Analysis framework of off-site manufacturing solutions : case study of a powerhouse complex

Abstract

The quest for improved productivity and optimized construction costs are continuously challenging the industry. The experience gained from the manufacturing industry showed that off-site manufacturing appears to be a promising alternative to the classic way of building a powerhouse complex. However, ingularity of projects, sizes of powerhouse complexes and multiplicity of stakeholders greatly impact the integration of such practices. To fully assess the benefits of off-site manufacturing, and to guarantee its integration within the project, it is essential to understand the issues in order to characterize benefits related to construction projects in remote areas. In this paper, the research explores off-site manufacturing integration in the industrial context of a major Canadian utility company. One of the goals is to reduce the duration and costs of construction of a future powerhouse complex project through the use of off-site fabrication. The objective of this research is to maximize these benefits of off-site fabrication through the identification of the best available strategies. To do this, a strategic analysis is conducted to evaluate off-site fabrication impact over current processes. Then, an economic analysis estimates the benefits of potential decisions made during the engineering phase. This research contributes to the construction industry by proposing an analysis framework for the identification of off-site manufacturing solutions in the context of a powerhouse complex project.