ABSTRACT
On large-scale projects, architects need to get closer to the customer again. The fragmentation of the construction process has put multiple project teams between the architect and delivery; meanwhile overall design responsibility has been taken from the architect and distributed across the supply chain. Architectural and civil drafters sit at 305, which shows that the more repetitive activities are more likely to be overtaken by technology. The strong case for DfMA, and a platform approach to construction, has drawn increasing government support. However, DfMA cannot simply be ‘tagged on’ to a traditional process; this manufacturing-led approach requires traditional processes to change. When design and construction move ahead, the supply chain must keep up. At present, design development does not use best-in-class knowledge from the supply chain to optimise the design.
