ABSTRACT
This paper presents preliminary results of a project with the aim to achieve a deeper understanding of how the design process and its ICT tools may support the development towards industrialised building. The project focuses on the construction process for multi-storey dwellings, and how object-oriented ICT-tools may be designed to enable different technical solutions as well as competition among builders. The paper presents a definition of industrialised building and its characteristics with a discussion of different project types with regard to complexity and suitability for industrialisation. These are compared with results from a preliminary study of the ship building process, which shows great resemblance to the building industry. Requirements on object oriented ICT that supports process and product platforms for housing construction are discussed. The study has shown that the more well known the processes are, the greater the possibilities are to develop supporting applications; and the higher the product volume is, the more advanced computer software can be used. Finally conclusions are made and plans for continued research work in the project are discussed.
