Dr. John Keung
Emeritus Fellow, BCA Academy
19 December 2019
Changing the Way We Build Through Innovation Adoption
– the DfMA Story
Driving Innovation through Technology Adaptation
Source: mirror.co.uk Source: https://negosentro.com/ Source: Teambuild
Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA)
Moving work offsite will improve productivity in 3 ways•Controlled offsite environment•Scope for automation of offsite work•Scope for offshoring of offsite work
Design for Manufacturing(off-site and
automation)
and Assembly(on-site)
Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA)
Driving Innovation through Technology Adaptation
Changing the Way We Build – WHY?Ever rising
construction accidents/fatalities
Labour shortage
Noise and dust nuisances from construction sites
Defects Over Production Inventory Unnecessary Motion
Waiting Time Inefficient Transport
Over Processing
Employees underutilized
Noise & Dust Hazard
1 2 The wastage and hack and rework tradition3
4 Rising construction costs 5
InfrastructuresSmart townships
Mega developments
Changing the Way We Build – WHY?
High quality
Faster construction
For the industry For the public
Less workers on site
Greater automation in factory Less dust
Less noise
Fewer delivery tripsConducive Working Environment
Benefits of DfMA
Structural Steel / Advanced Precast / Hybrid
Prefab Components
Str
uctu
ral
Advanced Prefab Systems
Mass Engineered Timber (MET) / Hybrid
Precast PPVC
Integrated Sub-assemblies
Manpower Savings [Project Level]
35% 40%20%10%
DfMA ContinuumM
EP
PPVC
PPVC
Wallpaper Engineered timber floor
On-site Dry Applied Finishes
Prefab MEP Deck
Prefab Module with Platform/ Catwalk
70%
Prefab Plant
Prefab Ceiling Module/ Prefab Plant
Prefinished Surfaces
Flexible Water Pipe/ Sprinkler Dropper
30%
Prefab kitchens/Common Toilets
PBUKitchen
Manpower Savings [Trade Level]
45%
PBU
60%
Arc
hit
ec
tura
l
Common Toilet
Integrated Assemblies:
Game-Changing ImprovementComponents: Incremental Improvement
Fully Integrated Assemblies
5-Storey 3XGRUN, Berlin (Germany)
Completed in 2011
1
2
6-StoreyTamedia, Zurich (Switzerland)
Completed in 2013
3
10-StoreyForte, Melbourne
(Australia)Completed in 2012
3
4
4
5
Mass Engineered Timber Mass Engineered Timber1
Mass Engineered Timber
Little Hero (Australia)
Prefab pre-finished volumetric construction
6Prefab Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing
System
6
7
Expo 2020 (Dubai)
7
Bella Sky’, Denmark7-day cycle time
Advanced precast concrete system
2
Chrysalis Amphitheatre (US)
Virtual Design and Construction (VDC)
8
DfMA
DfMA
DfMA
DfMADfMA
VDC
DfMA
DfMA
How other advanced countries have embraced DfMA
Mass Engineered Timber5
Brock Commons, University of British
Columbia (UBC)17-storey MET building
8
Launching of Hong Kong’s DfMA Alliance on 18 Mar 2019
How other advanced countries have embraced DfMA
• Organisation comprising industry stakeholders across construction value chain, government, professional bodies, trade associations and academia to co-create an ecosystem for adoption of DfMA in Hong Kong
DfMA, a low hanging fruit?
Going DfMA, a no-brainer?
Image Source: https://insights.som.yale.edu/insights/can-low-hanging-fruit-drive-earnings-growth
DfMA in Singapore? It’s easier said than done What were the Key Hurdles?
Hurdle No. 1 :
SKEPTICISM over innovation
Doubt over whether if innovation really works or brings the promised benefitsSource: https://www.aciworldwide.com/insights/expert-view/2017/october/in-the-digital-era-banks-must-ask-why-not
DfMA in Singapore? It’s easier said than done What were the Key Hurdles?
Doubt over the potential of innovation; fear of making mistakes
Hurdle No. 2 :
FEAR of the Unknown. FEAR of being the first mover
Source: https://www.roycastle.org/campaigns/face-your-fear/https://business-ethics.com/2011/09/05/7721-the-better-light-bulb-debate/
?
DfMA in Singapore? It’s easier said than done What were the Key Hurdles?
Concerns over the affordability and effectiveness of innovation
Hurdle No. 3 :
COST of Change
Source: https://medium.com/@weiking/step-by-step-guide-on-how-to-earn-interest-lending-with-defi-481ec385b48a
DfMA in Singapore? It’s easier said than done What were the Key Hurdles?
