A Digital Framework for Procurement of Offsite Construction within Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA)

PhD Candidate: Mr Kola Olayiwola

Supervisory Panel

Abstract

Procurement of traditional construction projects relies on various parties to work together to complete a project based on pre-defined specifications. Procurement processes are neither entirely onsite nor offsite. Of particular importance is the supply chain to construction sites which are distrustful and antagonistic between operators with the contractor left to deal with many suppliers at the same time. This method is laborious and difficult. Offsite construction, however, is designed to alleviate or reduce the impact of proliferation of suppliers on the onsite contractor. Offsite construction is the production of components of a building at a factory away from the construction site where they are installed. This also moves the bulk of supply chain from the construction site to the factory where the components are manufactured, and therefore make the procurement to be easily and properly managed. OSC require highly skilled workers, complex techniques, more complex design considerations, effective communication, and coordination between the stakeholders to ensure deliveries on schedule throughout the project duration.  To achieve all these, an appropriate procurement method needs to be selected to guarantee control over the quality of components and safety of the construction process. This study will examine the advancement of technology to solve problems associated with procurement of materials in the building sector. Therefore, the study will investigate how the procurement  of different percentages of OSC varies for the different categories of OSC and identify the problems and issues in each category.  These technical problems of OSC is facilitated by the adoption of Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) as a design methodology and the Building Information Modelling (BIM) as a solution to barriers of procurement. Consequently, the study will develop a process of offsite construction procurement that are carried out seamlessly and in an integrated way.

Sources of Funding

Western Sydney University Postgraduate Research Scholarship

Biography

Kola Olayiwola has a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) from Western Sydney University and Master of Engineering (Civil) from The University of Technology, Sydney (UTS). Prior to this, he practiced as a Professional Civil Engineer in Nigeria before migrating to Australia. He has supervised many infrastructural projects such as roads, tunnels, buildings, channels, waste control structures. He is a Chartered Engineer both in Nigeria and Australia. He is a Chartered Professional member of Engineers Australia (MIEAust, CPEng) and on the National Engineering Register (NER). His research interests include Procurement, Modern methods of Construction, and Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA).

Education

• Master of Engineering (Civil) - University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
• Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) - University of Western Sydney

Honours / Awards / Grants

• Western Sydney University Postgraduate Research Scholarship
• Graduate Research School Sustainable Development Goals Project Allowance Grants

Professional Affiliations

• Chartered Professional Engineer (Civil Engineering & Project Management), The Institution of Engineers Australia (EA ID 3005317)
• Chartered Professional Engineer (Civil Engineering), National Engineering Register, Australia
• Member, Professional Engineer, The Institution of Engineers Australia (EA ID 3005317)
• Member, Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers (SE 0468)
• Chartered Civil Engineer, The Council for the  Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) (R.7606)
• Member, Nigerian Society of Engineers (ID: 08335)

Research Interests

• Modern Methods of Construction
• Lean construction
• Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA)

Related Publications

Conference Publications

• Olayiwola, K, Perera, S, Kagioglou, M, Jin, X & Sharafi, P 2022, 'Problems Associated With The Adoption Of Offsite Construction', WHEN SOCIAL SCIENCE MEETS LEAN AND BIM TOWARDS INDUSTRY 5.0, pp. 73-6.
• Stevens, M & Olayiwola, K 2023, 'Examining The Gap Between Construction Software Modules And Lean Contractor Practices', Proceedings of the 31st Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC31). DOI 10.24928/2023/0103.

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