If you only start considering off-site construction (OSC) once your project design is complete, or when reviewing bids for your project, you are missing out on some of the key advantages that OSC can bring to the process. While OSC isn’t right for every project, teams that start the process with OSC as an option have a huge advantage when it comes to managing scope, budget and schedule.
The reason is simple – OSC has inherent advantages in the construction industry, when leveraged early. So how do you ensure those benefits are incorporated into the process? Bake them in from the start.
We find it helpful to think of complex construction projects like baking a cake. Before you can enjoy the finished project, you must gather the ingredients, assemble them in the correct amounts, and then work through a specific process of prepping, mixing and cooking to get the delicious cake. It seems easy enough, but we all know that simply having the ingredients and a recipe doesn’t make someone a master baker or chef.
Talented, experienced chefs know that the precise application of ingredients, timing and subtle process distinctions yield big differences in results. And that’s how OSC provides value throughout the project lifecycle.
The chef might ask themselves, “how will the acidic lemon affect how much baking soda this recipe needs?” In the same way, preconstruction professionals experienced with OSC will ask themselves, “how might the choice to build a modular, prefabricated system impact what the design engineer needs to consider at the schematic phase?”
Including OSC in the process at the start of your project naturally encourages a much greater emphasis on clear scope definitions, ironclad timelines and budgets that are more clearly defined and adhered to. You “bake in” OSC benefits, even if the end solution doesn’t use OSC for delivery.
When we compare two RFPs, it’s easy to see which project considered OSC from the start. It’s like the difference between a delicious desert and disappointment.
Contact us today to discuss how to “bake” OSC into your next project. Bon Appétit!
