A Systems Engineering Approach for Construction Domain: The SmartFabrik Method

Industrialization of the construction sector is a real challenge, due to the strong compartmentalization still existing in the production process (between stakeholders and between trades involved) and the lack of visibility on the potential return on investment. The digital and ecological transitions are now having an impact on the sector, given the advances made in other industrial sectors. The industrial model in this sector must, for example, consider the need to reduce lead times, costs and the carbon footprint and energy impact of its activities to remain credible and be more competitive. The SmartFabrik project aims to transform construction from traditional processes to a more efficient model, by working upstream from the very design of the building, producing industrial components off-site and assembling on site. By combining the principles of a systems vision with the principles and processes of systems engineering, and by highlighting the importance and benefits of modelling, this article proposes an original methodological contribution, the SmartFabrik method, which addresses this design phase but has an impact on the entire life of the building in question.