How Lean Construction Benefits from DfMA

Construction industry buzzwords ‘DfMA’ and ‘lean construction’ have much to offer each other. Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA), with the combined features of Design for Manufacture and Design for Assembly, employs the benefits of prefabricated construction modelling and design to benefit a growing move to incorporate lean construction concepts in building construction.

So, looking at Design for Manufacture, the more important features are:

Comprehending processes, capabilities and cost factors
Choosing materials
Estimating costs
Modifying designs and models
Important features of Design for Assembly include the following:

Understanding when to move a part independently
Knowing which parts need different materials or need to be separate
Calculating part limitations for transport
Knowing the assembly time for each part
What DfMA does in essence can be summarised as follows:

Deciding the best way to manufacture parts and assemble them off site and transport them on site
Uses prefabrication of components and modules
Uses a process for the entire design team
Used for customised buildings or mass production
Now, what are the general benefits of DfMA?

Design that enables efficient construction
Reduced costs
On-time delivery of projects
Improved quality, safety and easier maintenance of the building
Reduced trades work on site
Reduced impact on the public
When DfMA is used for modular design, the following benefits may result:

Reduced costs, interfaces, components, schedules, on-site trades
Improved tolerance, processes which can be repeated
Detailed specifications and orientations
Easy access for maintenance, refurbishment and renewal
Now, how does all this tie in with ‘lean construction’?

Well, the philosophy of lean construction maintains that processes much be continuously improved or updated and waste should be eliminated as much as possible. Combining the features of DfMA with the principles of lean construction results in several gains, such as:

Deciding and working around constraints
Analysing the build sequence
Determining where to manufacture off site
Integrating elements to on-site material
Eliminating wasteful components
Improving collaboration between trades
Lean construction methods try to maximise value for customers while minimising waste. In the construction industry, where budgets, on-time deliveries and safety are crucial to a project’s success, the lean methodology seems to be a desirable option. For lean construction, DfMA considers design before manufacturing. The lean approach requires certain processes that prefabrication and Building Information Modelling (BIM), especially prefabricated construction BIM, can help with, such as:

A. Identifying Value for the Customer

Establishing and earning the customers’ trust early in the planning and design stage is important. In lean construction, owners, architects, engineers, general contractors, trade contractors and suppliers must work together to fulfil client objectives, provide advice and project realistic expectations.

B. Defining the Value

Clearly communicate the processes required to deliver this value. The requisite labour, data, infrastructure and materials for each part of the process are specified, and processes that do not add value are eliminated. Prefabricated construction modelling supplies an accurate view of the benefits of prefabrication of components or modules for all the project stakeholders.

C. Eliminating Waste Whenever Possible

To practice lean construction, this is a key list of wasteful hurdles that must be eliminated:

Defective process – an incorrect process that results in rework, wastes materials and time
Overproduction – when a task ends earlier than it’s supposed to/before the next task can be initiated
Waiting – when workers must wait for undelivered materials or prior tasks have not been completed
Not Utilising Talent – when workers are incorrectly matched to a job, wasting their expertise
Unscheduled transport – when data, materials or workers are moved to a site before they are required
Excessive inventory – the accumulation of materials not immediately needed tie up budgets, need storage space and may degrade while unused
Over-processing – adding features or activities that have no value for the client
So, where has DfMA been used to help the lean construction methodology?

A. In Hospitals

Patient room floor plans can be designed for limited types using 3D CAD modelling services that feature prefabricated bathroom pods with minimal plumbing deviations. Bathroom pods have been constructed in 80 work hours, and in one case, 26 workers completed 14 pods at the same time.

Prefabrication, especially for mechanical, plumbing and drywall work, mechanical racks, bathroom pods and zone valve boxes for medical gas can be manufactured in a factory and transported to the site. In one day, a rack can be created with dimensions 18ft x 8ft x 4ft. Employing the lean approach, the Unistrut racking can be tweaked to stack three racks, saving the number of crane picks.

