Training for Manufactured Construction (TRAMCON) – Benefits and Challenges for Workforce Development at Manufactured Housing Industry

Abstract

Manufactured Housing (MH) is the process of producing building units or entire buildings in an offsite factory and transporting them to the site for installation and assembly. The application of advanced manufacturing technologies into the housing process not only will increase productivity, but also can provide a safer work environment, stable work location, long-term growth opportunities, and career progression for employees. Today, the MH workforce is facing problems with worker quality and retention. The rising demand for MH indicates the need for training a multi-skilled labor force for this industry. This paper evaluates the essence of an educational program for MH industry and discusses the rationale for training the MH workforce in comparison to conventional training programs. In response to the stated problem of Inadequate training programs, the curriculum for Training Manufactured Construction (TRAMCON) was developed by the University of Florida and delivered throughout Florida by the TRAMCON Consortium. While the quantitative results in labor performance improvement in the factory plants have not yet been established, the major strengths and challenges of the program are discussed.