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Design for manufacture and assembly (DfMA)

DfMA is a design approach that shapes a building from the start so its parts are easy to manufacture in a factory and quick to assemble on site.

Also known as DfMA, DFMA, design for manufacturing and assembly, design for manufacture

DfMA comes from product manufacturing and was adopted in construction as offsite methods grew. In practice it means designing around standard element sizes and details, limiting the number of variants, respecting transport and lifting limits, and designing joints that are simple and forgiving to connect on site.

The earlier it is applied, the more it saves. Decisions made at concept stage (grid, spans, wall types) decide how efficiently a factory can produce the building, long before any element reaches the production line.

Related terms
Offsite constructionOffsite construction is building in a factory rather than on the building plot, then delivering the finished elements or modules to site. BIM (building information modelling)BIM is the practice of designing and managing a building through a shared digital model that holds both its geometry and information about every part. PrefabricationPrefabrication is the practice of manufacturing building components in a factory and assembling them on site.
From term to production line

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