How Modular Manufacturers Can Thrive Through Panelized Construction Partnerships
In an era where the demand for quality housing is surging across the United States, the construction industry is grappling with the challenge of delivering more and better homes at a faster pace.
To meet this evolving demand, builders are increasingly turning to modular construction methods to boost productivity. Modular construction companies are at the forefront of a revolution that’s bringing much-needed speed and efficiency to the construction industry. However, modular manufacturers are faced with the challenge of not only keeping up with the growing demand but also delivering the customization options that cater to the unique needs and desires of individual homebuyers. This necessitates innovative thinking and eliminating the barriers between different offsite construction methods.
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As the demand for faster project completion and greater customization grows, your company's ability to adapt to these changing dynamics is crucial for continued success and future growth. The solution could come in the form of what may seem like an unlikely source: an adjacent segment of the industry. Namely, partnering with panelized construction manufacturers.
Modular construction inherently emphasizes efficiency, thanks to its factory-based production line approach. However, this efficiency can sometimes create unintended limitations to the increased adoption of modular. So, striking a balance is essential. That's where panelized construction enters the equation.
For modular manufacturers, establishing partnerships with panelized construction companies can be game changer, adding value and strengths that help overcome these limitations to easily meet today’s evolving housing needs.
The Benefits of 3D and 2D Construction Collaborations
The contemporary construction landscape presents a dual challenge: speed and customization. Your customers —whether builders, developers, or homeowners — demand both faster project completion and the ability to achieve personalized, unique living spaces. Balancing these objectives is the key to staying competitive in the industry, and partnering with panelized construction companies provides significant benefits in three main areas to help achieve that balance:
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- Value
For starters, collaborating with a panel fabricator allows modular factories to focus on the elements of a home that are unique to their core strengths and activities that generate the most profits, such as interior fit outs. By leveraging the complementary strengths of a panelized partner for the other aspects of the build, modular factories can concentrate on optimizing their unique value proposition, while reducing the number of trades and complexity in their factory and better balancing production times. This can often have the additional benefit of greater cost control in overhead and on individual projects. - Logistics
The simple act of getting modular structures from point A to point B isn’t always simple. There can be significant challenges in shipping from the factory to its final location, sometimes rendering a purely modular approach cost-prohibitive or even impossible. Roads may not be wide enough. Bridges may not offer necessary clearances. Crowded construction sites may not provide enough space to stage full-sized mods or the cranes needed to put them in place. By combining 3D mods with 2D panels on the job site, these constraints can be avoided. This hybrid approach opens the door to projects that would otherwise not work for modular, while optimizing shipping and craning costs through the integration of smaller elements. - Design Customization
Not every design can be pragmatically built using modules. Partnerships with panel fabricators unlock a wealth of design benefits for modular builders. These collaborations combine the efficiency of modular construction with the design flexibility of panelized components, enabling you to offer a broader spectrum of design options to your customers. With the inclusion of panelized components, builders benefit from nearly unlimited design flexibility with minimal impact on the mods themselves. For example, multiple modules can be connected by panels, yielding a result that looks truly unique. This enables your customers to build homes that reflect the idiosyncratic demands of their clients and their sites while maximizing the efficiency benefits of more standardized mod shapes and sizes.
What to Look for in a Panelized Construction Partner
Incorporating panelized construction into your manufacturing process can enhance productivity, revenue, and profits. But some partners are better equipped to bring even more value. So, what qualities should you look for in a partner?
Beyond the basic considerations of geographic proximity, reliability, and financial stability, the best place start is with value-add capabilities.
Traditionally, most panel fabricators are limited to framing and sheathing, and in some cases, windows. While this offers benefits, some companies go even further. For example, CertainTeed ONE PRECISION ASSEMBLIES include structure, windows, doors, insulation, moisture membranes, house wrap, and siding. In the future, the offering will also include drywall.
Quality control is also a critical consideration. A reliable partner should have robust quality control processes in place to ensure the consistency and reliability of panelized components. Request information about their quality assurance measures, inspections, and testing protocols.
Finally, with the construction industry being responsible for 40% of global CO2 emissions annually and regulators increasingly demanding higher energy performance, a commitment to sustainable building practices is an important consideration when choosing a partner. It’s not just about code – there’s a strong business case. More and more homebuyers are educating themselves on how to live more sustainably and how home purchasing decisions factor into that. Sustainability matters to your customers and their customers. A partner's commitment to eco-friendly practices should align with your company's values and give you a competitive edge with the new generation of builders and homebuyers. Inquire about their sustainability initiatives, such as the use of high-performing materials and green building practices.
Looking Ahead
Modular construction companies are poised to lead the construction industry into a new era of productivity and value-added services. The future of modular construction is rife with innovation. Thinking outside the box and collaborating across Offsite Construction silos will position your company at the forefront of the industry.
Partnerships between modular construction companies and panel manufacturers can lead to dynamic and transformative collaborations offering numerous advantages. It combines the value and speed of modular construction with the design flexibility and customization options provided by panelized components.
By carefully selecting the right panelized construction partner, modular companies can harness these benefits and position themselves as industry leaders in innovation, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
Learn more about how partnering with CertainTeed ONE PRECISION ASSEMBLIES can benefit your company: certainteed.com/one-precision-assemblies