Trinder, L; Browne, J and Brocklebank, K (2018) A client's perspective of design for manufacture and assembly in the UK water industry. Proceedings of Institution of Civil Engineers: Management, Procurement and Law, 171(4), pp. 141-151. ISSN 17514304
Abstract
UK water companies are under increasing pressure from regulators, customers and tightening legislation to deliver more for less. The design for manufacture and assembly (DFMA) has proven to deliver efficiencies in other sectors including construction and manufacturing. Faced with increasing financial constraints, many water industry companies are now looking to gain the benefits of DFMA. A study was undertaken to summarise the processes adopted by one of the UK's largest water companies to achieve the benefits of DFMA. The company sees DFMA as an efficiency strategy in delivering its investment programme. To enable, lead and drive this strategy, the company implemented a client-led DFMA change programme supported by collaboration with key supply partners including contractors, consultants and suppliers. DFMA forms part of a wider strategic shift at the company comprising better digital data management and a design-and-build contract strategy. These changes will drive efficiencies across the investment programme and optimise the future operation and whole-life cost of the company's asset base. This paper describes the company's strategic shift to a DFMA delivery model and culture. It covers the who, what, why and how of the DFMA programme.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | infrastructure planning; knowledge management; municipal & public service engineering |
| Index terms: | data management, regulator, efficiency, design for manufacture and assembly, infrastructure planning, strategy, programme, legislation, knowledge management, contract strategy, collaboration |
| Subjects: | management, performance management, professional development, project controls, data management, sociology, legal systems, contractual arrangements, strategic project management, manufacturing engineering |
| Topics: | Quality Management, Legal Issues, Project Management, Engineering Principles, Procurement, Digital Applications, Time Control, Organizational Design, Information Management, Business Strategy, Stakeholder Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 2 PC |
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