on this page
The growth of modern methods of construction (MMC) has progressed slowly, a key issue being a lack of understanding of its benefits. As MMC only represents about 7 per cent of UK construction, most industry stakeholders lack user experience other than the prefabricated classrooms and office units seen across the education and commercial estates, and these are often considered less than inspiring.
Another challenge is that the plus points of MMC are not widely quantified. It’s only worth taking the MMC route if the benefits offer value to the project in question. The value of reduced build time and site disruption; increased predictability; and improved quality, health and safety, and sustainability needs to be quantified from the outset.
Too often, MMC is used without proper consideration. It then fails to deliver the expected benefits and the project is deemed to have failed. Was it the wrong project for the systems or materials selected, or the wrong contractor? Did the stakeholders and professional advisers have insufficient MMC understanding? Did they fail to work in line with the detailing and methods used? Or was it down to inadequate knowledge of the specialist MMC supply chain? If a traditional construction project fails, nobody says ‘traditional construction doesn’t work’. We don’t blame the brick itself.
Distrust of early engagement
Early consideration of MMC really is necessary. This timing allows the design and project to progress while considering the requirements of the selected supplier’s system and ensures an efficient and streamlined process. Suppliers point out that this avoids duplicated and unnecessary work and delay, which is key to balancing MMC’s perceived cost uplift.
However, clients may be concerned about MMC’s perceived longer lead-in times, and reticent about early commitment to a system or supplier, as they think it hinders competition and gives the supply chain too much power. There is a fear of being held to ransom, further along the process, over changes to specification and design.
“Like the net-zero adviser, the MMC adviser will become a new professional route, evolving as processes and targets change.”
So how do we address these perceived risks to ensure early consideration of MMC, while allowing clients to meet their statutory obligations, retain breadth of supply and maintain the required level of competition?
The answer lies in the Royal Institute of British Architects’ (RIBA) 2021 Design for Manufacturing Assembly (DfMA) Overlay to the Plan of Work. This aligns consistent and methodical development of MMC projects with the RIBA Plan of Work – the most commonly used roadmap to define the principal stages of a construction project.
The overlay sets out the drivers of change towards the MMC mindset. It aims to dispel the myth that MMC is a barrier to great architecture and explains that the approach is relevant to projects of all sizes and to existing buildings.
RIBA acknowledges that DfMA and MMC require a different approach to projects and recommends an addition to the professional advisory team: an MMC adviser. This role acts as a foil, critical friend and guide to the pre-construction team, ensuring that all MMC-related factors are properly assessed.
In my view, this role should be independent of the core design team and MMC suppliers. An MMC adviser who was agnostic on material and MMC method would add greater value and bring more likelihood of success.
The appointed person would conduct a full assessment of all project drivers that influence MMC’s suitability for the project: location, site-specific conditions, suggested building form, program, cost, net-zero strategy, social value, corporate governance, health and safety, and other factors.
To do this successfully, the MMC adviser would need a breadth of experience of MMC techniques, materials, processes and supply chains, so they could challenge and guide the design team on the best-fit solution.
When to appoint MMC adviser
For a program of work, I suggest engaging the MMC adviser at the stage “left of zero”, for assessment of strategic project drivers and defining the most suitable outcome for high-level stakeholders. This manages MMC expectations at the early stage and allows dialogue with funders and other stakeholders. For a single project, engage an MMC adviser no later than the architect.
The RIBA overlay states that the MMC adviser’s most important contribution is prior to the appointment of a manufacturer or contractor, adding that they could be involved in all RIBA stages. An independent MMC adviser would act as client-side guardian in interactions with pre-construction and project-delivery teams, but there is very real value in their ongoing involvement.
The role of MMC adviser offers a practical and consistent approach to assisting all stakeholders – and it will be interesting to see how this vital responsibility develops across the industry. Like the net-zero adviser and other new advisory roles, the MMC adviser will become a new professional route, evolving as processes and targets change.
There’s no doubt that MMC has a major part to play in improving construction outcomes and delivering higher-quality built assets that also help to achieve net-zero goals. I believe the DfMA Overlay and the role of the MMC adviser point the way to successfully delivering this process.
First published in Construction News.
Please note that you are now leaving the AtkinsRéalis website (legal name: AtkinsRéalis Group inc.) and entering a website maintained by a third party (the "External Website") and that you do so at your own risk.
AtkinsRéalis has no control over the External Website, any data or other content contained therein or any additional linked websites. The link to the External Website is provided for convenience purposes only. By clicking "Accept" you acknowledge and agree that AtkinsRéalis is not responsible, and does not accept or assume any responsibility or liability whatsoever for the data protection policy, the content, the data or the technical operation of the External Website and/or any linked websites and that AtkinsRéalis is not liable for the terms and conditions (or terms of use) of the External Website. Further, you acknowledge and agree that you assume all risks resulting from entering and/or using the External Website and/or any linked websites.
BY ENTERING THE EXTERNAL WEBSITE, YOU ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT YOU COMPLETELY AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVE ANY AND ALL RIGHTS AND CLAIMS AGAINST ATKINSRÉALIS, AND RELEASE, DISCHARGE, INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS ATKINSRÉALIS, ITS OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, DIRECTORS AND AGENTS FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LIABILITY FOR LOSS, DAMAGES, EXPENSES AND COSTS ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH ENTERING AND/OR USING THE EXTERNAL WEBSITE AND/OR ANY LINKED WEBSITES AND ANY DATA AND/OR CONTENT CONTAINED THEREIN.
Such waiver and release specifically includes, without limitation, any and all rights and claims pertaining to reliance on the data or content of the External Website, or claims pertaining to the processing of personal data, including but not limited to any rights under any applicable data protection statute. You also recognize by clicking “Accept” that the terms of this disclaimer are reasonable.
The information provided by Virtua Research cited herein is provided “as is” and “as available” without warranty of any kind. Use of any Virtua Research data is at a user’s own risk and Virtua Research disclaims any liability for use of the Virtua Research data. Although the information is obtained or compiled from reliable sources Virtua Research neither can nor does guarantee or make any representation or warranty, either express or implied, as to the accuracy, validity, sequence, timeliness, completeness or continued availability of any information or data, including third-party content, made available herein. In no event shall Virtua Research be liable for any decision made or action or inaction taken in reliance on any information or data, including third-party content. Virtua Research further explicitly disclaims, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any warranty of any kind, whether express or implied, including warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement.
The consensus estimate provided by Virtua Research is based on estimates, forecasts and predictions made by third party financial analysts, as described above. It is not prepared based on information provided by AtkinsRéalis and can only be seen as a consensus view on AtkinsRéalis' possible future results from an outside perspective. AtkinsRéalis has not provided input on these forecasts, except by referring to past publicly disclosed information. AtkinsRéalis does not accept any responsibility for the quality or accuracy of any individual or average of forecasts or estimates. This web page contains forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by third parties. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between AtkinsRéalis' actual future results, financial situation, development or performance, and the estimates given here.
Downloads
Trade releases