In My Opinion… The stars are aligning for pre-manufacture… The Farmer Review highlighted the critical need for more homes as well as the incorporation of new ideas and innovation within the construction industry. Andrew Carpenter, Chief Executive of the Structural Timber Association, explains how pre-manufacture is the obvious answer. Andrew Carpenter The construction industry timeline is segmented, with decades often favouring specific building materials. For example, concrete was used extensively during the period post World War Two and the 1960s. More recently, on-site construction using brick and block has been the preferred method of large housebuilders and developers, but now, as before, the industry is starting to evolve. Hopefully acting as a catalyst for change, the recent Farmer Review offers a frank and honest appraisal of the challenges affecting the construction industry today. Providing a transparent overview of the construction industry, few professionals within the sector will be shocked by its findings. Defining the pathway in which the sector can revolutionise to meet modern demands for sufficient housing and overcome the skills shortage, Farmer identifies pre-manufacture, or offsite construction, as essential to achieving construction goals. An area largely dominated by structural timber frame, pre-manufacture is not a new phenomenon. Invested in significantly for several years by the structural timber frame sector, automated factory based manufacturing can deliver properties incorporating the latest innovations such as vapour, thermal and acoustic layers. Steadily increasing in market share, up 10% since 2004, structural timber frame properties demonstrate the true capabilities of the build method. Enabling demands to be met more easily, factory based manufacturing moves reliance from onsite tradespeople to factories with precision engineered machinery. For example, the structural timber frame sector has significant growth potential; with the capacity to double its output if, and when required, due to a consistent strive for best practice. Offering a significantly easier and quicker route into construction for those seeking a factory based role, pre-manufacture provides an almost immediate solution to the skills shortage when compared to several years of training required for onsite trades. A tangible solution to the barriers the construction industry faces, those within the pre-manufacture sector should be poised for growth and supply chain engagement. The Farmer Review should be used as a catalyst to drive positive disruption and as encouragement for clients to change and adapt their needs and commissioning behaviours. For example, in the housebuilding sector in particular, the opportunity to collaborate further with housebuilders and developers would be ideal. As only through collaboration and early engagement will the true capabilities of pre-manufacture be brought to fruition, with the design stage essential to the su<strong>cc</strong>ess of the sector. There is evidence of this desire, with recent partnerships agreed to utilise the inherent benefits of pre-manufacture and structural timber frame, such as contractor Willmott Dixon and manufacturer Robertson Timber Engineering collaborating to deliver 1,000 premanufactured households a year. Another key publication supporting the use of pre-manufacture is the updated RIBA Plan of Work 2013: Designing for Manufacture and Assembly. The report puts forward that utilising pre-manufacture construction methods will enable the industry to meet the UK Government’s Construction 2025 strategy of 50% faster delivery, 50% lower greenhouse gas emissions, 50% improvements in exports and 33% lower costs. Offsite construction and pre-manufacture have long been touted as the solution to the skills shortage and housing crisis, but now is the time for the sector to come together and move forward for further and greater growth. Evidenced as the solution in other countries with a high population and consequent demand for housing, such as Japan, pre-manufacturing facilities produce more than 10,000 homes each annually - clearly indicating pre-manufacture as the ideal solution for the UK construction industry. As the influencing stars are aligning, defining the pathway for the UK construction industry, the pre-manufacture sector should now gear up to drive Government legislation and reach out to clients to help meet their needs and provide guidance for design, manufacture and delivery. www.structuraltimber.co.uk 18 <strong>MMC</strong> Nov 2016 <strong>M2</strong>
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