And nowhere is this more relevant than in data centre design.. A data centre is about performance above all – minimising cost per kW, maximising IT yield per square metre, minimising energy and water consumption, maximising the efficiency of M&E building services, and minimising waste..
Unless modules are fabricated on a just-in time basis they also have to be stored which costs money, especially if that storage needs to be sheltered from the elements.3D modules also occupy large amounts of factory floor space and therefore absorb a high proportion of factory overheads..
If these additional modular construction costs can be offset by large improvements in construction site efficiency, for example by relocating wet trades or complex specialist trades away from the site, a 3D module might make sense.But, with modular construction, it’s often the case that prefabricating comparatively simple parts of a building as 3D modules adds cost and complexity, especially if the required trades need to be present on-site anyway..The problems found in modular construction are only compounded by inefficient factory working.
The cost of any prefabricated component (indeed, any component of any building) can be divided into materials and labour.If we ignore the cost of the labour that has gone into making the component, we only have material costs left, resulting in limited opportunities to add value.
Manufacturers have understood this for decades and spent a great deal of effort developing highly productive assembly routines that enabled the mass production, automation and commoditisation that fuelled the consumer age.. Too often factories are treated as ‘construction sites in a shed' producing bespoke, custom components with overlapping trades and poor works sequencing, causing reduced value and the same inefficiencies that are often found on construction sites.
We want the factories that produce components for the construction industry to be more like the best factories making consumer goods; highly efficient, controlled and focused on achieving the highest throughput for the lowest cost, without compromising on quality..Without this promotion, potential employees are left with the bench and white coat view.
And what are we all doing to make laboratories great places to work?.The group that came together were energetic, thoughtful, inspiring and thought-provoking.
As representatives of those thousands who work in and around laboratories they demonstrated the wealth of talent, skill and energy present in this eco-system.A system which is at the forefront and front line of the health, wellbeing and opportunities of our society, both today and tomorrow.. To learn more, please get in touch!In the world of pharmaceutical facility design, the.