Research reveals construction product manufacturers lag in digital adoption, suggesting they still operate with outdated methods.
- Majority of manufacturers acknowledge digitisation could boost profitability, yet many do not prioritise it.
- The Building Safety Act 2022 mandates a ‘golden thread’ of digital records, highlighting the need for digital transformation.
- Only a small fraction of manufacturers have engaged with BIM technology, illustrating a gap in digital capability.
- Industry leaders call for support to encourage manufacturers to integrate digital processes.
In a revealing study conducted by the Construction Leadership Council, it has become apparent that construction product manufacturers are alarmingly behind in their digital transformation efforts. This research, involving senior executives from 80 manufacturing entities within the UK construction supply chain, demonstrates that traditional methods, such as providing product information on paper or via PDF, still prevail. Despite acknowledging the potential profitability enhancements that digitisation offers, many manufacturers have yet to prioritise integrating digital processes into their operations.
The passage of the Building Safety Act 2022, which requires a comprehensive digital documentation — the ‘golden thread’ — throughout a building’s lifecycle, underscores an urgent need for manufacturers to embrace digitisation. This requirement is vital not only for components and materials but also encompasses design and construction methodologies. However, more than half of those interviewed see no immediate necessity for digitised product information, illustrating a stark disconnect between regulatory demands and industry practices.
A mere 8% of the surveyed manufacturers have engaged with Building Information Modelling (BIM), creating digital representations of their products. This statistic underscores a significant digital capability gap within the industry. The findings suggest that the guidelines stipulated in the Building Safety Act regarding product digitisation have not sufficiently penetrated the manufacturing sector, leaving a critical area of national infrastructure development inadequately addressed.
Richard Robinson, president of the UK & Ireland division at Atkins Réalis and deputy chair of the Construction Leadership Council, highlights a crucial issue: while 80% of the manufacturing leaders recognise the importance of digital adaptation, the journey towards digital transformation remains inconsistent and riddled with misplaced investments. These challenges arise from a fundamental misunderstanding of digitalisation’s potential and its practical application within the manufacturing industry.
The report, titled ‘Digitisation of Construction Product Manufacturers: A report of research into senior manager’s views’, concludes that product manufacturers require explicit guidance and motivation to implement necessary digital changes. Such support would be instrumental in aligning the industry’s practices with contemporary digital standards and fulfilling legislative requirements.
The construction manufacturing sector must urgently address digital shortcomings to meet evolving industry and legislative demands.
