Prefabrication & Modularisation offsite manufacturing saves time & increases ROI
“Imagine buying a new car from Toyota and then having four engineers turn up at your house to assemble it piece-by-piece in your garage! It sounds ridiculous. But in many ways, that’s exactly how a lot of the Australian construction industry thinks right now.” Colin Jones, Prefabrication & Modularisation Coordinator Did you know AE Smith has been implementing prefabricated solutions on a project-by-project basis since 1996? But it’s only in recent years that the financial benefits of offsite manufacturing have become more widely regarded by the Australian construction industry. AE Smith has a long history of prefabrication experience. In 1996 on the Woodford Correctional Centre project, AE Smith foreshadowed a new and unique installation method where the services trades undertook the installation of their works inside roof trusses while these trusses were still on the ground! (See pics right.) As one of the Australian construction industry’s first parlays into prefabrication, the benefits of rapid installation under increased safety conditions was clear.
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Consistent with AE Smith’s ethos to help customers deliver better ROI and ensure high safety and quality standards, AE Smith has continued to grow its prefabrication expertise. More recently, AE Smith installed prefabricated skids on the King George Central project reducing installation time from weeks to days. On the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital project in Brisbane, significant sections of the plant room was prefabricated and pre-commissioned. This approach resulted in significant time savings compared to traditional onsite commissioning processes. In 1996 AE Smith instigated prefabrication to deliver mechanical services during the construction of the Woodford Correctional Centre 100km north of Brisbane.
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“The earlier AE Smith is involved in the project, the more value offsite manufacturing can deliver to our clients.” Harnessing knowledge and embedding processes
Learnings from the auto industry improve construction efficiency
AE Smith have consolidated their experience in offsite manufacturing with the addition of a Prefabrication & Modularisation Coordinator, Colin Jones. Colin has 10 years of experience in the established “DfMA” (Design for Manufacture & Assembly) of prefabricated MEP (Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing) modules gained by working in the UK construction industry.
Colin reflects on his experience in the UK where he worked for market leaders Laing O’Rourke and Crown House. Lessons learned from assembly operations at automotive companies including “lean manufacturing” and “lean construction” completely changed the way these companies delivered projects.
“I was impressed with AE Smith’s reputation for executing prefabricated solutions far before the broader Australian market realised the benefits,” said Colin. David Willet, CEO said, “We already have the experience and capability to deliver prefabrication in response to specific customer objectives and site requirements. Colin’s appointment helps ensure AE Smith’s extensive knowledge is consistently shared across the business, and with customers. Our prefabrication and BIM processes will ensure continual improvement - moving the industry forward and keeping AE Smith in front.”
“Imagine buying a new car from Toyota and then having four engineers turn up at your house to assemble it piece-by-piece in your garage! It sounds ridiculous. But in many ways, that’s exactly how a lot of the Australian construction industry thinks right now. Yes, every building is unique. But each building also has many common parts that can be built using the same production line techniques used in automotive manufacture. Our goal is to find AE Smith customers even greater efficiencies – to save time and ultimately increase their return on investment,” said Colin.
The multidisciplinary teams inside AE Smith continues to integrate prefabrication processes across the business; some stages of which include estimation, BIM, drafting, procurement, manufacture, commissioning and installation of services.
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Prefabrication & Modularisation offsite manufacturing saves time & increases ROI
Involvement early in the building strategy delivers the greatest benefits “The earlier AE Smith is involved in the project, the more value offsite manufacturing can deliver to our clients. Benefits include accelerated construction times, improved productivity, significant abatement of reworks, and reduction in onsite health and safety risks,” said David. “AE Smith have invested and continue to invest heavily in prefabrication techniques and technologies that help our customers compress the critical path of their project.” “The evidence is clear. The traditional construction approach takes much, much longer. Financial return can be a powerful motivator to customer and contractor alike. Using prefab, customers can be more confident they’ll get a return on their investment over a shorter period of time. For some, the time AE Smith helps save in the critical path could be the difference between a building being delivered on time or the client benefiting from early occupancy,” concluded David.
“The evidence is clear. The traditional construction approach takes much, much longer. Financial return can be a powerful motivator to customer and contractor alike.”
We believe there is a better way… A better way, created by a passionate team dedicated to delivering you a valued solution every time. We care about people’s welfare, believe in the power of relationships and do what we say we are going to do. AE Smith delivers insightful solutions in Engineering Services across Australia including mechanical, energy, fire, hydraulics and refrigeration.
“AE Smith have invested and continue to invest heavily in prefabrication techniques and technologies that help our customers compress the critical path of their project.” David Willet, CEO
One of several giant three tonne prefabricated fan modules manoeuvred into place by crane at the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital (LCCH) in Brisbane, September 2013.
For more information about Prefabrication & Modularisation please contact Colin Jones, Prefabrication & Modularisation Coordinator on 07 3332 0333 or prefabrication@aesmith.com.au.
Engineering Ser vices
mechanical
energy
fire
hydraulics
refrigeration
1300 313 313
www.aesmith.com.au