Design for Manufacture and Assembly

Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) is a design approach that focuses on ease of manufacture and efficiency of assembly. By optimising the design of a product it is possible to manufacture and assemble it more efficiently, more quickly, more safely and at a lower cost.

 

Construction contractors have begun to adopt DfMA for the off-site prefabrication and on-site construction of components such as concrete floor slabs, structural columns, beams, and so on.

 

Shorebird offers consulting expertise and partners in the areas of -

 

Volumetric modules, assembled in a factory, transported to site and craned into position as completed units 

 

Digital Kit of Parts creation of building components such as beams, columns, façade panels, stairs, balustrades, roofs, wiring, fenestration, pre cast, floors and core structure.

Some of the main advantages of Design for Manufacture and Assembly include:

 

• Speed: One of the primary advantages of DfMA in construction is the significantly reduced programme on-site through the use of prefabricated elements.

• Lower assembly cost: By using fewer parts, decreasing the amount of labour required, and reducing the number of unique parts, DfMA can significantly lower the cost of assembly.

• Higher quality and sustainability: A highly automated approach can enhance quality and efficiency at each stage. There may also be less waste generation in the construction phase, greater efficiency in site logistics, and a reduction in vehicle movements transporting materials to site.

• Shorter assembly time: DFMA shortens assembly time by using standard assembly practices such as vertical assembly and self-aligning parts. It also ensures that the transition from the design phase to the production phase is as smooth and rapid as possible.

• Increased reliability: DfMA increases reliability by lowering the number of parts, and so decreasing the chance of failure.

• Safety: By removing construction activities from the site and placing them in a controlled factory environment there there are fewer opportunities for safety issues to arise.