WRAP Report - Value of Off Site Manufacturing

Using off site manufacture can help the construction industry reduce waste according to a report published by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme - Liz Goodwin, CEO).

WRAP commissioned AMA Research to undertake a scoping study into the uptake of off site manufacture and where the opportunities lie for growth. The research compared current off site manufacture waste levels with traditional methods.

Off site manufacture already offers the construction industry benefits in terms of time and cost predictability, health and safety and skills. However, this work shows that there is the potential to make a significant difference to the amount of waste the industry produces.

Some of the biggest waste streams in traditional construction are packaging (up to 5%), timber (up to 25%) and plasterboard (up to 36%). Up to a 90% reduction can be achieved by reducing wastes such as wood pallets, shrink wrap, cardboard, plasterboard, timber, concrete, bricks and cement by increasing the use of off site manufacture and modern methods of construction.

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What other advantages are there in time savings, quality, coordination and safety?

Erin McKean - Lexicography and mindshifting

The great institutions of modernity are confronting the new realities of a digitalage.

Modern architecture and the idea of the master architect was born during the Renaissance. Construction is a combination of industrial era assembly and ancient craft practices. Technology has since introduced many significant innovations leading to greater efficiencies but has not changed the paradigm.

Please take a moment and listen to Erin McKean's presentation at the TED conference. You can find the video at the bottom of this blog. I found interesting and entertaining parallels to the disruptive changes in this arcane discipline and mindshift. Erin is the Chief Lexicographer and dictionary evangelist, for the Oxford English Dictionary. Her insights are wonderful (as well as few audacious words to add to your vocabulary). Listen and note her flatfooted critique of her own domain; the by-product of some excellent therapy or she is a Jim Collin's Level 5 leader.

These are a few highlights:

• I love the Electric Velocipede analogy; "Victorian design with modern propulsion."
  
• "Blaming the ham that's bigger than the pan."
• "Could paper be the enemy of words?" Hmm - could paper be the enemy of design?
• "Artificial constraints lead to arbitrary distinctions and a skewed worldview."

We're not alone. The OED is undergoing a mindshift. We're in noble company.

Web 2.0

What do Amazon.com, Netflix, Wikipedia, Stumbleupon, Facebook and Flickr have in common? They represent some of the Titans in the world of Web 2.0.

Web 1.0 focuses on delivering content. Web 2.0 focuses on participation, collaboration and user generated content (or value).

Using Web 2.0 requires a different mindset.

Think:

1. Amazon.com - customers say; "if you like XYZ, you'll like ABC."
2. Netflix - people who liked this movie also liked these movies.
3. Stumbleupon - people upload their videos on various sites; Youtube, Metacafe... and Stumbleupon collects the best for you to view.

"Is there a lesson, an opportunity?"

Craig Janssen, mindshift core member and principal for Acoustic and Strategic Dimension, raised the interesting question during our Houston gathering.

Craig shared that every company has tools that aid their clients in identifying needs or exploring solutions. What if companies automate some of their tools - providing clients with useful information, a valuable experience and in return gaining important information about needs and goals? Clients benefit, engage and end up coming back when they need help. Craig went on to share that making tools available that competitors don't have provides a clear advantage.

One example is Strategic Dimension's "Cost Escalation Calculator." Why is it valuable? Because SD found many client's did not make the connection that delayed decisions cost money. Even when they explained the consequences the idea remained abstract. Craig developed a simple tool and used it in presentations. When it was placed on their website clients would go back and play with the tool. The abstract idea of cost escalation suddenly becomes very tangible and creates better awareness and a sense of urgency for making timely decisions.















Consider:

• What can make the client smarter?
• What can make the intangible more tangible?
• What would aid the decision process?
• What provides an alternate perspective?
• Is there a forum for feedback?
• Is there a means for clients to tap into the wisdom of other clients?

Now go back again and explore Amazon.com, Netflix, Wikipedia and other popular Web 2.0 platforms.

The new technology of Web 2.0 creates new capabilities, a new platform for interaction with completely new value propositions. All of which - requires a new mindset when we think about aiding our client's and generating new value.

Vertical Urban Farming

Here's a mindshift for you - imagine a 30 story farm, just down the block. That is Dr. Dickson Despommier's vision.

Local produce, sustainable farming.

This is more than a futuristic idea from an academic with too much time on his hands. This project has legs and a price tag of about $84 million along with an attractive proforma.

The vertical farm has attracted the attention of several global corporation and universities. Paradigms are changing.

Sky farming offers efficiency, high quality, diversity, locality and sustainability.

Terracycle - Mindshift Business Model

Tom Szaky, co-founder of TerraCycle, explains how they built a successful planet friendly company. Their product works and IS NOT a premium. His last few comments provide the insight - people want to do the right thing but most are not willing to pay more for it.

The mindshift question: "Can we deliver planet friendly buildings that ARE NOT a premium?" It would certainly take a new paradigm.

The Oppenheim Effect

Susan Szenasy, chief editor for Metropolis, recently shared that the future leaders in our industry start with a different set of assumptions:

• Green
• Team
• Virtual Design

Today we highlight the work of Chad Oppenheim. His Cor project in Miami is reviewed in this month's Metropolis (along with a podcast), Businessweek, Business 2.0, Boom or Bust: Miami and Wired Magazine - not too bad.

Why is this important to mindshift? It is a green multi-used project, using pre-engineered units available in 120 different configurations plus layouts that clients dream up.

It is modular, less expensive to build, faster, mass customized and sustainable.

You will similar ideas in Refabricating Architecture. Chad is bringing this idea of fabricated architecture to life.

Chad represents an elegant mindshift and an example worth exploring.

Ambient Orb - The Cool Dashboard

We live in a visual age.

How do you deliver complex data intended to change behavior? Ambient Devices (with a cool website) has developed a unique and strangely effective tool.

Plenty, a media source for sustainability, explains how Southern California Edison experimented with the Ambient Orb reduced energy consumption by 40%.

What additional uses can you think of?

• Product managers could see if they were on target by the color of the orb.
• Safety goals can be displayed with the orb.
• Company carbon objectives can be tracked.
• Customer satisfaction and the list is almost endless.

What metrics can you think of that would communicate the success or struggle of a project?

Consider the mindshift this represents for communicating complex data in an immediately accessible and intuitive way.