As the construction industry faces increasing pressure to adopt more efficient and sustainable methods, DfMA emerges as a compelling solution. However, its widespread adoption is hindered by several market and process challenges. In this post, we examine the readiness of the market for DfMA and the barriers that need to be addressed to unlock its full potential.
[Research at XOIA Studio: https://www.xoia.ca/services-research]
Market Uncertainties and Hesitations
1. Uncertainty About Supply and Demand
A major hurdle is the lack of confidence among clients and suppliers:
Clients' Concerns: Uncertainty about the capacity of DfMA platforms to handle large-scale deployment prevents clients from committing to these solutions.
Suppliers' Reluctance: Without assured demand, suppliers hesitate to invest in production pipelines, perpetuating the cycle of underinvestment.
2. Interoperability Issues
The dominance of proprietary systems in the DfMA market creates challenges:
Closed Platforms: Many providers use proprietary approaches to protect intellectual property, limiting interoperability with other systems.
Client Hesitation: Clients are wary of being locked into a single platform, especially in a rapidly evolving market with high risks of obsolescence.
3. Cost Perceptions
DfMA is often perceived as costly due to:
Front-Loaded Costs: Increased coordination and planning in early project phases create the impression of higher costs, despite potential long-term savings.
Reduced Competitive Bidding: Early manufacturer involvement limits the ability to host competitive bids, further fueling cost concerns.
Barriers to Design Innovation
1. Limits to Architectural Expression
DfMA's emphasis on standardization can conflict with the desire for creative freedom:
Standardization vs. Flexibility: Standardized interfaces between components streamline assembly but limit design variety and flexibility.
Perceived Constraints: Designers may see early engagement with manufacturers as a constraint on architectural expression.
2. Lack of Knowledge and Skills
The industry’s structure and workforce are not fully equipped for DfMA:
Manufacturing Knowledge: Designers often lack understanding of manufacturing constraints and cost drivers.
Re-Skilling Requirements: DfMA demands skills in coding, data science, and advanced 3D modeling, which are not yet widespread in the industry.
Collaborative Challenges
1. Lack of Collaborative Behaviors
Protective contracts and siloed workflows limit collaboration:
Risk Allocation: Current contracts are not designed to handle the shared risks of DfMA approaches.
Information Sharing: Architects and engineers often withhold detailed 3D models, forcing contractors and fabricators to recreate them.
2. Asymmetry of Effort and Benefits
The upfront effort required for DfMA often benefits downstream stakeholders more:
Misaligned Incentives: Designers bear the burden of detailed modeling, while contractors and fabricators gain the efficiency benefits.
Fee Structures: Traditional fee models do not account for the increased effort required in early design phases.
Towards a Collaborative Future
To overcome these barriers, the industry must embrace:
New Contracts and Delivery Models: Redefining contracts to balance risk and reward and encourage collaboration.
Standardization: Establishing open, platform-independent standards for information exchange and component interfaces.
Early Engagement: Involving manufacturers and contractors early in the design process to optimize decisions and streamline workflows.
Education and Training: Equipping professionals with the skills needed for DfMA and fostering knowledge transfer between stakeholders.
Transitioning to DfMA is not without its challenges, but the potential rewards—from increased efficiency to sustainable practices—are worth the effort. By addressing market uncertainties, fostering collaboration, and investing in education and standards, the industry can unlock the full potential of DfMA.
Acknowledgment
This blog post is informed by research conducted as part of the Researcher-in-Residence program at Perkins and Will. Special thanks to the Vancouver and Calgary studios, my co-researcher Elton Gjata, and the advisory committee (Yehia Madkour, Kathy Wardle, Andrew TsayJacobs, Adrian Watson) for their invaluable contributions.
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