MMC will simply enable us to keep up with the needs of society.

To achieve the best possible results, we must change the way we think, the way we manage materials and people.Design must form the entry point, with that particular element of P-DfMA serving as the foundation and pervading principle for everything which follows.

We must allow the manufacture and assembly process to drive the way we design the asset in the first place, as well as the way we engage the client and the supply chain..Integrated design.Much of the industry’s current difficulty arises from the fact that few people can see the entire process through from end-to-end.

At Bryden Wood we have, over time, developed a cross-disciplinary approach in response to this reality and the need to design towards the process – to rationalise, coordinate and develop a fully integrated design solution.Our team includes technologists, designers, architects, engineers and analysts, because it’s vital that we apply these new principles throughout.

To begin with a traditional design process and then, at a later stage, attempt to retrofit some form of DfMA means compromising the design to make it fit the system, or creating a non-optimised, inefficient system – resulting in a disadvantaged built asset.. Kit-of-parts architecture.

In addition, where the design and construction industry tends to focus on the differences between sectors - segmenting itself into deep specialisms and viewing particular elements in isolation, we must instead switch our focus to commonality, anchoring the design and build process in similarities, not differences.It’s critical to know where we’re heading, but we shouldn’t rush down the wrong path for political expediency or short-term measures.

We’ve got to be able to respond to emerging needs, placing greater emphasis on what may be required at any point, be that lowering carbon emissions, social value, or any other value driver, and we’ve got to respond in the right way and at the right pace, so we don’t get taken off course.It requires collaboration and the convening power of the Construction Leadership Council will be crucial to that.. BIM and digital twins.

We’ve been watching this process evolve over time, with BIM focused on digitising the design and construction of projects.What we’re really aiming for though, is a future state where we’re able to understand and measure and digitise the actual performance of built assets.