1 The prefabricated metal buildings A strategy for the adoption of advanced Information Technologies

2 Introduction Existing processes and business environment Available and suitable information technologies A framework target plan, including assessment of potential benefits Assess the expected costs of achieving the plan Analysis of the readiness for implementation of the framework plan A detailed plan for the next incremental step

3 Business Environment What is the prefabricated metal buildings industry?  Composed of firms fabricating the components of complete low-rise nonresidential building systems  Categorized in the manufacturing industry section according to the Economic Census

4 Business environment (Cont.) An economic review  Popular as nonresidential structures  65 percents share of nonresidential market compared with about 50 % in 1990 and 35 % in the early 1970s. (U.S. industry and trade outlook 2000)  Affordability, faster completion and occupation times, and high quality

5 Business environment (Cont.) The total number of companies is 603. Added value is $1, 767, 827, 000. Companies with less 20 employees are over a half among total The majority of the output are the larger companies Source: The 1997 Economic Census Companies No. Employees No. Add value ($1,000) Less 20 employees 3642,079114, to ,995545, to ,8931,107,416 Total60325,9671,767,827

6 Processes environment How are companies involved?  Companies can serve the consumers directly as a design-build team  Companies can be involved in the design process only  Companies can be involved in the manufacturing and erection process only  Companies can be the subcontractors and materials suppliers

7 Processes environment (Cont.) What activities exist?  Win contract to acquire project  Planning and scheduling  Design  Manufacturing and assembling  Storage and delivery  Erection

8 Processes environment (Cont.)

9 Available Information Technologies A list of technologies being used  2-D drawing  3-D modeling: e.g. PresentationPlus 3D  Fabrication and assembly: CNC, CAM, Robotics  Interactive online system (Design, pricing, detailing, bill of materials, erection and fabrication drawing): e.g. QUESTmb

10 Available Information Technologies (Cont.) PresentationPlus 3D by Loseke Technologies, Inc.  Show the clients the building in color and in three dimensions  Can modify the building from size to location of openings then show the clients the results instantly.

11 Available Information Technologies (Cont.) Integrated online system by steelbuilding.com  Customers can choose the building dimensions and roof pitch, and accessories  The computerized design and pricing system  Produce a color image of the building and an itemized price including delivery charges  Automatically calculate shipping charges

12 A frame target plan for simple buildings

13 Assessment of potential benefits for simple buildings Reducing direct cost of design Reducing the time-From several weeks or months to several ours or minutes Fabrication benefits with CNC Reducing cost of detailing Errors reduction

14 Expected costs of achieving the plan Items of expected costs for achieving  Software cost  Hardware cost  Maintaining cost

15 Reference U.S Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census The 1997 Economic Census: Manufacturing Industry Series The 1997 Economic Census: Construction Industry Series The U.S Industry and Trade Outlook 2000 William D. Booth, Metal Building Contracting and Construction, 1999 CNC fabrication, American Straight Steel, CAD/CAM Steelbuilding.com The link of metal buildings companies uilding_Systems/