A Formula 1 or IndyCar pit stop is an incredible blend of skill, speed and expertise. Each member of the crew focuses on a single aspect of the pit stop – he or she has one job. Everyone on the team works in harmony to change four tires, add fuel, make chassis adjustments and send the driver out again – usually in well less than 5 seconds. This on a car that can reach speeds over 200 MPH and where accidents can be fatal.
Here’s an F1 Ferrari pit stop as an example:
What does this have to do with modular construction? There are strong parallels between the subject matter expertise on display in a pit stop and in modular off-site construction. At Epsilon, our manufacturing teams work in a controlled environment, performing defined construction activities that are repeated multiple times – on the same type of projects. Furthermore, the work environment of each tradesperson is optimized, minimizing time and material waste. Just as an IndyCar pit crew member is a world-class tire changer, our welders, metal fabricators, pipefitters and others are focused on their specific area of expertise, in a closely defined environment where each task is planned and optimized.
Using the same analogy, the traditional field-based contractor shares many parallels with the general automotive mechanic.
The general mechanic is facing a new challenge every day. One day they are working on a Ford and a Honda, the next day a Toyota and a Chevy. And while the mechanical basics are the same, it’s nearly impossible to develop the efficiencies and world class habits of a pit crew. The general mechanic must address each car as if they haven’t seen it before. And in most cases, they haven’t. The same applies with a traditional contractor building a mechanical plant – there’s a good chance the subcontractors involved have never built a complex plant of that type before. Or if they have, it’s not their primary focus. They are generalists, not specialists.
That difference is one of the reasons many project teams turn to off-site construction – the end result is designed and fabricated by experts, in a controlled and optimized environment, and has been tested before shipment. The inherently high level of quality and consistency is usually impossible to match using a traditional on-site construction.
If you are interested in learning more about the Epsilon approach, we regularly host site visits to our manufacturing facility. You might not see pit crew level speeds, but you will see a similar focus on optimizing execution by an experienced and dedicated team. Contact us today to learn more.
