Offsite, the Construction Industry’s Future

Offsite construction methods present solutions to several challenges facing the U.S. construction industry today.

The industry’s notoriously slow adoption of new technologies and the country’s changing workforce has led to several issues including an industry wide labor shortage and lack of meaningful progress across industry processes.

Offsite construction presents the opportunity to increase industry adoption of technology, bring notable change and improve working conditions to retain labor and attract new talent. Implementing new technologies is more feasible in an indoor, factory setting, which makes off-site construction compelling and necessary for the industry’s future.

Traditional construction is entirely outdoors at the mercy of weather, often resulting in risky working conditions. There’s little automation, providing minimal machine assistance on dangerous jobs and lack of efficiency around repetitive tasks. As the industry embraces working indoors and starts pairing automation with people, construction can become safer and more efficient.

Today the construction industry is one the most dangerous fields and one which faces a labor shortage. In 2019 about 20% of all American worker fatalities were in construction, according to OSHA. By embracing automation, the industry can offer a safer environment for workers. In addition to automation potential, the offsite factory setting provides workers with a more predictable and consistent work atmosphere. There is less traveling to different sites, changing locations, and shifting schedules.

These changes can help bring in new talent to the industry which is desperately needed. As 40% of the current construction workforce prepares to retire by 2031, recruiting the next generation is critical. Two recent surveys conducted by ABB Robotics and the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), in partnership with Autodesk, confirmed the magnitude of the labor shortage in construction:

• 80% of construction firms have a hard time filling hourly craft positions.
• 91% of construction businesses expect to face a skills crisis during the next 10 years.
• 45% of construction firms say the local pipeline for training skilled workers is poor.

Automation progress and work condition improvement make the industry more appealing to younger generations who are accustomed to working with advanced technologies. Although significant shifts are required to make offsite construction a primary industry player, it’s potential combined with a changing work force and advancing technology presents an undeniable opportunity moving forward.

Quartz was built with the mission of becoming the first national homebuilder fully committed to realizing the potential of offsite construction. We’re proud to be a leader in the growth and development of offsite construction is residential real estate and look forward to being part of its advancement.

Sources

What Is Construction Automation? (autodesk.com)

Automation And The Future Of Work – How Engineered Systems Are Improving The Workplace (forbes.com)

For Generation Z, the value of a construction career is a no-brainer | Construction Dive

Using tech to attract the next generation of construction workers. | Motive (gomotive.com)