The construction industry has been embracing DfMA (Design for Manufacturing and Assembly) to improve efficiency, reduce manpower needs, and simplify complex building processes. But beyond these operational benefits, DfMA creates a less talked-about byproduct: a significant amount of structured project data.
For contractors, subcontractors, and project managers already working with precast, MIC, or modular components, every stage—casting, inspection, transportation, installation—naturally generates data points. Unfortunately, most of this data remains scattered, underutilised, or locked within isolated systems.
Each precast element carries vital information:
When collected and centralised properly, this data doesn't just support compliance—it becomes an opportunity to:
Yet, many DfMA projects still depend on manual spreadsheets, WhatsApp updates, or siloed software, meaning the full potential of this data is lost.
The key to unlocking DfMA data is integration. Digital platforms purpose-built for precast workflows—like BES's DfMA system—help centralise progress tracking, inspections, and reports in real-time. This means stakeholders can monitor factory output, site readiness, and installation milestones through a single source of truth, accessible anytime, anywhere.
Over time, as more data accumulates across projects, contractors gain the ability to spot patterns, benchmark productivity, and make better-informed decisions.
DfMA is not just about off-site manufacturing—it's about building smarter, using the data byproducts that naturally emerge along the way. Those who learn to harness this information won't just build faster—they'll build with foresight, predictability, and continuous improvement in mind.
The industry has already made DfMA the norm. The next step? Making DfMA data work just as hard as the structures themselves.