Utilising digital tools in offsite construction is becoming more common than ever, but how do companies actually make that step up to embracing new technology?
Fortunately, companies such as KOPE have embraced that challenge and now serve as a dedicated provider of digital tools for the offsite industry. Charlotte Garrett, Head of Industry Strategy for KOPE, is one of those helping bridge the gap between the digital and physical worlds.
Ahead of her masterclass session at Offsite Expo, Charlotte spoke of how digital tools are transforming offsite construction.
For more information on the masterclasses, click HERE.
How are digital technologies like BIM transforming the planning, design, and execution phases of industrialised construction projects?
In construction, digital innovation has mostly made progress at the project level.
To really tap into its full potential, though, we need to think bigger – about scalable solutions that work across entire programs or portfolios. By identifying commonalities and leveraging repeatability, we can drive major efficiencies, which is where platform design comes into play, pushing for standardisation and ensuring consistent success across various projects.
We believe the true value lies in effectively connecting standardised project designs and client requirements with the product supply chain. We need to leverage digital tools to optimise both design and manufacturing processes, and ensure compliance from the very beginning.
We’ve made great strides in rationalising and digitalising demand however, the next critical step is to aggregate and digitalise the product supply chain. This approach will unlock the full potential of industrialised construction, leading to faster delivery, higher quality, and reduced risk – all while ensuring compliance at scale.
We need to use technology to reshape the supply chain so that we can seamlessly transition our building design models into manufacturable components and ensure that designs are not only architecturally compliant but also manufacturable from the start. By integrating suppliers’ product data early in the design process, we can perform real-time compliance checks and pre-approvals. It’s all about providing the right level of detail at the right time.
At KOPE, we are digitalising the supply chain by creating manufacturer-approved, digital representations of product components in the form of code. Our system uses rules and logic to read design models and generate component geometry in real time, turning building elements into manufacturable components.
Each digitalised product simulates how it behaves when integrated into our building designs so that designers can experiment with products and systems virtually, using real-world data. By using rules and computation we are able to optimise, minimise waste and maximise standardisation across projects.
This automated process enables designers to iteratively test and validate various scenarios against various products and their manufacturer’s constraints, leading to better decision-making through real-world data. This not only optimises the use of offsite construction products but also ensures that all stakeholders are aligned early in the process, mitigating risks, reducing costs and reducing the need to redraw designs late in the process, as manufacturing constraints are considered from the beginning.
It allows for flexible engagement with manufacturers without the need to lock in suppliers early in the process. This flexibility means designs can be configured for manufacturability by multiple suppliers, mitigating the risk of a single point of failure and ensuring that projects can proceed smoothly, even if a supplier encounters challenges.
Early involvement in the design process is crucial. By integrating design and manufacturing into a continuous, data-driven process, we can maintain the speed and quality that industrialised construction promises. KOPE is leading this transformation, ensuring that both design and the supply chain are fully aligned for maximum efficiency and scalability.
In what ways is digital technology influencing sustainability and environmental impact within industrialised construction?
Digital technology is making a big impact on sustainability in construction. By optimising material use, standardising components, and providing transparent data, digital tools help drive more sustainable practices, reducing waste and improving efficiency throughout the project lifecycle.
We can leverage standardised rules and processes with computation to optimise material usage, ensuring that resources are used efficiently and waste is minimised. And, by increasing the use of standardised components across projects, we can achieve greater efficiencies in manufacturing, logistics, and on-site assembly.
Additionally, transparency of structured data plays a crucial role.
Providing clear, accessible product information enables informed decision-making, allowing stakeholders to make choices that drive sustainability – from material sourcing to design, production and assembly.
Sustainability goes beyond reducing material waste, it is also about efficiency of time. By facilitating a quick, easy, and accurate comparison of products, platforms and digital tools help ensure that the best choices are made for both environmental and operational efficiency. It helps accelerate the decision-making process, supports better planning, and ultimately leads to more sustainable outcomes.
What are the main challenges and barriers to the widespread adoption of digital technologies in industrialised construction, and how can the industry overcome them?
We face several challenges, particularly around digital literacy and interoperability within the supply chain. Many suppliers are falling behind in their digital capabilities, leading to inefficiencies and misalignments with the industry’s evolving demands. Digital platforms and standardised data structures are pivotal in bridging this gap, helping suppliers align more effectively through visibility and accessibility.
However, achieving this widespread adoption requires leadership and direction from the top. Standardising requirements and needs at a higher level is essential for ensuring that consistency filters down through the supply chain.
Implementing new tools into your existing workflows requires a significant investment of time and money, but by establishing clear, consistent standards and encouraging compliance through project incentives, we can more effectively promote the adoption of digital technologies and practices.
Standardisation, better training, and fostering a digital-first culture are critical to overcoming barriers. Comprehensive training programs can equip professionals with the necessary skills, while standardisation ensures that data is consistent and usable.
What are your thoughts on Offsite Expo and can you give us a teaser of what you will be speaking about in the Industrialised Construction and Digital Technology masterclass session?
The Offsite Expo is a great event that brings together innovators, leaders, and professionals from across the offsite construction industry. It provides a platform for sharing and showcasing our success and lessons learned in order to progress our industry together.
During the Industrialised Construction and Digital Technology masterclass session, we will be diving into how digital tools are transforming offsite construction. We’ll be exploring how technologies can drive efficiency, reduce risks, and unlock the full potential of industrialised construction. It’s all about aligning design, manufacturing, and supply chains to deliver better results faster.
