Modern Flying Factories i byggindustrin: En beskrivning av konceptet och lärdomar för fortsatt utveckling

Abstract: Off-site production is pointed out as a solution to the construction industry’s lack of efficiency. A way to produce off-site, without a high capital cost, can be found in temporary factories. It is the basis of a research project, which uses a concept of ‘Modern Flying Factories’ (MFFs). The concept is today novel and lacks a defined strategic positioning. However, temporary factories are not something unique and similar concepts can be found in Swedish field workshops and Flexible Field Factories for the construction industry and the concept of Mobile Manufacturing for the manufacturing industry. The purpose of this study is to increase the understanding and facilitate future strategic development by describing the MFF concept and suggest lessons for further development. The study is based on a literature review and a case study through interviews and observations of the concept in its current state with two pilot projects. The ‘Glenfrome project’ was the first pilot project in which timber and straw bale panels were produced for a school extension. Although the application of the concept managed to shorten the construction period, the project was considered to have potential for improved efficiency. The second pilot project, the ‘Battersea project’, produces utility cupboards to apartments in a major real estate development. This project was during the time of the study in its start-up phase and several difficulties were observed. The majority of them could be traced to the design.
This study presents a description of the concept in seven propositions. It proposes that MFF is an off-site production strategy, which on projects applies a standardized process for start-up, operation and close down of a temporary factory. Its competiveness against stationary factories lies in allowing flexibility in location, time and production technique through low capital investment. The objective is to ensure time and quality as well save costs. The possibilities for achieving these are however restricted due to not having a continuous production process. Two alternative strategic directions have been identified for the concept in the future: continue with low investment costs to maintain flexibility or to automate the production to increase the efficiency. The lessons in this study are founded in the pilot projects, as well as what could be learned from theory of similar concepts and manufacturing improvement methods. Many of the lessons shows a need for an increased control over the start-up phase and are mainly concerning: decision making, early decisions and involvement of expertise, increased control over the design and production process and increased factory friendliness.