Being able to compress the time from project inception to occupancy, as well as having reliable procurement and supply chain, and a predictable construction programme, is hugely valuable in being able to defer CapEx and cost of finance.. One of the core principles of DfMA is the standardisation of parts and construction/assembly processes.

With a background spanning industries like agriculture, engineering and healthcare, as well as work as part of the Technology Strategy Board of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), Sully says it’s the significant breadth of her previous experience that makes her so well suited to her current work with the Hub.. Now entering its fourth year in operation, the purpose of the Construction Innovation Hub is to act as a catalyst to support the industry, working with both the UK government and supply chain, in order to establish how we can facilitate more effective delivery of our built environment.Working with manufacturing and digital processes in its quest to support progression around productivity and efficiency, the Hub focuses on safety, meeting and exceeding existing standards, and looking toward future approaches.

The Construction Innovation Hub works with over 200 companies in various ways across a range of projects, and collaborates with government partners, including all of the contracting departments.At core, the Construction Innovation Hub is a consortium of three organisations:.The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), focused on the manufacturing and process element of the work..

The Building Research Establishment (BRE), dealing with the quality and assurance aspects..The Centre for Digital Built Britain (CDBB), handling information management and the need for data in order to foster learning in everything we do, and to do things in a more efficient and effective way..

The opportunity for this sort of package was recognized in the 2017 Industrial Strategy.

This was a significant step because the problems facing construction are long-standing and well known.This means the product is used more times over its life, making it more worthwhile to manufacture and reducing the number needed, which equates to a more sustainable construction practice.. Take-back schemes, where manufacturers and suppliers will take back products and materials at the end of their life, enable waste to be minimised and known materials to be recycled within the production process.

This reduces raw material requirements for new products.. Minimise impact and waste for sustainable construction.Use low impact materials by considering the environmental impact at specification stage, alongside cost and technical considerations.

This also includes the manufacturing location of materials and the transportation distance to site..The recycled content of materials should be maximised without significantly impacting the technical characteristics of the material..