In recent years, industrialized construction has become a hot topic. The term “design for manufacture and assembly (DfMA)” is used in many conversations when discussing industrialized construction. We will discuss how DfMA pertains to industrialized construction, what DfMA is, and what DfMA is not.

It’s easy to criticize the construction industry—plagued with low productivity, high risk, low margin, and little investment in research and development. We’ve heard this messaging repeatedly, but what of the growing and positive trends toward design for manufacture and assembly (DFMA) and the industrialization of construction (IC)? These are often portrayed as niche and specialized, but they’re fast developing to become the norm. This class will highlight examples of how governments, traditional general contractors, forward-thinking designers, and emerging manufacturers across the globe are disrupting the industry and adopting a variety of technology to support their goals. We’ll present trends in DFMA and IC, and explain challenges to adoption. The industry is portrayed as bad—but it’s getting better.

Design for manufacturing and assembly (DfMA) principles play an integral part in the development of prefabrication and modular building construction projects. In this class, we'll discuss specific lessons learned in applying DfMA to building construction for designers, construction managers, and trade partners. Using examples from recent projects, we'll explore the processes and tools used to make DfMA successful. We'll highlight the best practices and strategies for implementing DfMA to projects all along the spectrum of prefabrication, from single trade assemblies to full structural volumetric modules, and how we're pushing the boundaries in utilizing Revit, Navisworks, and Autodesk Construction Cloud in the design of industrialized construction projects. By the end of the presentation, you will have a deeper understanding of the DfMA rules and rails for building construction and how to apply them to your own projects.

Design, fabrication, and manufacturing for construction is advancing in the piping industry at a rapid pace. As such, workforce training for using the latest available technologies with the latest advances in design is essential. In this class, we’ll explore design for manufacture and assembly (DfMA) workflows and methods and the application to United Association training for improving the DfMA and modular assembly fabrication and installation skills of installers of mechanical piping and plumbing systems. We’ll be exploring generative design, modular assembly techniques, and automated tools, including their integration with Revit software, BIM 360 software, Navisworks software, and STRATUS, to develop modular fabrication training processes and methods.

DfMA (design for manufacture and assembly) doesn't have to be an exclusive club of certain project types. We will walk through the story of identifying levels of DfMA, working with a large contractor to develop design modules, through design, fabrication, and installation. Building on the concepts of modular construction, DfMA is the next evolution for an automated architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. This class will make the concept more accessible to different project types. The BIM (Building Information Modeling) process and virtual design and construction (VDC) process need to fit with the design process. The final output also needs to meet hard-coded engineering standards. Systems design and sequencing challenges were overcome with modularization and automation. We'll show you how.

Daiwa House has achieved early adoption of building information modeling (BIM) in the design phase, adopted Autodesk Docs as its standard common data environment (CDE), obtained ISO 19650 certification, and is currently pursuing a CDP strategy. Toward further growth and innovation beyond BIM, we've launched the "Data-Centric Project" with Autodesk this year, focusing on a data strategy. We've defined a DDP (DfMA data platform), prepared a KoP (kit of parts) using DfMA methodology, and verified its effectiveness in real projects to address social issues such as construction waste and decrease of skilled workers. As data strategy has become essential, along with the verification of the effectiveness of the DfMA methodology in actual projects, we'll present the overall concept of the data-centered project, and discuss how DfMA and data strategy are related to each other and to the realization of the digital construction industry.

This session will discuss content, tools, and workflows developed to support the creation of a Revit model and documents from design phases through design for manufacturing and assembly (DfMA). Implementing Revit software for design phases is in many ways much different than doing the same for downstream phases, which often is not an issue, since the teams are separate and working in different models, and maybe even in different software. The challenge of taking one Revit model from early design through manufacturing is unique. We've learned many lessons and had many opportunities to think outside the typical design approaches to Revit through using Assemblies and Assembly Views; creating various versions of detailed and accurate bills of materials; and developing content, tools, workflows, templates, and more to accommodate all phases of modeling and documentation. This session will share some of the most interesting challenges, and how they were overcome.

