ADVANCED MANUFACTURING
MODELLING THE FUTURE FOR REAL
Launched at Offsite Expo 2019, the Construction Futures Research Centre (CFRC) is part of the School of Architecture and Built Environment at the University of Wolverhampton and is part of a new wave of centres of excellence offering expertise in how best to deliver offsite construction.
1 Part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) CFRC offers bespoke, fully-funded support to small medium enterprises (SMEs) to achieve high standards of delivery in offsite methods. The aim of CFRC is to improve the efficiency of the construction sector, using the latest techniques and advanced technology. The entire manufacturing process can be simulated and modelled in 3D to offer SMEs a better understanding of their processes and a method/pathway to improve the efficiency of their manufacturing.
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Industry 4.0 is the latest innovation in the industrial revolution, combining traditional manufacturing practices and the latest smart technologies. This includes Machine to Machine communication (M2M) and Internet of Things (IoT) deployments to improve analysis and problem solving without human intervention. Industry 4.0 allows manufacturers to become increasingly automated, allowing employees to be deployed in other areas. It connects the physical world with the digital world and allows for better collaboration between all
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stakeholders. Instant access to data allows business to increase efficiency and boost profitability. The CFRC team is fully equipped with advanced software and hardware tools to collaborate with SMEs within the offsite construction sector, applying design for manufacture and assembly (DfMA) principles. The term ‘lean’ is used in many ways but at its core it is essentially concerned with the elimination of waste in all forms. We provide advice in product design to ensure ease of assembly