2000 IRISH SCIENTIST YEAR BOOK

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The strategic adoption of manufacturing systems technology into the Irish construction industry

Limerick Institute of Technology
Joanne Neville & Paul Greaney

Manufacturing Systems Technologies will revolutionise the Irish construction industry.

The School of the Built Environment at Limerick Institute of Technology is at present conducting research to investigate the competitive advantage Ireland's construction industry can gain through the adoption of main stream manufacturing methodologies, in particular platform technologies, in the design, production and facilities management of dwellings.

Construction output for 1999 is estimated at IR£11.63 billion [source: Construction Industry Review, DoE]: this output equates to 24% of GNP. The construction industry is therefore a major component of the Irish economy as a producer of Gross Domestic Fixed Capital . The industry is also an economic primer and sustaining vehicle for the 'Celtic Tiger'. It is customer driven and is perceived as being more of a service industry than a manufacturing one.

The continuous expansion in the economy and the remarkable growth in employment are the leading factors that have contributed to the unprecedented demand for housing.

However, labour shortages, skills deficits and a growing image of the industry being unsafe in terms of health and welfare are beginning to place barriers against its expansion. The industry has expanded from IR£5.0 billion in 1995 (current prices) by some 230% to today's level. Employment has increased from 97,000 in 1995 to 150,000 in 1999 - an increase of 155%. Future expansion is seen within the house building industry as been only possible through the adoption of a more manufacturing approach to the construction process.

Latest innovations in manufacturing - such as platform technology, process re-engineering, back engineering, functional analysis, and world class manufacturing benchmarking - have enabled complex products such as the motor car to evolve into high performance systems while still being economic to produce and purchase.

Building design and construction have improved in real terms over the last decade, but have not reached the levels of performance that manufacturing technology can offer.

This research will clearly show the benefits to the construction/house building industry of adopting a more production not construction philosophy to its methods of operation.

Contact: Joanne Neville & Paul Greaney,
School of the Built Environment,
Limerick Institute of Technology, Moylish Park, Limerick;
E-mail: Joanne.Neville@lit.ie or Paul.Greaney@lit.ie ; Web: http://www.lit.ie