Trata-se de um estudo sobre a pré-fabricação através da trajetória desenvolvida pelo arquiteto Eduardo Kneese de Mello, partindo-se de sua produção inicial, que trazia ensejos para os moldes construtivos propostos e viabilizados posteriormente. Verifica-se que os esforços pela pré-fabricação percorrem uma fase experimental que repercute em sua obra madura no estabelecimento de uma alternativa de pré-fabricação apoiada na compreensão da cultura produtiva, e em análise cuidadosa para a definição dos moldes produtivos. A opção é caracterizada pela aceitação da cultura produtiva, na contramão das propostas transformadoras da cultura e da sociedade. O processo de projeto que vai se estabelecendo caracteriza-se pela composição apoiada em elementos construtivos existentes, em contrapartida ao desenho que determina seus componentes. O material central de análise constitui-se pelos desenhos dos projetos, que foram redesenhados para uma compreensão dos pormenores construtivos, relacionando-se o estudo dos projetos a questões mais gerais da cultura. O trabalho contribui para o conhecimento da obra de Kneese de Mello, e para a compreensão de seu significado, à luz da pré-fabricação. / This is a study on prefabrication through the trajectory designed by the architect Eduardo Kneese de Mello, starting from its initial production, which features brought to a constructive manner proposed and subsequently enabled. It appears that efforts by prefabrication go through an experimental phase, that resonates in his mature work in establishing an alternative prefabrication supported in understanding the productive culture, and in careful analysis to define the production molds. The option is characterized by the acceptance of crop production, against the proposals to change the culture and society. The design process is characterized by the composition based on existing elements, in contrast to the design which determines its components. The core material of analysis is constituted by the drawings of the projects, which have been redesigned to an understanding of the construction details, relating the study of the projects to broader questions of culture. The work contributes to the knowledge of the work of Kneese de Mello, and the understanding of its meaning in the light of prefabrication.

Purpose: Since the perception of what characterizes a modern building changes with time, it’s important for companies in the housing business to be updated on how the market and customer preferences change. For companies, with long-run standardized production systems, to not lose market shares as a result of the inability to change the exterior appearance of the product a new building should be produced to meet the customers’ requirements. The aim of the study is to create an aesthetically modernized building and study how it changes the production process and affect the cost of production. Method: The methods used in the study consist of qualitative data collection in the form of in-depth analyzes of literature studies, semi-structured interviews and collection of documents. Through the use of these methods a theoretical background and empirical data have been compiled into a result. Findings: The elements that are considered as modern according to literature and customer preferences are horizontal panels, well thought out window placement with abundant glass surfaces and details that affect the aesthetic appearance. To introduce these elements to production the standard needs to be reviewed and more alternatives added. The findings show that with exterior changes, in regards to modernity, does not increase the cost of production more than that the company, for which the study was conducted, is able to keep the total price lower than competitors. Implications: Higher flexibility in the production process needs to be introduced to meet the demand of the market. The work that’s considered to be flexible today may mean standards tomorrow. The conclusion is that companies should keep their standardized production patterns with elements of flexible work. A more detailed study in a technological solution may be followed by this study. Limitations: The study has been conducted in cooperation with a company in the catalogue home industry where only exterior changes for a single storey house are taken into consideration of the study. A further limitation is that a detailed cost calculation is excluded. Keywords: standardization, prefabrication, construction elements, production systems, customer segments, modernization.

