Panelised steel frame buildings, constructed off-site, coupled with genuine consideration of the advantages of intelligent software models and AI, could help the industry tackle the impacts of the ongoing construction skills shortage, says Andy Higson, Business Director from Intrastack, part of the Saint-Gobain Off-Site Solutions Group.

With the latest Construction Skills Network report predicting that an additional 50,300 extra workers will be required each year to meet UK construction output by 2028, now is an opportune time for the industry to embrace the benefits of MMC and panelised steel frame solutions for multi-storey and low-rise housing (LRH).

By pre-fabricating components in a factory-controlled environment, Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) can help address this skills shortage, freeing up valuable skilled workers on-site for other specialist tasks – and enabling projects to run to schedule despite a limited labour pool.

For example, structural steel components can be cut to size precisely off-site and delivered in bulk to site for rapid assembly.  Repeatability in the manufacturing process also helps improve product predictability, enabling a faster turnaround on site, with reduced rework.

Speed of construction is another key area, with project start to completion times reduced significantly alongside a positive impact on safety, by removing many of the hazardous construction methods away from the building site.

Embracing intelligent software

It is, however, essential that the correct balance is struck between the use of off-site, pre-fabrication and the availability of on-site skills that simply cannot be replicated in a factory environment.

This is where the use of intelligent software solutions and AI has a key role to play, offering a viable solution to make day-to-day tasks more efficient.

Such software models are most useful in the earlier stages of a project and can complete a large percentage of estimating or take-off services, when used appropriately and alongside the expertise of a professional estimator. At Intrastack, this includes assessing building efficiency, layouts and designs.  Intelligent software is also playing a role in design procedures and system component development, helping to keep processes lean, cost-effective and efficient.

They can be used as a tool to automate repetitive activities, but still require an expert to check and finalise the process.  In turn, this enables staff more time to focus on value-added activities that can make a positive contribution to a project’s on-time completion.

Through its continued focus on internal skills development and supporting team members to grow their knowledge and shape their careers, Intrastack is also taking strides to help combat the UK’s ongoing skills crisis. The business offers clear progression, with staff that join in entry-level roles trained, mentored, and developed by an experienced team.