Safety impacts of design for manufacture and assembly techniques in off-site construction

Abstract

Design for manufacture and assembly (DfMA) is an approach for improving project safety performance. For off-site construction (OSC), the philosophy is increasingly becoming a preferred design approach for OSC components. However, studies examining the safety impact of DfMA in OSC are limited. This study investigated the potential effects of DfMA techniques on mitigating specific safety hazards in OSC. A literature review identified and paired DfMA techniques and the safety hazards they mitigate. Empirical data was collected using a survey to assess the identified relationships. Data was analyzed using a combination of frequencies, inferential statistics, and Cronbach’s alpha. Most respondents agreed that DfMA techniques control their pairwise safety hazards in OSC. To eliminate safety hazards and limit their socio-economic impact, contracting organisations engaged in OSC need to consider the application of DfMA in the manufacture, assembly, and disassembly processes of OSC. The study reaffirms the importance of implementing evidence-based DfMA techniques for mitigating safety hazards in developing countries where OSC is an emerging philosophy.