Design for manufacture and assembly: Its benefits and risks in the UK water industry

Abstract

A study was undertaken to investigate the impacts of design for manufacture and assembly (DFMA) on one of the UK's largest water companies. The study collected data on historic and new building projects that, in some part, used DFMA principles. This was supplemented by qualitative data from interviews conducted with senior engineers and managers from across the company and its direct tier 1 supply chain. The study shows DFMA to be poorly defined within the UK water industry, and a new definition is presented here. This is supplemented with a scoring tool that enables users to state clearly what they want with regard to DFMA and provides a means of assessing its potential during project tenders. The data support the perception that it can deliver cost, time and quality improvements and show that early DFMA-focused management is essential in delivering these improvements. However, the study also reveals that DFMA carries risks common to the application of new technologies, so risk management tools need to recognise the additional risks associated with it. A method for reviewing specific operational risks typical to the water industry against product uncertainty is presented here.