As offsite construction becomes more prevalent, so does the need to create more efficient, digital-led design processes.
Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) is the process of designing components that are optimised for the manufacturing processes, through methods such as the standardisation of components. By integrating DfMA principles, companies can achieve greater efficiency, reduce waste, and improve the overall sustainability of their products or structures.
In this interview, Eva Magnisali, Dataform Lab‘s founder & CEO, discusses the various ways in which DfMA is enhancing the offsite construction industry.
How do you see Platform Design influencing the future of construction?
Platform design is set to revolutionise the construction industry by standardising design and manufacturing workflows, leading to more efficient, scalable, and flexible building processes.
This approach enhances collaboration across the supply chain and improves the integration between design, manufacturing, and construction.
Additionally, platform design enhances the ability to integrate digital tools and automation into construction processes, enabling more efficient project delivery, and eventually, enabling the industry to increase its capacity.
Also, automating digital and physical workflows allows for real-time adjustments and optimisations, ensuring projects are completed faster, with fewer errors, and at a lower cost, ultimately pushing the industry toward a more sustainable future.
What are some of the more critical factors to consider when transitioning from traditional construction to a DfMA approach within a platform-based framework?
Transitioning from traditional construction to a Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) approach within a platform-based framework requires careful consideration of several factors.
These include aligning design and manufacturing processes to ensure that designs are optimised for offsite production capabilities, investing in digital tools that support seamless integration between design and manufacturing stages, and ensuring that all stakeholders are familiar with DfMA principles.
Additionally, it’s important to evaluate and potentially restructure the supply chain to accommodate a lean, ‘just-in-time’ approach, and to foster a collaborative culture that embraces innovation and the adoption of automation technologies.
How do you ensure that designs are kept consistent throughout all stages of a build, particularly when dealing with complex structures?
Maintaining design consistency, particularly for complex structures, requires a robust, digital workflow that integrates design and manufacturing stages.
Using digital tools like DataForm Lab’s software platform ensures that design data is seamlessly translated into production information, minimising discrepancies. The platform enables manufacturers to automatically configure projects, and instantly translate designs into production drawings and machine code. Most importantly, design is optimised for manufacturing performance: the design automation process considers the constraints and capabilities of the manufacturing processes. This leads to more efficient and feasible designs.
Real-time feedback loops allow for continuous updates and adjustments, ensuring that any changes made at one stage are automatically reflected throughout the process.
Additionally, leveraging simulation tools can help anticipate and resolve potential issues early on, ensuring that the design remains consistent and manufacturable, even as project conditions evolve.
In your experience, how does Platform Design and DfMA impact the collaboration between design, engineering, and manufacturing teams?
Platform Design and DfMA fundamentally enhance collaboration between design, engineering, and manufacturing teams by creating a common framework that standardises workflows.
This integration ensures that all teams work with the same data, business metrics and objectives, reducing miscommunication and need for rework.
The use of digital tools enables real-time collaboration, where changes in design are immediately reflected in manufacturing plans, allowing for a more dynamic and responsive workflow between teams.
This approach also fosters a more cohesive team environment, where each discipline contributes to a streamlined and efficient construction process, ultimately improving project outcomes.
What are your thoughts on Offsite Expo and can you give us a teaser of what you will be speaking about in the Platform Design and DfMA masterclass session?
The Offsite Expo is a critical event for showcasing the latest innovations and trends in offsite construction, providing a platform for industry leaders to share knowledge and best practices.
In the upcoming Platform Design and DfMA masterclass session, I will explore how digital and physical automation is revolutionising the construction industry by bridging the gap between design and manufacturing.
The session will cover practical applications of Platform Design and DfMA, showcasing how these approaches can improve efficiency, reduce waste and costs, and enable greater design flexibility in construction projects.
Participants will gain insights into how DataForm Lab’s software platform optimises existing offsite production processes, facilitates the automatic translation of design into production information through its Design-to-Manufacturing configurator, and supports informed decision-making regarding automation integration in offsite factories. Most importantly, the session will emphasise the significance of establishing a feedback loop between design and production automation, and the need for both to respond to product variations and adapt to market demand.
