Design-Fabrication Interface: Construction vs Manufacturing

Fundamental cultural differences between industries helps explain why automation and robotics have been successful in manufacturing but have largely failed in construction. In construction there has traditionally been a clear separation between a project design phase and its field operations. In manufacturing engineering design and shop floor fabrication are highly integrated.

This paper examines the differences between construction and manufacturing in the content of hierarchical structures. Each industry is divided into hierarchical levels including, in order to increasing level of detail: Project, Division, Activity, Basic Task, Elemental Motion, and Orthopedics. In construction, the design-fabrication interface occurs between the Activity and Basic Task Levels. Architect/engineers, the product designers prepare plans and specifications at the Activity level of detail and turn them over to field personnel, the process designers who organize and perform the work from the Basic Task level down. In manufacturing, the design-fabrication interface occurs much lower in hierarchy between the Elemental Motion and Orthopedic levels. Product and process designers collectively decide not only what the finished product look like, but how product will be manufactured, step by step. The shop floor worker provides physical input, but little organizational input for the work.

Researchers should formulate their strategies for introducing automation and robotics in construction field operations recognizing the differences between construction and manufacturing. Automation techniques which have seceded in manufacturing cannot be forced upon the construction industry in its current organizational structure. It will be far easier for construction automation researchers to develop rational strategies than to alter the organization of the construction industry.