Design, fabrication, and manufacturing for construction is continuing to advance in the piping industry at a rapid pace. As such, workforce training for using the latest available technologies with the latest advances in design continues to be an essential element in the delivery of successful construction projects. In this class, we’ll build upon the design for manufacture and assembly (DfMA) workflows and methods discussed in previous sessions and demonstrate recent efforts within United Association training to improve the DfMA and modular assembly fabrication and installation skills of installers of mechanical piping and plumbing systems. We’ll be exploring generative design, modular assembly techniques, and automated tools, including their integration with Revit software, BIM 360 software, Navisworks software, and STRATUS, to develop modular fabrication training processes and methods

Industrialized construction is here to stay; prefabricated elements in the built environment and the design-for-manufacture-and-assembly (DfMA) process that enables it are fast becoming the norm across all sectors. So why is it that most of the case studies and best practices we see relate to volumetric modular construction of housing and hospitality? What about the vast but largely unsung impact of advanced building products, single-trade assemblies, and multitrade assemblies that make up the majority of the market? This panel will invite leaders from across the prefabrication continuum to explore why it's not just about modular.

Building configurators are essential in the industrialized construction (IC) space. By using tools like Dynamo with Revit software, we can efficiently create an assembled building using basic design for manufacture and assembly (DfMA) assumptions. A configurator enables us to quickly search libraries for company assemblies and their parameter values, suggest previously engineered products (assemblies), and place these suggested products in their assumed project locations. Using this tool reduces a three-week process to one hour, and it unifies data with design, all while creating a reliable model. In this class, you'll learn the techniques involved in building a configurator with Revit and Dynamo software. You'll also learn how to evolve the process for continuous optimization, create custom searches for your products, filter methods that mimic DfMA logic and how to consume other massing inputs. Lastly, we will share lessons learned in our own experiences building configurators and discuss what resources were needed.

We all know the advantages of using Revit software for modeling and design, but when it comes to getting your MEP fabrication documents generated from the model, you better have a plan. Creating assembly drawings is a great tool, but too many of them and your model will come to a crawl. Modular fabrication and design for manufacturing and assembly (DfMA) have also been hot topics over the last few years, and that adds a whole new set of challenges. We will show you the tips we use to model and detail modular skids and standardized DfMA components in Revit. We'll also cover how we manage hangers and all the fabrication documents, and the methods required to make the shop and field successful.

What happens when some enthusiastic software developers team up with a few innovative mechanical designers? Henderson Engineers is an MEP design firm that’s been working on developing a modular DFMA (design for manufacture and assembly) air duct system for a while now, and has developed some clever Revit families and Dynamo scripts to help its designers model them. The firm joined forces with EvolveLAB, a building information modeling (BIM) consulting and software development company, to create a Revit add-in that focuses on the real-time generative design of these modular duct layouts. In this session, we’ll review how these companies used some unique properties of the Revit API to create a co-authoring system that allows a mechanical design to sketch out a main duct layout in Revit while the computer simultaneously and continually produces the most optimal layout using the DFMA kit of parts for that sketch—which is then finalized and converted into a fully connected Revit duct system.

This session showcases how Podium is transforming early-stage building design workflows by enabling outcome-based decisions from day one. Attendees will see a demonstration of the Podium platform and it’s integration with Autodesk Forma and Revit. Using the new Podium extension we enable property developers to accelerate pre-concept to schematic design workflows. By embedding supplier-defined product data, cost information, and buildability constraints into the pre-concept and schematic design phases, Podium empowers developers to make faster, more informed decisions—balancing commercial constraints, design, time, Sustainable Design, and constructability. We'll show how Podium's engine enables Industrialized Construction by aligning design intent with DfMA, supplier data, and performance goals for better outcomes. Real-world case studies will illustrate the improvements in speed, cost, Sustainable Design, and standardization.

