You may be considering modular construction for your upcoming project and might be asking yourself: “Is modular construction the right approach for my project?”
Modular construction has been explored and utilized in the delivery of pharmaceutical projects for many years. When asking this question, typically the benefits are too great to ignore—reduced schedule, lower costs, reduced waste, transfer of risk away from the jobsite, and improved quality control.
Whether you design for the process and mechanical systems being built and shipped as “skids,” have the sheetrock wall construction, ceilings, and associated finishing steps replaced by modular wall panels and ceiling systems, or have a fully design laboratory in a shipping container, the primary objective is to improve the schedule, reduce the cost, minimize risk, and improve overall quality.
In the early stages of the project you should evaluate the following:
- Where is the facility being built, and what is the cost of labor in the region versus the cost of modular?
- Do you have a qualified labor force to meet the regulatory and quality requirements?
- Are there enough experienced resources in the region to support the project schedule?
- Are there limited laydown areas and controlled fabrication space at the site to perform “traditional” stick built work safely and efficiently, or would you benefit from the “just in time delivery” of modular/skid built equipment in a controlled environment?
- Are you looking for flexibility in the future?
Often times the response to these questions will allow you to decide that modular construction is the right approach to your project. Implementing modular construction early in the project life cycle will ensure maximum benefits to the project.
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