A produção industrial de edificações pré-fabricadas requer que sejam executados, durante a fase de pesquisa e desenvolvimento, mockups e protótipos para que os responsáveis possam avaliar o desempenho dos componentes, durante a montagem. São tarefas típicas de artesanato, elaboradas à margem das linhas de produção industrial. A indústria de edificações, seja por processos muito ou pouco industrializados, não mostra preferência pelo uso de softwares de manufatura para elaboração de seus projetos.Muitas empresas preferem os softwares de desenho bidimensional ou os softwares com tecnologia BIM. Neste contexto o objetivo desta dissertação é demonstrar como o uso de software de manufatura contribui para a eficiência da prototipagem digital na produção de casas pré-fabricadas. São analisados quatro sistemas: estrutura; revestimentos verticais portáteis; forro magnético; e guarda corpo transparente para uma edificação de alta eficiência energética pré-fabricada, portátil, cujos projetos foram desenvolvidos com auxílio de software de manufatura onde a interoperabilidade entre o projeto e os meios de produção digital foram determinantes para alcançar o resultado obtido. Com auxílio do software de manufatura, os testes de avaliação de montagem foram executados utilizando componentes digitais, modelados com as informações sobre a forma e as características físicas dos materiais utilizados. O método utilizado, onde as avaliações de desempenho se realizaram partir de componentes digitais, com baixo custo e boa velocidade de produção, assegurou a qualidade da produção dos componentes físicos. Como resultado, uma equipe de 20 alunos, sem especialização na produção de edificações, montou uma edificação de alta eficiência energética, com área interna de 45 m2, em 150 horas, durante uma competição internacional entre universidades realizada em setembro de 2012 em Madri. Valorizou-se o ato de projetar. O projeto, utilizado como a principal ferramenta para tomada de decisões relacionadas com a produção, viabilizou a aplicação do método. A correta utilização dos recursos de projeto por meios digitais permite projetar cenários virtuais confiáveis antes de produzi-los com segurança. / Physical models (mock-ups and prototypes) are usually employed during design and development phases of prefab homes in order to assess the performance of the components during assembly phase.These are typical examples of craft developed on the margins of industrial processes.The building industry, regardless of level of industrialization, actually does not have shown preference in using manufacturing software for design development; many companies prefer two-dimensional CAD software or BIM system-based software. In this context, the aim of this dissertation is to demonstrate how the use of manufacturing software contributes to the efficiency of digital prototyping in the production of prefab homes. Four systems of an energy-efficient prefab home were analyzed: structure, portable vertical coatings, roof panels with magnetic attachment devices and transparent guardrails. The design of these systems were developed using manufacturing software whose interoperability with CNC machines was crucial to the achievement of the project´s goals. The assessment of the assembly process of the systems was made by means of manufacturing software using digital components modeled as from the shape of the designed components and of the physical characteristics of materials.Assembly simulations were made by using digital prototyping, avoiding expensive and time-consuming processes of producing and assessment physicalmodels.As a result a team of 20 students, not specialized in the production of buildings, have assembled an energy efficient house, with floor area of 45 m2, in 150 hours, during an international competition among universities held in Madrid, September 2012. Application of the method was possible due to the valuation of the team work during the design phase, when the main decisions concerning production were taken. The correct use of digital prototyping resources enables users to try reliable scenarios and ensure safety conditions during production.

Prefabricated concrete elements are widely used in the construction industry today. With advantages such as time savings, increased safety at the construction site and minimized material usage, prefab becomes a major challenger to the traditional on-site casting construction method. However, constructing a bridge in concrete still presents challenges when using prefab as a construction method. Hence, more research in the area is needed. This master thesis has been studying the behavior of a prefabricated skew angle slab and the connection between the slab and wall elements of a bridge. The study was conducted using a finite element software, where three 3D-models of skew angle slabs were created. The three models had different skew angles (0, 15 and 30 degrees) and crossed the same path. The models could represent both the slab and the slab-wall connection. The finite element analysis showed that slabs with angles up to 15 degrees could be designed as a straight bridge. However, when the skew angle increases to 30 degrees, the behavior of the slab and connection changes significantly. Furthermore, the results show that a stress concentration occurs in the obtuse corner and that the stress increases when the skew angle increases. Moreover, there is a slight uplift in the acute corner when the skew angle increases to 30 degrees.

