Abstract
The construction sector, and specifically the construction sector in North America is a productivity laggard. Since 1995, construction has struggled to add just a few pennies of value add to the world economy, whilst traditional manufacturing has doubled it's money. Yet, the world needs construction. Climate change, increased standards of living and growing populations mean we need to build things - transportation, health care, housing, industrial capacity, energy production - and that all starts with mining. However, mining is no longer easy - resources are far away, hard to get and require more infrastructure to respond to growing environmental and social expectations.
Simply put, we cannot afford to keep building things the way we have. If construction - specifically mining - hopes to continue attracting investment, it must be competitve with other investment opportunities. We must offer value growth that is the same or better than manufacturing. But how?
This talk will discuss three commonly held "old school" project beliefs that are getting in the way of productivity, and offers three new approaches to address the inherent challenges.
- We're ready to build when engineering is done. Wrong - engineering is just the start. Modern fabricators and constructors must embrace and do just as much (or more) design work as engineering teams.
- Digital deliverables are an expensive luxury. Wrong - paper drawings are an expensive luxury. Modern projects must be designed, constructed and operated using data-rich 3D digital twins.
- We just can't find good workers anymore. Wrong - good places to work are hard to find. Fabricators and constructors must adapt the new digital-native worker by embracing data, technology and robotics.
The key to addressing these three issues is to learn to love technology, embrace Industry 4.0, and get digital. Constructors and fabricators who bring technology into the workplace and use it to improve execution will survive, grow and thrive. Those who will not, or cannot will simply disappear. Where do you want to work?