Working in the warehouse can result in reducing on-site hustling for space and time between different trade workers, reducing the difficulty of worker commute to a heavily congested work site and enabling night deliveries. In a factory setting, it becomes easier to install MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) equipment than installing it on site, and welding executed in a controlled environment results in greater worker safety.

B. For Rapid Deployment Data Centers (RDDC)

Modular construction can be used with lean design principles to reduce the amount of materials used and create facilities. Most components can be used interchangeably by using prefabricated assemblies. Standard designs for component assemblies result in the manufacture of unit data centres.

Two prefabrication concepts that support the creation of RDDCs are:

Chassis Assembly

A chassis of pre-assembled steel frames (12ft x 40ft) carry data centre components – cable trays, power busways, containment panels, lighting, which are fixed in a factory.
The chassis are transported to the site and mounted on steel columns, connecting them end to end. Server racks are placed under the connected chassis.
Flat-pack Assembly

Walls and ceiling panels are packed into standard eight-foot modules, which are transported to the site. Metal studs and units of pre-assembled containment panels, which are self-supporting, are erected on the site.
A metal deck in the ceiling panels span the cold aisle and racks, carrying the loads of the trays, power bus and light fixtures with a hanger clip for threaded rods.
C. To Customise Home Layouts

Individual specifications can be executed in a factory setting.
A two-storey home can be created in a factory, with a simple layout, high ceilings, doors
Entire floors can be created at the factory and then delivered to the site for stacking, or certain components, such as 2D facade envelopes, can be manufactured at the factory and then assembled on site as a 3D structure.
In addition to bathroom pods, RDDCs and customised homes, the DfMA methodology serves lean construction principles with environmentally friendly practices. For instance, prefabricated buildings typically utilize efficient windows, solar panels, energy-efficient water heaters and geothermal systems and are also easier to maintain, saving energy on several fronts.

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Furthering the green and lean concepts, recycled materials can be used to construct modular components, using fewer natural resources. Construction time periods are reduced, resulting in energy efficiency. In fact, studies have shown that, compared to the usual construction site, using prefabrication may result in the reduction of energy consumption by 67%.

Using prefabrication within the lean construction environment has been shown to result in time and cost savings, reduction of errors and improved safety. It is likely that the DfMA approach will produce energy efficiency, flexibility and building endurance, hallmarks of lean construction, for some time in the future.

The calculations, ordering to precise specifications and accurate design required in the DfMA process to reduce carbon footprints require the experience, expertise (delivering prefabricated construction modelling) and special skills of qualified technical designers, increasingly found overseas, especially in countries such as India. With the right cost-effective design support, including the delivery of precise modular construction drawings, for lean construction using DfMA, projects can be delivered on time, within budget and to a high level of value for the customer.

6 Types of Items You Need in Funeral Homes

You can often get a more personalized experience at a lower cost by simply being aware of your options. It is ideal to find a supplier that provides all kinds of funeral home supplies to help you in the most difficult time. Here are some funeral products and services you can shop around for. This will help you get the best, the cheapest, or the combination of two and more products that works best for you:
1. Body Transportation
The funeral home has the most complete options for body transportation. They have vehicles, experience to do it simply and easily for you. For saving, you can transport the body yourself. There are also third party transportation services and many cemeteries have such options available.
2. Caskets
Caskets are an important and essential part of any burial service. It is not just used to display the deceased during the funeral service, it also provides a distinguished way to store and move the deceased’s remains. These are available in a range of materials and finishes.
3. Cremation Urns
An urn is a container that is made from materials like glass, ceramic, metal, or wood and used to store cremated ashes. They are also available for families that plan to scatter the ashes or hold a water burial.
Caskets and cremation urns are similar in many ways and the funeral home will have several beautiful options ranging from high-priced down to budget-friendly models. Generally, the funeral home will also transfer the remains into a new urn for you, provided you get the urn on time. Many funeral directors are very kind and helpful and will even transfer the remains for you after you purchase an urn down the road.
4. Burial Vaults
To bury a body in a cemetery, a burial vault is almost always necessary. They are typically constructed from concrete and are necessary for safety purposes. When a burial plot is dug and finally filled in, the ground doesn’t have the same strength and veracity it once did. A burial vault prevents the ground from yielding.
5. Flower and Other Decorations
Funeral homes will also have established a relationship with one or more local florists. You can purchase the flowers and any other decor items from the funeral home to save your time.
6. Memorial Keepsakes
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Whether it is a piece of ceremony jewelry or a flag care is used to pay tribute to a loved one, memorial keepsakes allow you to feel a connection to your loved one. And a funeral home director provides the best quality memorial keepsakes for keeping a piece of anything of your loved one with you forever.
Conclusion:
These are some funeral supplies that you need to buy from the funeral home. You can find a mortuary supplier that provides funeral home supplies to buy all the products that you need for your loved one and their funeral process.