A produção industrial de edificações pré-fabricadas requer que sejam executados, durante a fase de pesquisa e desenvolvimento, mockups e protótipos para que os responsáveis possam avaliar o desempenho dos componentes, durante a montagem. São tarefas típicas de artesanato, elaboradas à margem das linhas de produção industrial. A indústria de edificações, seja por processos muito ou pouco industrializados, não mostra preferência pelo uso de softwares de manufatura para elaboração de seus projetos.Muitas empresas preferem os softwares de desenho bidimensional ou os softwares com tecnologia BIM. Neste contexto o objetivo desta dissertação é demonstrar como o uso de software de manufatura contribui para a eficiência da prototipagem digital na produção de casas pré-fabricadas. São analisados quatro sistemas: estrutura; revestimentos verticais portáteis; forro magnético; e guarda corpo transparente para uma edificação de alta eficiência energética pré-fabricada, portátil, cujos projetos foram desenvolvidos com auxílio de software de manufatura onde a interoperabilidade entre o projeto e os meios de produção digital foram determinantes para alcançar o resultado obtido. Com auxílio do software de manufatura, os testes de avaliação de montagem foram executados utilizando componentes digitais, modelados com as informações sobre a forma e as características físicas dos materiais utilizados. O método utilizado, onde as avaliações de desempenho se realizaram partir de componentes digitais, com baixo custo e boa velocidade de produção, assegurou a qualidade da produção dos componentes físicos. Como resultado, uma equipe de 20 alunos, sem especialização na produção de edificações, montou uma edificação de alta eficiência energética, com área interna de 45 m2, em 150 horas, durante uma competição internacional entre universidades realizada em setembro de 2012 em Madri. Valorizou-se o ato de projetar. O projeto, utilizado como a principal ferramenta para tomada de decisões relacionadas com a produção, viabilizou a aplicação do método. A correta utilização dos recursos de projeto por meios digitais permite projetar cenários virtuais confiáveis antes de produzi-los com segurança. / Physical models (mock-ups and prototypes) are usually employed during design and development phases of prefab homes in order to assess the performance of the components during assembly phase.These are typical examples of craft developed on the margins of industrial processes.The building industry, regardless of level of industrialization, actually does not have shown preference in using manufacturing software for design development; many companies prefer two-dimensional CAD software or BIM system-based software. In this context, the aim of this dissertation is to demonstrate how the use of manufacturing software contributes to the efficiency of digital prototyping in the production of prefab homes. Four systems of an energy-efficient prefab home were analyzed: structure, portable vertical coatings, roof panels with magnetic attachment devices and transparent guardrails. The design of these systems were developed using manufacturing software whose interoperability with CNC machines was crucial to the achievement of the project´s goals. The assessment of the assembly process of the systems was made by means of manufacturing software using digital components modeled as from the shape of the designed components and of the physical characteristics of materials.Assembly simulations were made by using digital prototyping, avoiding expensive and time-consuming processes of producing and assessment physicalmodels.As a result a team of 20 students, not specialized in the production of buildings, have assembled an energy efficient house, with floor area of 45 m2, in 150 hours, during an international competition among universities held in Madrid, September 2012. Application of the method was possible due to the valuation of the team work during the design phase, when the main decisions concerning production were taken. The correct use of digital prototyping resources enables users to try reliable scenarios and ensure safety conditions during production.

