Daniel Hall: Catalogue data in Spring Semester 2021

Award: The Golden Owl
Name Dr. Daniel Hall
FieldInnovative and Industrial Construction
DepartmentCivil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering
RelationshipAssistant Professor

NumberTitleECTSHoursLecturers
101-0523-00LIndustrialized Construction Restricted registration - show details 4 credits3GD. Hall
AbstractThis course offers an introduction and overview to Industrialized Construction, a rapidly-emerging concept in the construction industry. The course will present the driving forces, concepts, technologies, and managerial aspects of Industrialized Construction, with an emphasis on current industry applications and future entrepreneurial opportunities in the field.
ObjectiveBy the end of the course, students should be able to:
1. Describe the characteristics of the nine integrated areas of industrialized construction: planning and control of processes; developed technical systems; prefabrication; long-term relations; logistics; use of ICT; re-use of experience and measurements; customer and market focus; continuous improvement.
2. Assess case studies on successful or failed industry implementations of industrialized construction in Europe, Japan and North America.
3. Propose a framework for a new industrialized construction company for a segment of the industrialized construction market (e.g. housing, commercial, schools) including the company’s business model, technical platform, and supply chain strategy.
4. Identify future trends in industrialized construction including the use of design automation, digital fabrication, and Industry 4.0.
ContentThe application of Industrialized Construction - also referred to as prefabrication, offsite building, or modular construction – is rapidly increasing in the industry. Although the promise of industrialized construction has long gone unrealized, several market indicators show that this method of construction is quickly growing around the world. Industrialized Construction offers potential for increased productivity, efficiency, innovation, and safety on the construction site. The course will present the driving forces, concepts, technologies, and managerial aspects of Industrialized Construction. The course unpacks project-orientated vs. product-oriented approaches while showcasing process and technology platforms used by companies in Europe, the UK, Japan, and North America. The course highlights future business models and entrepreneurial opportunities for new industrialized construction ventures.

The course is organized around a group project carried out in teams of 3-4. Each specific class will include some theory about industrialized construction from a strategic and/or technological perspective. There will be several external guest lectures as well. During the last hour of the course, students will work in project teams to propose a framework for a new industrialized construction venture. The teams will need to determine their new company’s product offering, business model, technical platform, technology solutions, and supply chain strategy.

It is intended to hold a group excursion to a factory for a 1/2 day visit. However in 2021, this will be determined pending the status of COVID-19 restrictions. planned course activities include a 1/2 day factory visit Students who are unable to attend the visit can make up participation through independent research and the writing of a short paper.
LiteratureA full list of required readings will be made available to the students via Moodle.