data that works across digital systems is key.
Welsh retrofit workforce assessment
Welsh Government report confirms Wales faces major electrical skills shortage, warns ECA.
A now architectural practice looks back at its concept project for a sustainable oceanic settlement 25 years on.
Copyright and Artificial Intelligence
Government report and back track on copyright opt out for AI training but no clear preferred alternative as yet.
Embedding AI tools into architectural education
Beyond the render: LMU share how student led research is shaping the future of visualisation workflows.
Why document control still fails UK construction projects
A Chartered Quantity Surveyor explains what needs to change and how.
Inspiration for a new 2026 wave of Irish construction professionals.
New planning reforms and Warm Homes Bill
Take centre stage at UK Construction Week London.