Desafios em coordenação causados pela falta de integração entre projeto, produção e montagem em empresas que entregam sistemas de edificações pré-fabricados do tipo engineerto- order (ETO) têm levado a um aumento na adoção de tecnologias de informação. Embora as ferramentas de Building Information Modelling (BIM) têm sido utilizadas há vários anos, muitas empresas ainda não puderam implementar integralmente e tampouco perceber as vantagens de fluxos de trabalho integrado por BIM. Por outro lado, infraestruturas robustas de tecnologia desenvolvidas no setor da manufatura, a exemplo das empregadas em Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), representam novas oportunidades para estabelecer melhores conexões entre as ferramentas necessárias para o desenvolvimento de produtos de engenharia sofisticada e para o planejamento e controle de sistemas de produção em ambientes complexos. O objetivo dessa pesquisa é entender o contexto de implementação de BIM nessas empresas Design Science Research foi a abordagem metodológica adotada nesta pesquisa. Um conjunto de estudos empíricos foram conduzidos em uma empresa de estruturas metálicas do Brasil. Esses estudos permitiram identificar desafios a nível de projeto e da organização, mostrando que informações do produto contidos nos modelos BIM poderiam ser reutilizadas a jusante da cadeia de valor para diversas finalidades, tais como análise de engenharia, detecção de conflitos, e simulações de produção e de operações logísticas. Portanto, soluções integradas devem ser co-desenvolvidas por membros de equipes de diferentes departamentos funcionais. Esse poderia ser o primeiro passo para a transição da atual utilização de funções BIM para o visionado ambiente BIM-PLM. O roteiro e as diretrizes de implementação – fundamentadas nas abordagens de Sistemas Sociotécnicos e Technology Roadmapping – foram propostas para apoiar a criação de uma visão para a gestão de tecnologia. Para tanto, esta investigação fornece as configurações para entender o contexto de implementação e apresenta fatores críticos relacionados à adoção de tecnologias digitais integradas. / Coordination challenges caused by the lack of integration between design, production and assembly in companies that deliver engineer-to-order (ETO) prefabricated building systems have resulted in the growing adoption of information technologies. Although Building Information Modelling (BIM) tools have been used in the construction industry for several years, many firms have not been able to fully implement them and take advantages of BIM integrated workflows. By contrast, robust technology infrastructures developed in the manufacturing sector, such as those employed in Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), represent new opportunities to establish better connections between digital tools which are necessary for the development of sophisticated engineering products, and planning and controlling production systems in complex environments, such as ETO prefabricated building systems. The aim of this investigation is to understand the context of BIM implementation in this type of firm. Design Science Research was the methodological approach adopted in this investigation A set of empirical studies were conducted in a Steel Fabricator company from Brazil. Those studies enabled the identification of challenges at project and organizational level by showing that product information contained in BIM models could be reused downstream in the value chain for different purposes, such as engineering analysis, clash detection, simulation of logistics and assembly operations. Therefore, integrated solutions should be co-developed by team members from different functional departments. This would be the first step for the transition from the current utilization of BIM functions towards the envisioned BIM-PLM environment. A roadmap and a set of guidelines for implementation, grounded on Socio- Technical Systems and Technology Roadmapping approaches, have been proposed to support the creation of a vision for technology management. In order to do so, this investigation provides the settings to understand the implementation context and critical factors related to the adoption of integrated digital technologies.

<p>Background: The construction industry is Sweden’s single most important industry branch with a significant influence on Sweden’s wealth. The political restrictions that once controlled the industry are today almost gone. This combined with an unbalanced supply and demand situation on the Swedish constructions market, caused by urbanisation, has led to increased pressure on the Swedish construction companies who now are forced to find new methods in their struggle to contain or increase their competitive advantage. </p><p>Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to survey: which strategic variables are of great importance in today’s Swedish construction industry with focus on the four main actors, JM, NCC, PEAB and Skanska. Furthermore is the purpose to give these actors advice regarding how to contain or increase their competitive advantage. </p><p>Method: This thesis takes the shape of a case study even if not all the criteria’s embedded in this line of academic study has been reached. The thesis is mainly built upon five interviews conducted with the four companies and with an expert in the construction field. During the creation of this thesis information has also been gathered through publications such as industry literature annual statements and scientific journals. </p><p>Conclutions: We have reached the conclusion that the studied companies, in several aspects, acts as if the industry still where regulated, the main reason for this behaviour is, according to us, the conservative thinking. Therefore we see a great potential for development and use of partnering in the construction process between the involved companies. We also see that cost benefits can be realised trough the development of prefabrication standards in the industry. It is also our opinion that cost benefits can be achieved through a centralised purchasing department.</p>

