In the spirit of working collaboratively to ensure project success, MiTek is championing the Design, Make, Build (DMB) approach to construction. This approach creates value-added relationships through the entire supply chain by encouraging integrated project delivery, wholistic design approach, and collaboration of all influencers at strategic points in the process.
Collaboration is key. While the work begins in the Design phase, it requires participation from the key players in the Make and Build phases to ensure success. When all parties are involved from the beginning, the burden is lifted from each because the component manufacturer knows the design coming from the designer/architect incorporates their fabrication needs, and the builder knows how to execute the plans.
When the structure is designed and built in a computer model first, it allows the team to work through all the challenges before taking the plans to the jobsite. Our goal is to solve problems in the computer, not in the field. This approach allows the architect and builder to work more collaboratively because the design is influenced by how things are built rather than builders having to react to the design.
It all begins with the need of a client – whether that’s a family wanting to purchase a home or a developer wanting to build a new apartment complex. Once the need is defined, they then connect with professionals to find a solution. At this point, roles and responsibilities should be clearly defined to avoid conflict later in the process. We must determine who the decision makers are, what is the solution, who should be involved in the design process, and whether the solution can be accomplished within the given budget.
The DMB approach builds upon the Design-Build and Design, Bid, Build approaches to construction. The addition of Make allows for Design to begin to inform offsite construction/prefabrication and enhance the delivery in a way that allows it to be integrated into Design and influence the construction on the jobsite to allow for a more streamlined solution. Often times, when we think of fabrication in the Make phase those types of communication are left out of the traditional Design phase and not brought into the conversation until the design solution has been decided. Therefore, the end results are not optimized in Design and Make.
The Design phase can help to prepare for Make and streamline Build. Proper collaboration during Design informs the remaining processes by engaging with decision makers from each phase.
This phase is optimized by strong collaboration and communication within Make. One cannot design in a vacuum and expect optimized results. When using Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology, information from collaboration using DMB can be integrated into the Make phase. Understanding the products and motivation of Make allows the Design phase to be more influenced and incorporating as they produce designs for Make.
The collaboration between the Design decision makers and the Make decision makers during the Design phase also allows for the subject matter experts within Make to have a “seat at the table.” The design can be evaluated against the efficiency opportunities of Make. In many cases, this creates the opportunity for the component manufacturer to help influence the best collaborative solution as opposed to receiving a design that is considered complete but ignores any opportunity for Make professionals to optimize. Involving the framer in the collaboration ensures the design, and more importantly, it ensures the components in the Make phase of DMB can be installed efficiently in Build.
Integrated Project Delivery
It is critical for the entire team to meet at the earliest stage of project design to improve accuracy of decisions. By establishing early collaboration between the architect, contractor, component manufacturer, and engineer in the development of the design, the quality of the structure will be improved and risk mitigated. A byproduct of this process is precise construction documents which will help reduce uncertainty during the construction phase. Including the CM during this phase of DMB allows the CM to affect the design process to ensure it is economical to make, and it allows the designs to be completed in a more informed manner that can then help to streamline the Make process.
Drafters are virtual contractors building a structure within a computer, so it’s crucial they not only know and understand how to use the software but that they collaborate with the CM designers to know how the components are built and how the building will be put together. This allows them to solve potential issues and connect with the component manufacturer and the builder to find solutions within the program. By being involved in the early planning stages, builders will see increased efficiency in construction with less waste, fewer RFI’s, and fewer change orders with projects being completed on time and on budget.
Component manufacturers need to be involved in the Design phase, so the architect/designer is designing a structure with the manufacturing team involved. This gives the CM a chance to collaborate and share with the designer the best, and most efficient and cost-effective way to manufacture that structure. This also serves to educate the design team of the items to consider for optimization in Make. The goal is to avoid some of the traditional “make it work” in the field mentality and have a more collective and complete conversation to improve the whole DMB process.
The spirit of working collaboratively can help ensure project success. The Design, Make, Build approach to construction creates value-added relationships through the entire supply chain by encouraging integrated project delivery, wholistic design approach, and collaboration of all influencers at strategic points in the process. DMB can create solutions from the design all the way through to the build stage while at the same time mitigating risks and bringing a truly collaborative method of building to the industry. MiTek is working alongside industry partners to enable them with solutions from end to end.