Modern Methods of Construction: Blah Blah...

Delivering Innovation in the North West

Description of ‘MMC in a Box’

MMC in a Box is the result of intensive work over the past 2-3 years by the MMCNW group investigating means by which Modern Methods of Construction could be facilitated into the development and site processes. The group came together at the instigation of the HC initially to investigate the barriers to MMC. Through processes of research, visits and interactive workshops we concluded that the barriers essentially are the result of lack of knowledge and education and that if these barriers are to be overcome we have to tackle the processes involved in modern construction, rather than focus on the products. We sometimes therefore refer to ‘MCM’ in stead of ‘MMC’ to signify Modern Construction Methods.

Our work highlighted the need for education for everyone involved in the development processes from Boardroom and Financial Directors in RSLs to the operatives on site and we looked at the training requirements for everyone.

The concept of the ‘MCM in a Box’ developed out of the workshops, where we analysed the site processes in detail and with the help of lean specialists formulated a system by which these processes could be organised and dealt with in a more systematic and efficient way, identifying and eliminating the wasteful processes on the way.

We envisage the ‘Box’ being the project office, where all the project information and files are kept, including targets and a track record of work taking place. Visual management of work taking place will be facilitated by a project coordinator, who will ensure that lessons are learnt and ideas implemented and shared with other sites using similar processes. The inability to make off site manufactured products cost effective has partly been due to inexperience and the lack of continuity. The experience and ‘pool of learning’ rests with a few people, rather than within a system of recorded information that can be shared.

The MCM in a Box will:

• make this sharing of information possible
• provide practical tools by which the site processes can be improved
• incorporate a problem solving tool to aid quality management
• provide continuous improvement
• identify learning/ skills gaps
• facilitates investment in people (local)
• sustainable as well as assuming high ecological standards of the product
• expect substantial cost savings
• underpin and support Construction Commitments (2012 or CCC)

Processes identified in the NAO report have not been taken up, probably due to the absence of a business case proving that savings can be made by making the processes more efficient.

This business case has now been established through this project by means of a Return on Investment model worked up by RWD as a result of work carried out with contractors, consultants and RSL staff in the workshops. A separate piece of work carried out for Plus Housing Group on the Castlefields project on Merseyside has backed up many of the assumptions made in this model.

‘MMC in a Box’ will be introduced at the first Housing Forum Regional Conference this spring in The North East, Lumley Castle Hotel, Chester-le-Street, Durham on Wednesday 23rd May 2007. For more information contact: Monica Djojoiswanto Tel 020 7592 1141 Email: Monica.Djojoiswanto@constructingexcellence.org.uk

Those involved:

MMCNW group members: Plus, Riverside, Regenda, Cosmololitan, St Vincent’s, Manchester Methodists, New Progress, Adactus, Irwell valley, Arena HC, EP, New Heartlands, NWDA, Salford University MMCNW project group: Plus Housing Group: Inger Leach, Riverside: Stuart Gee (now at Wave) Lean consultant: RWD: Cameron Orr