It would be fair to say the construction industry is no stranger to obstacles and complexity…

Tight schedules, escalating costs, lack of skilled tradesmen and difficult build sites – these are daily realities for both owners and contractors. But what if the solution wasn’t just about bringing in more tech or expanding already constrained budgets? What if it were about a smarter way of working?

Keep reading to learn how SPS Technology and Design4Structures are addressing these challenges through collaboration.

Early Collaboration is the Key to Saving Time & Money

We believe the industry’s toughest challenges require ingenious solutions. Our recent partnership with D4S is an excellent example of what’s possible when the supply and design chain works together in harmony.

Adam Harkin (AH):

“I think it’s time for the industry to stop working in isolation. We’ve got to collaborate and come up with collective solutions to push forward. If we all work together, we can make real progress. We hear about construction issues in the news, but for every issue that gets reported, there are likely 20 more happening behind the scenes. If we could all have more open conversations about what’s really going on, it would make the whole industry a lot more efficient in the long run.”

Breaking The Silo To Build Better Outcomes

One of the biggest threats to successful project performance is organisational silos, i.e. divisions of the project operating independently and not disseminating information as required.

Simon Chatwin (SC):

“Closer integration of staff within a business is absolutely essential. Teams working in silos, or without collaboration present a major risk to impact project performance and the ultimate financial health of the business, so essentially it comes down to transforming our approach. The partnership between SPS[T] and D4S is an exemplary example. There needs to be more such partnerships that are open and collaborative, where everyone shares a vision of a more streamlined process.”

Adapting to Modular & Offsite Construction Processes

It’s no secret that prefabrication and modular builds are increasingly offering incredible value for the construction industry, but even more so when the design team understands the different pressures they introduce.

AH:

“There’s a huge learning curve when it comes to offsite and modular construction. Unless you’re working in a modular factory or on these projects day in and day out, design teams don’t always realise how important it is to confirm details early on. With modular construction, the entire design schedule is pushed forward by 6 to 9 months because you’re essentially building the building twice: once in the factory and then again on-site.

People don’t always understand that you can’t wait until the last minute to make decisions when it’s time to assemble on-site. I’d like to think this will change as time goes on, especially with things like Gateway 2, part of the UK’s building safety reforms. Eventually, even traditional building projects won’t be able to wait that long to finalise details. As a result, offsite manufacturing and traditional construction could start to align more.”

This shift to prefab and modular construction is forcing the industry to rethink its approach to design, with tangible results on-site.

AH:

“Even something like cash flow is totally different in modular and offsite projects compared to traditional builds. That’s why education is key. We need to come together as an industry to help people understand these differences, instead of leaving it to just one or two companies to educate their teams on individual projects. If we don’t, the same challenges will pop up again on the next project.”

Designing Smarter Solutions

As the SPST X D4S partnership demonstrates, efficiency lies in aligning teams, integrating skills, and, most importantly, designing smarter solutions from the outset.