It’s the middle of summer at a jobsite for a new school in the South and construction workers are on scaffolding to install windows on the second floor. Outside temperatures are topping 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and the humidity is unbearable. Yet, the project must be completed in time for the new school year.
Unfortunately, the number of seasoned construction workers comfortable in these conditions is diminishing. Filling the thousands of construction jobs needed as these workers continue to retire requires a new approach that appeals to new workforce entrants.
Off-site or factory-built construction provides an avenue with broader appeal.
The Benefits of Off-Site or Factory-Built Construction
No matter where they are located, factories provide a comfortable work environment year-round. The factory also means that workers go to the same location every day. This certainty allows workers to better deal with life’s reality of navigating childcare, elderly parents, or other responsibilities.
As a manufacturing-based process, off-site construction offers additional benefits attractive to a larger cadre of workers. Many factories are leveraging some degree of automation. Factory-built construction is not simply swinging hammers under a roof, but leveraging technology to create more efficient processes. Tech savvy workers who also like to work with their hands have the best of both worlds in the factory.
The assembly line process means that the tools and materials needed to complete a specific task are nearby and don’t need to be lugged across a jobsite. Also, work is conducted at ground level without the need to be high in the air. This results in less wear and tear on the body, allowing older workers to remain in the workforce longer.
The factory is highly organized by design, and activities conducted at each station are designed for efficiency. Multiple trades aren’t trying to work in the same space, risking injury or causing unnecessary frustration and delay. Ladders, air hoses, buckets, or toolboxes aren’t just laying around presenting hazards.
Factories can also create a sense of community and connection. While each construction project typically engages a different combination of subcontractors, the factory work environment is more stable. Seeing the same co-workers everyday builds comradery, and also accountability, which can further contribute to in-factory quality.
Some factories have leveraged all these benefits to focus on engaging specific audiences. For example, Factory OS in California focuses on employing formerly incarcerated or homeless workers. Their effort provides stable employment, reduces recidivism, and provides new skills that manifest in increased worker loyalty, dedication, and engagement. BoulderMOD in Colorado is a partnership between Flatirons Habitat for Humanity and the Boulder Valley School District and provides vocational training for high school students while producing affordable housing.
A More Efficient Inspection Process
Because this work happens in a factory and the product delivered to the jobsite is often closed up, the inspections process also shifts into the factory. Much of that inspection work is conducted by third-party agencies.
For third-party inspectors, some of the same workforce benefits apply — no more climbing up scaffolding, exposure to the elements, driving from jobsite to jobsite, or uncertainty in schedules.
For inspectors that have put in the work to be ICC certified but are looking for less strenuous opportunities to extend their careers, being an in-factory inspector or administering a manufacturer’s quality assurance program could be a great opportunity.
The Future of Construction
Off-site construction presents the opportunity to address numerous challenges currently faced by society and the building industry, the availability of a future construction workforce key among them.
Capturing and communicating the opportunities in the factory will help ensure that we have the workers needed to deliver the buildings society needs.
Learn more about off-site construction and explore ICC’s off-site construction standards here. Learn more about Building Safety Month here.