The Dyson blog: The Value landscape and engagement

Discussion in the room moved to nuclear self-generation for a while and how far we are away from viable small nuclear power self-generation.

A digital marketplace for construction should be as neutral as possible, providing a space for buyers and sellers to find each other, without influencing the transaction.. Xometry.This US-based ‘manufacturing on demand’ company links customers wanting components (including BMW, General Electric, NASA, Dell and Bosch), to a network of 5,000 suppliers across the USA, Europe and Asia.

Typically, a client uploads a request for a proposal via 3D models or technical drawings and specifications.This is distributed to pre-qualified suppliers who have the capability and capacity to respond.A price is calculated within seconds (for straightforward processes such as CNC machining) to a day or so for more complex requests.

Xometry has a huge amount of pricing data from which it can generate instant quotes which can be validated or refined with vendors.Once the price is agreed, the selected suppliers produce the components to set specifications and arrange delivery..

This ‘manufacturing as a service’ could have significant benefits for a Platform approach to construction.

What can we learn?.Still, it’s going to require us to stretch ourselves, because there are a lot of misconceptions about the term DfMA, Marks says.

In the first place, DfMA is often used to mean prefab, which it doesn’t.Additionally, it’s important to recognize that a lot of DfMA principles and processes aren't necessarily specific to construction prefabrication.. “They're just good design principles.

Good for everybody,” she says.. To illustrate, Marks mentions that she once worked on a billion-dollar hospital project, originally planned with over 700 different types of bathroom.The situation wasn’t beneficial for anyone involved, she says, and wasn’t sensible from either a build or operational perspective.