<p>Background: The most energy efficient houses today are so called passive houses. These houses achieve high energy-efficiency partly by having well insulated walls. U-value describes the amount of heat transfered through a building element, the more insulation, the smaller U-value. A typical passive house wall have a U-value of 0.10 W/m2,°C. The passive houses are primarily made as small family houses and not as a block of apartments. This is partly because the bigger houses often are made of prefabricated walls, which at present times are not made with enough insulation. One construction method common in prefabrication is a sandwich-construction with two layer of concrete surrounding a core of cellular plastic. Skanska is making this type of walls in a factory on Gotland. </p><p>We wanted to combine the energy efficiency of passive housing with the efficiency of </p><p>prefabricated sandwich-walls. </p><p>Aims: To present a suggestion of a sandwich-construction made with concrete and cellular plastic with a U-value below 0.10 W/m2,°C, that could be implemented in the factory on Gotland. </p><p>Methods: By analyzing systems of today we developed two different models that have a U-value below 0.10 W/m2,°C. The first system was developed from a system used in Skanska’s factory on Gotland and the second one was based on a system delivered by Halfen DEHA. This was made through empirical tests and theoretical calculations. We compared the developed systems in terms of the conditions in Skanska’s factory on Gotland. </p><p>Result and discussion: The system based on Halfen DEHA needs a larger amount of shackles, than the system developed from Skanska’s present system. This leads to the need of thicker insulation to achieve the desired U-value. The reason is that the Skanska-based system uses a combination of shackles and cellular plastic to carry the loads of the coating layer while the Halfen DEHA depends on the shackles alone. We believe that the first of our two developed systems is the best in terms of the ease in adopting to the production method in Skanska’s factory. The second system is safer in terms of controlling the production and has the possibility to have an air gap. </p><p>Conclusion: In the rapport we present a sandwich-construction system that has a U-value below 0.10 W/m2,°C, that we believe would work for prefabrication of wall structures and could be easily adopted in Skanska’s factory on Gotland.</p>

Background: The construction industry is Sweden’s single most important industry branch with a significant influence on Sweden’s wealth. The political restrictions that once controlled the industry are today almost gone. This combined with an unbalanced supply and demand situation on the Swedish constructions market, caused by urbanisation, has led to increased pressure on the Swedish construction companies who now are forced to find new methods in their struggle to contain or increase their competitive advantage. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to survey: which strategic variables are of great importance in today’s Swedish construction industry with focus on the four main actors, JM, NCC, PEAB and Skanska. Furthermore is the purpose to give these actors advice regarding how to contain or increase their competitive advantage. Method: This thesis takes the shape of a case study even if not all the criteria’s embedded in this line of academic study has been reached. The thesis is mainly built upon five interviews conducted with the four companies and with an expert in the construction field. During the creation of this thesis information has also been gathered through publications such as industry literature annual statements and scientific journals. Conclutions: We have reached the conclusion that the studied companies, in several aspects, acts as if the industry still where regulated, the main reason for this behaviour is, according to us, the conservative thinking. Therefore we see a great potential for development and use of partnering in the construction process between the involved companies. We also see that cost benefits can be realised trough the development of prefabrication standards in the industry. It is also our opinion that cost benefits can be achieved through a centralised purchasing department.

This thesis chronicles my experiences with developing a panelized wall system for use by Habitat for Humanity and with testing that system in the design and construction of a house. Presented as a series of narratives, it follows the progress of the project from August 2003 to December 2005. Described is my motivation to test my theories through design and construction, the applicability of prefabrication to Habitat for Humanity’s use of unskilled volunteer labour, the incorporation of panelization into the design of a house for the Waterloo Region affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, the prefabrication of preclad wood framed wall panels for this house by students at the University of Waterloo School of Architecture, the erection of these wall panels on-site, and the completion of the house to a weathertight state. The thesis concludes with discussions of the understanding I gained through my experiences, the necessity for further development and testing of the panelized wall system, and the future use of prefabrication by Habitat for Humanity.