New Untapped Business Ideas in Kenya 2020

Kenya is still a lucrative frontier in East Africa to invent your money for a good return. The year 2020 has seen the continued growth of trends that have been anticipated for a long time. These include increased population, women, and girl’s emancipation and changing views of wealth. This presents the following new and untapped business ideas that can be exploited profitably in Kenya;

Consulting

One of the lucrative trades in Kenya is consulting. Company registration in Kenya gives your business a unique chance of acquiring legitimacy and launching a profitable establishment. Many Kenyan entrepreneurs have come to appreciate the need for information access in trade, and thus they readily consult experts. There is also the need to launch successful ventures in the quickest way possible, and not reinventing the wheel is one of the opportunities. Therefore, if you are good at what you do or have special knowledge in a given field, a consulting service will accrue smart returns. Experts are consulted on social media marketing, tax avoidance, customer access, and lean operations. A lucrative niche in this business is global trade, especially exporting and importing.

Daycare Centers

Another untapped opportunity is daycare centers in urban estates. 6 out of 10 mothers in Kenya are bound to be single mothers in their early years of childbearing. The increased awareness and access to education for many of these mothers have led to independence and boldness in raising their own children. In addition, many families in the capital and other urban centers in Kenya are made of working couples. Since many women are small scale entrepreneurs or low-level professionals, they prefer daycare services where they can drop their children in the morning and pick then in the afternoon. This is affordable than hiring a nanny, and many Kenyans are opting for the solution. Therefore proximity, safety, and reliability will get you started with minimal capital after approval from the local government.

Online Entrepreneurship

Kenyans have embraced the online revolution better than most East African countries. This high penetration makes online entrepreneurship a largely untapped avenue in Kenya. There are many opportunities for establishing an online business that exists or is poorly executed in the country. E-commerce trade is still at its beginner levels, with few retail centers using such platforms. Many commercial enterprises still rely on the brick and mortar style of business. This is largely due to a lack of a mediating service to establish e-commerce services. Freelancing is also a lucrative service in Kenya, with many professional services being offered virtually over the well-established online money transfer platforms.

Car Rentals

The changing attitudes among the young adult population have resulted in a need to show affluence despite the lack of supporting financial foundation. This makes the services of car rentals lucrative in the country. Cars are rented for a period at a fee without actual ownership. This alternative is better compared to owning a car with all its expenses. In addition, leasing is undesirable to many who shy away from the long periods of the lease. Therefore, many are content with renting a car for a day or a week to ease their travels or road trips. However, you need to consider registration of your company in Kenya to ensure that the cars for rentals are legal.

Social Media Influencer

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Social media is used across age groups in Kenya. The platforms change, but exploitation is the same. Social media influencers in Kenya are in demand to create unique local content that can drive views to the platform. Many advertisers and business promoters seek these influencers actively, which provides a handsome return. The market is also closed to the local market since most of the content has to be easily relatable to the selected age group, platform, and with local medial laws.

