Design for manufacture and assembly (DfMA) enablers for offsite interior design and construction

TLDR

Interior design and construction is a complex, protracted process that traditionally relies on multiple trades working sequentially on site, leading to low productivity, and is increasingly being addressed through off‑site practices and Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) innovations. This study investigates off‑site interior design and construction and proposes a set of DfMA enablers to improve the building process. The authors conduct a literature review, a case study, and 18 semi‑structured interviews, and identify ten DfMA enablers—including early collaboration, design standardization and simplification, and lightweight material selection—to support off‑site IDC and its production line. The research demonstrates a paradigm shift in interior design methodology and professional practice, enriches the literature on DfMA–IDC synergy, and presents a new model for interior designers and off‑site IDC practitioners.

Abstract

Interior design and construction (IDC) is a sophisticated and often prolonged process that delivers a building to occupation. Traditional practice is rather unproductive, involving the work of several different trades crowded in situ and delivered sequentially one after another. To enhance productivity in IDC, offsite practice is receiving increasing attention as a process innovation along with Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA), an emerging concept in the industry. This paper aims to investigate offsite IDC practice and develop a set of DfMA enablers for better achieving this building process. It undertakes a literature review, case study, and 18 semi-structured interviews. To support the offsite IDC and its production line, standardized procedure, automated machinery, and supply chain, 10 DfMA enablers are adopted, such as early collaboration, design standardization and simplification, and light material selection. These findings indicate a paradigm shift not only in interior design methodology but also in IDC professional practice process. This research enriches the literature on DfMA and IDC, in particular their synergy, and offers a new model for interior designers and offsite IDC practitioners.