DfMA for a Better Industrialised Building System

Abstract

To improve the performance of the construction industry, innovative methods were introduced to make them better. Industrialised building systems (IBS) and prefabrication construction are the popular methods used and studied. However, these methods are still unable to meet the demands of the stakeholders. Design for manufacturing and assembly (DfMA) is a design principle that is seen as capable of improving the situation. The uptake of DfMA in the construction industry needs to be analysed to obtain a better picture of the existing condition of the method and its manner of implementation it going forward, but there are still too few studies performed on this topic. This paper gathers relevant articles from the previous studies on DfMA. With the available data, the main benefits, hindrance factors, and enabling factors for DfMA uptake in the construction industry were identified in this study. The authors also identified the research trend among the research themes and the benefits of building information modelling (BIM) integration with DfMA. By synthesising the information from previous studies, a conceptual framework was developed. Knowledge gaps and future potential research topics are also discussed in this paper, forming a simple research framework for future effort guidance. With a suitable strategy and guidelines, the application of DfMA could improve the performance of the construction industry in Malaysia and other places with similar construction environments and approaches.

Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) and Design for Deconstruction (DfD) in the Construction Industry: Challenges, Trends and Developments

“…DfMA research centers on waste eradication. In industrialized building systems [26] and volumetric modular construction [70], DfMA enabled construction waste reduction and dematerialization. In a study by Bakhshi et al [78], a BIM-based DfMA tool was developed that reduced the total amount of waste generated.…”

“…Present review studies have yet to explore the current state of DfMA and DfD in the construction industry, despite the modern developments presented in case studies and experimental research. A recent study by Razak et al [26] included a literature review on DfMA but with an emphasis on industrialized building systems and the Malaysian construction sector. In addition, a review article by Tuvayanond et al [27] investigated DfMA in construction.…”

A study of Laing O'Rourke, UK construction company participation in building design

“…The technical aspects of DfMA have been reported in previous papers (See [Note 11]). According to a report on a review of previous research on DfMA, 18 DfMA research has been seen since around 2013, with some studies discussing the integration and application of DfMA with other technologies, and some studies on optimization and guidelines for DfMA. Another study points out the importance of clarifying the differences between DfMA and research on related areas, such as off‐site fabrication 19 .…”

An Empirical Investigation to EnhancingConstruction Site Performance Through Efficient Material Waste Mitigation in the Malaysian Construction Industry

“…To enhance the performance of the construction sector, innovative approaches have been introduced to enhance its efficiency. Among the prominent methods being employed and researched are Industrialized Building Systems (IBS) and prefabrication construction techniques (Razak et al, 2022). The utilization of (IBS) technology, which emphasizes off-site prefabrication and modularization, not only leads to a substantial decrease in environmental harm but also results in substantial productivity improvements, reduced labour demands, and enhanced working conditions.…”