Body and Beauty Services

It stated that Kenya has beautiful women. Many are also unapologetic wannabes who embrace and actively exploit beauty products. This is an untapped market despite the ubiquity of beauty shops. It lacks sufficient branding and market command, which creates a lucrative opportunity for an aspiring entrepreneur. The market is also easily shared between selling beauty products and providing beauty services such as makeup artistry, pedicure, manicure, and hairstyling. A focus on costs, quality, and location can result in a good return in the market.

Choosing an Evolis Card Printer Based on Volume

When you are choosing your card printer, most of the time, the volume is a great determinant. Evolis ID Card Printers are compact and come with different technologies for a wide range of clients. They differ in the volume of their card output measured by the average number of cards output per year. Therefore, if you are choosing an Evolis Card printer, the following are some of Evolis top brands with their volume ranked in ascending order;

Badgy 200

This Evolis printer is ideal for output of less than 500 ID cards per year. This is ideal for an organization that has a small output of cards and does not require huge batches at once. The printer is capable of RFID support, which allows seamless processing of the printer. It also comes with dedicated software that provides an easy user interface as well as allows the easy design of the ID Cards. The ID Cards issued have a lifespan of 1 to 3 years, and they are issued in batches. However, they are mostly single-sided, and they come with a standard security measure.

Zenius

This ID Card printer allows the printing of between 500 – 5000 ID Cards per year. This is ideal for a medium organization that has the need to print a sizable volume of cards per year. The printer offers good quality in the cards, and the outputted cards have a lifespan of about 1 to 3 years. They are produced in batches and have moderate level security and are mostly single-sided. Although they are less inclined to frequent software upgrades, they have interactive software that allows easy user experience.

Elypso

Evolis ID printer allows printing of between 5,000 to 30,000 ID Card per year. This is ideal for a large corporation that has a moderate need for ID Cards. The printer allows the single- or double-sided card output. They have a high level of security. They have a compact design, which makes them ideal for use as front desk Card design and printing system. The card outputted has a lifespan of between 1 and 3 years. The card output is one by one process.

Tattoo Rewrite

This is another Evolis ID Card printer brand that prints between 5,000 to 30,000 ID Cards per year. The cards are mostly single-sided and have a life span of between 1 to 3 years. Card security is moderate, and they are outputted in a batch process. The printer also allows different types of encoding, such as magnetic stripe and smart contactless chips.

Primacy

Evolis Primacy ID Card printer has an output of more than 30,000 ID Cards per year. It comes with sophisticated software that not only allows easy interaction but also combines with supportive design features. It allows both single and dual-sided printing and comes with a Card lifespan of 1 to 3 years. The security level of the cards is high, and cards are outputted in batches. A variant of the model comes with a lamination option, which increases the durability to the cards to more than 3 years.

Kiosk Card Printers

Kiosk Card Printers have an ID card volume of more than 30,000 ID Cards per year. They come in two models; KM500B -KM2000B, and KC200 – KC200B. They are ideal in an organization with a need for self-services ID Cards for access or authorization. They come in stands, which allows self-service card outputs ideal for kiosks output. They provide personalization and customization of the ID Cards and have extra database support. The security level if moderate, and the cards out6putted have a lifespan of between 1 to 3 years. The output mode is in the self-service mode.

Avansia

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Avansia ID printers also have an output of more than 30,000 ID Cards per year. However, it offers a better resolution of 600 dpi, which improves both the image quality. It is also capable of edge to edge printing, thus producing professional and high-quality ID Cards. However, it has a lower speed compared to the Evolis Primacy printer . However, it has better durability, especially of its printing head.

Quantum

Quantum ID Printers are Evolis highest volume with an output of more than 50,000 ID Cards per year. They have faster printing speeds and a large card hopper. They are ideal for a very large organization with frequent ID Card’s needs. They have a batch output and thus provides easy printing.