The rest of the value chain is not ready and not capable of providing support for innovationSource: https://www.ai-maxtools.com/company
Hurdle No. 4 : The Industry is NOT READY
DfMA in Singapore? It’s easier said than done What were the Key Hurdles?
The regulators are not ready. The current rules are rigid
Hurdle No. 5 :
REGULATORY Hurdles
Source: https://www.hoopla.net/summer-sales-competitions-to-boost-your-teams-numbers/
What did we do?
01Raise Awareness
STEP 02Secure stakeholders’ buy-in
STEP
03Create the demand and
supply ecosystem
STEP 04 Build Industry Capability
STEP
Building Up the DfMA Ecosystem
Making the Impossible Possible
International Panel of Experts (IPE) A barrier free learning and sharing platform
on the advanced productive technologies
Step 1A: Raise awareness
Participants from over 250 industry leaders
DfMA: Making the Impossible Possible!!!
Interactive and informative platforms
Publications
International BIM competition
>3000 visitors to BCA Construction Productivity Gallery showcasing BIM, DfMA and other advanced technologies
Step 1B: Raise awareness
>25,000 participants in significant outreach activities
Singapore Construction Productivity Week 2017
Public Sector Productivity Leadership 2018
Demonstration of building with MET at Skilled Builders’ Project during the BuildTech Asia (BTA) 2015 exhibition
BCA Award 2015 (BIM Award)
DfMA: Making the Impossible Possible!!!
BCA-REDAS Quality and Productivity Seminar 2017
Provide an Immersive and Experiential Learning Facility
CLVC
Centre for Lean and Virtual Construction
Step 2A: Secure stakeholders’ buy-in
>20 overseas learning journeys since 2010 Establish links with overseas counterparts
Industry
Partnering of Straits Construction Singapore Pte Ltd and Bathsystem S.p.A. in the supply of drywall PBU and lightweight concrete PBU in Singapore
Prefab MEP in the UK, 2016
Prefab Bathroom Unit in Italy, 2014 Stadthaus at Murray Grove, UK, 2013
Prefab Bathroom Unit in the UK, 2016
Government
DfMA: Making the Impossible Possible!!!
Source: straitstimes.com
RATEC GmbH - Specialist in adjustable moulds for production of monolithic 3D concrete PPVC modules
Greyform Pte Ltd, an ICPH under Straits Construction Group
Teambuild ICPH
Step 2B: Secure stakeholders’ buy-inGovernment
DfMA: Making the Impossible Possible!!!
Step 2B: Secure stakeholders’ buy-in
Building Innovation Panel Review of Regulatory RequirementsA One-Stop Multi-Agency Platform for All Innovative ConstructionTechnologies to secure Speedy Clearance of All Regulatory Requirements
Examples of systems cleared by BIP are PPVC and PBU
10-sty high Forte, Melbourne, Australia
Government
Regulatory hurdles resolved to widen the application of DfMA and reduce
compliance cost
DfMA: Making the Impossible Possible!!!
4
24(or 12 for
healthcare)
Max. height of MET buildings allowed by Fire Safety and Shelter Department
2012 May 2013 Mar 2014 Aug 2016
Sto
reys
0*
No height limit (except healthcare occupancy)
*MET is not allowed as structural element before 2012
Adoption of DfMA technologies
NTU Hostel
PPVC (25 projects)
Healthcare Hub
Prefab MEP (8 projects)
Sport Hall
MET (14 projects)
State Court
Structural Steel (12 projects)
*GLS refers to Government Land Sales (GLS)
PPVC
29 GLS sites
(24 residential, 4 mixed developments, 1 hotel
Structural Steel / Minimum Prefab Level
2 Commercial GLS and 50 Industrial GLS sites
Public Sector Taking the LeadSpecifying DfMA technology adoption in land
tender conditions
DfMA: Making the Impossible Possible!!!
Step 3A: Create the demand and supply ecosystem
Carrot
Stick
Carrot and Stick Approach
• Public Sector Construction Productivity Fund (PSCPF)
– S$154 million
• Construction Productivity and Capability Fund (CPCF)
– ~S$800 million
• Bonus GFA scheme
Mandatory Requirement Incentive Funding
DfMA: Making the Impossible Possible!!!
Step 3B: Create the demand and supply ecosystem
Completed ICPH
ICPH under planning
Kaki Bukit 1
Greyform(Straits Construction)
Jalan Gali Batu
SoilbuildTeambuild
Pulau Punggol Barat (PPB)
Tiong Seng Prefab Hub
Integrated Construction and Prefabrication Hubs (ICPHs)
DfMA: Making the Impossible Possible!!!
