Also called prefabricated construction, construction integrated manufacturing, and manufacturing-blended construction—modular and offsite manufacturing essentially involves operating in a factory or shop environment, instead of the main construction site.
In offsite manufacturing, contractors manufacture products in a factory, which are then shipped to a building site to be assembled. Meanwhile, modular products are likewise built in a factory but often come completed portions, like floors, walls, bathrooms, kitchens, and even furniture. However, modules can also be delivered in various stages.
Many contractors find this arrangement more amenable, due to lower costs, more efficient workflows, and higher quality of produced materials. Proponents also argue that more work can be accomplished in a factory environment by the same number of people — making for a more productive business model overall.
Manufacturing production software can be critical in a factory, especially in tracking materials with precision as they move through the production chain, from site to site.
Advantages of manufacturing production software
Among the main benefits of using manufacturing production software in modular and offsite manufacturing procedures are:
Real-time monitoring of production progress & quality
Manufacturing production solutions can help you track the progress of production and monitor product quality in real time. With production software, you can gain visibility of all work orders on the factory floor and assign tasks accordingly. This helps you stay on track by allowing you to monitor which projects are on track, and which ones are lagging.
You can also identify assembly errors as they happen and quickly address them. With manufacturing production software, quality inspectors and operators can flag issues right away as they spot them on the factory floor. They can also immediately notify the concerned persons assigned to address rework issues within a set deadline.
Accurate inventory tracking
Manufacturing production software can also help modular and offsite manufacturers accurately track their materials and quantities, like individual parts to sub-assemblies to completed goods, as well as inventory costs in real time. By monitoring material consumption accurately through software, you can track exactly how much of each material is needed to build a product. This can help you speed up workflows and make even more accurate orders, avoiding overstocking while ensuring that products are made on time.
Auditing and reporting capabilities
Manufacturing production software can also help you create customized reports to share with managers and executives. These can include providing updates regarding project progress, product type, or processes. You can also share conformance reports to third-party inspectors, as well as building code verifications and test measurements.
Accountability and labor tracking
You can also effectively track labor hours on the factory floor, which can help inform planning and costing later. You can track how many hours it takes to complete a certain work order or project, which can help you assess the required manpower for future projects.
Modular and offsite manufacturing requires many moving parts, literally and figuratively. A manufacturing production software solution can help you monitor and track materials through the production chain, as well as use accurate data to streamline workflows further.
If you are interested in learning how Fishbowl’s flexible inventory management solution can help your business now, you can book a demo.