The UK Government has joined the private sector in its commitment to a Platforms approach to industrialized construction and DfMA, outlining how this process underpins UK policy for social infrastructure in its ‘Construction Playbook’. The supporting plan to unify and mobilize data seeks to identify cross-department commonalities to inform the centralized, standardized design that will create economies of scale great enough to supply predictable, consistent pipelines and bolster a disaggregated manufacturing supply chain. Plugged into the existing supply chain, the barrier to entry is low, with no need for vertical integration or investment in manufacturing/prefabrication. As a result, opportunities for new programme-level roles will arise. Already a major feature in the procurement of 40 UK healthcare facilities, not only is this approach transforming the way the UK delivers public sector assets, but it is also paving the way for swift mainstream adoption.

Uniformity is becoming more important and is still an elusive concept for many. We will outline this issue and mention the importance of consistent output. This seminar will cover how you can create and adopt efficient workflows for your project(s) and company. Make sure you are up to date with technology and innovation and discover how important active research is for a business. Discover a path that ensures you and/or your company is not a follower but rather a leader, making a positive contribution to improving the industry standards. This seminar is relevant to anyone, from engineer and technician to management, and all others who are interested. A structural background may be beneficial but is not required, as we cover software such as Revit software, Advance Steel software, and BIM Docs 360 software and their interaction in practice through case studies.

The principle of Industrialized construction is to apply techniques learned from industries such as Automotive design to the design and construction of buildings. Moving to this new world has inherent challenges, from the complexity of mass customization to the supply chain pipeline.
You are not alone. Many great minds are focused on this complex problem and the challenges of getting there from where we are today.
If you are involved in the manufacture of building products or equipment, the pre-fabrication of building components and modular systems, or the challenges of implementing design for manufacture and assembly (DfMA) in your Architectural practice, come and join your peers at Autodesk University for this informal networking session.
Take this opportunity to meet others at AU who are focused on the same problems as you and build your network of peers to help you meet this challenge long after AU is over.

This presentation walks through various examples illustrating the benefit of augmenting 3D models with construction data. At the convergence of Laing O’Rourke’s Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) approach and its investment in BIM, component tracking has proven an efficient aid to the delivery of projects. The data visualisations enabled by linking planning and manufacturing data—both from our suppliers and our own off-site manufacturing facilities—with models provide a clear overview of the construction, for various disciplines. This allows us to detect issues earlier, plan further ahead, and reduce user errors. At the heart of it are agreed processes for ordering and tracking progress and flexible tools which can be configured easily to suit. Expanding on this, we’ve increasingly linked up new sources of data to models to visualise different sorts of information: non-conformity reports, fire safety checks, operation and maintenance documents, etc. The flexibility of the tools developed in-house for Autodesk Navisworks allow us to work with a wide range of data sources: spreadsheet, SQL based databases, planning programmes.

Explore best practices for industrialized construction to ensure fast, efficient, and sustainable workflows. Learn how Beca from Australia and Windover Construction from the United States used building information modeling (BIM) to improve off-site workflows and facilities operations. Case studies will cover academic and affordable housing projects, including the digitalization of asset management at the University of Melbourne and Windover's 153,000-square-foot, modular, mixed-use community in Massachusetts. You'll also explore the application of additive manufacturing in fabricating historic preservation facades at the Autodesk Technology Center in Boston. Gain insights into the convergence of manufacturing and architecture, engineering, and construction workflows, leading to reduced waste and improved quality. Discover how combining off-site construction and digital twins is paving the way toward a zero-waste future. Explore how design for manufacturing and assembly (DfMA) workflows can empower prefab design, manufacturing, and installation, maximizing sustainability, schedule, and cost benefits across your portfolio.

Japan has a lot of natural disasters. We suffer from damages by earthquakes, typhoons, tornados, flood etc. For those victims of large-scale disasters, temporary houses are provided by the government. With its prefab building technology, Daiwa House Group has built the largest number of temporary houses in Japan. By utilizing BIM, we are challenging to shorten the lead time to provide temporary houses. Two types of programs by Dynamo are under development. One is to create layout drawings with interactive design method and the other is to create Revit detailed models and detailed drawings automatically.