Step 3C: Create the demand and supply ecosystem
Building Control Industry Development Capability Building
Institutes of Higher Learning:
• Masters• Bachelor
• Diploma• CET Programmes
Green BIM / VDC DfMA
Green Design and Engineering
Integrated Digital Delivery
DfMA
Current (Personnel trained by BCAA) Target: 2025
10,000 25,000
11,900 20,000
11,150 35,000
Training Area
Training for Transformative Skills
DfMA: Making the Impossible Possible!!!
Step 4: Build Industry Capability
The Success Stories
Changi Airport Crowne Plaza Hotel
• Time savings of 3 months;
• On-site manpower savings 44%
Transport trips reduced by 70%
10 storeys completed in 26 days
PPVC Project Highlights
Construction Productivity Awards 2017 Project Category Platinum Award
NTU Nanyang Crescent Hostel
PPVC Project Highlights
Construction Productivity Awards 2018 Project Category Platinum Award
784 PPVC Modules used
Only 7 workers were required to install a module in 30 minutes.
6-8 modules were installed each day
Only 6 months of on-site works
Project Information
Steel PPVC
Gross Floor Area
(GFA)
48,500 m2
Number of Storeys 11 to 13 (4 blocks)
Number of Rooms 1527
The Brownstone Executive Condominium
Likely the World’s Largest and First-of-its-kindapplication of Full Concrete PPVC for a Large-
Scale Private Residential Development
~5,000 Building Modules used
PPVC Project Highlights
Builder Teambuild clinched Construction Productivity Awards 2017
Builder (Open) Category Platinum Award
City Development Limited clinched Construction Productivity Awards 2017
Developer Category Platinum Award
Clement Canopy Condominium
PPVC Project Highlights
World’s tallest Concrete PPVC building(40 storeys)
Superstructure
completed in 14 monthsEdgeProp Singapore Excellence Awards 2018
• Landscape Excellence Award• Top Development Excellence Awards
NTU The Wave
MET Project Highlights
Green Mark Platinum Award
No internal columns or pillars required to support the weight of the roof
72m roof made of seven timber arches
First large-scale building in South-east Asia built with MET Technology
Onsite manhour savings:• Took only 14 workers ~5 weeks
to complete the roof
SMU Tahir Foundation Connexion
MET Project Highlights
Green Mark Platinum Award
Use of myriad DfMA technologies – MET, modular façade, modular MEP
Shorten Construction time from 24 months to 15 months
+Net Zero Energy Building
Beyond DfMA
Automation & Robotics
Source: Technical University of Munich
Source: Technical University of Munich
Source: ETH Zurich
Human-Robot Collaboration (HRC) Robots
Welding Robots
Robots for Digital Fabrication
Source: Doka
Formwork 3D Printing
Architectural Feature 3D Printing
3D Printing
3D Printed Slabs
Source: ETH Zurich
Source: Sika Technology Centre
A.I. TechnologyHarness Digitalisation though
R&D
A.I. in Workplace Safety
A.I. in Facilities Management
A.I. in Construction Management
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pL-c00M2CnI
Source: https://riskandinsurance.com/algorithms-and-artificial-intelligence-can-make-construction-more-efficient/
Source: https://www.roboticsbusinessreview.com/construction/komatsu-ai-construction-sites/
Source: Fira
Harnessing IOT for Information Sharing
Full Digitalisation of All Building Services
Managing Concrete Curing via IOT
Source: Fira
Source: Kira
Changing the Way We Build Through Innovation Adoption
- the DfMA Story
Food for Thought
0%
22%
40%
2010 2018 2020DfMA Adoption Rate in Singapore
Do we have the mechanism to proliferate and entrench
DfMA to the point of no return?
The Big Questions
Changing the Way We Build Through Innovation Adoption
- the DfMA Story
Food for Thought
Have we done enough to make innovation and
ecosystem building part of the DNA of the Built Environment
Sector from now on?
The Big Questions
How do we groom and nurture future leaders to
bring about innovation and innovation adoption in the
industry?
Food for Thought
The Big Questions
Changing the Way We Build Through Innovation Adoption
- the DfMA Story
Green
Digitalized
What’s your visionbeyond a green, digitalized
and technologically advanced BE sector?
Food for Thought
DfMA The Big Questions
Changing the Way We Build Through Innovation Adoption
- the DfMA Story