Adaptation of Shipbuilding Production Systems to Construction

The research identifies virtually no data to substantiate the following, but there are common patterns that can be drawn from the five case studies:

1. Project Cost Savings – Economic benefits will be realized as projects move from the high-risk stick-built environment to an IPD modularized approach. However cost saving are marginal or limited in research studies to-date. Productivity differentials over field conditions were observed in modular facilities due to controlled conditions, closer supervision, and easier access to tools, but very little hard data suggests cost savings are identified. The report analyzes one case study regarding the economics of building an off-site modular manufacturing facility. 
2. Lower Material Cost – No specific material cost savings is identified in the case studies; however the research identifies potential savings through bulk purchases and economies of scale.
3. Improved Safety and Higher Quality – The prefabrication sites typically saw improved safety statistics over a site construction due to the safe, sometimes climate controlled, environment.  The environment reduced hazards and improved working conditions, thus improving both safety and quality. In addition, projects requiring stringent quality construction can benefit from a modular approach due to easy off-site verification of quality standards.  
4. Single Project Focus Impedes Modular Investment – The case studies identified the limited re-use of designs in the development of a core module library do to the specific design function of each project.