ABSTRACT
The terms “prefabrication” and “mass production” or “mass customization” are often conflated in architecture. The premise is that architecture is part of the building production industry (an integral part, a necessary contributor) and is therefore not discretely valuable on its own without building production. As such, architecture is inherently about producing: designing and making buildings and cities to serve those who inhabit and communicate within them. Architecture is therefore both the process and product; it is production. Prefabrication conceptually solves these peculiarities. While the site is unique for each housing project, taking the majority of operations out of the job site alleviates schedule overruns and quality challenges associated with weather delays. The sun always shines in the factory. Supply-driven enterprise links capability with application, real or perceived. The importance of the capability of the service supplier is primary; what those skills service is secondary.
