2026-10-14T08:16:01Z https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai

oai:figshare.com:article/33995372 2026-09-25T13:23:16Z category_146 category_7 category_21 category_734 category_106 portal_87 item_type_3 month_year_09_2026

Digital infrastructure for the inclusion of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in design for distributed manufacturing and assembly construction ecosystems Alejandro Veliz Reyes (13032584) Duhan Olmez (22797212) Alastair Parvin (25110236) Clayton Prest (25110239) Gabriele Granello (20449051) Amber Richardson (16682406) Alex Tempest (25110242) Kester Hoefkens (25110245) Piyush Prince (25110248) Louisa Knowles (25110251) Silas Fowler (25110254) Space Science Medicine Biotechnology Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified Science Policy Small and Medium Enterprises sustainable construction design for distributed manufacturing and assembly material passport modern methods of construction <p>The construction sector faces growing pressure to meet net-zero targets while addressing skills shortages, fragmented supply chains, and the limited participation of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), despite SMEs delivering most UK construction output. Existing centralised models of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) often exclude SMEs, highlighting the need for alternative approaches that support inclusive, low-carbon industrial transformation. This paper presents a Design for Distributed Manufacturing and Assembly (DfDMA) framework that develops the shared digital and organisational infrastructure required for SME participation in timber-based MMC. Using a mixed-method approach combining co-design, research-in-residence, prototyping, and a full-scale demonstrator, the study developed and validated a DfDMA Platform, Production Control Plan, and Material Passport system through the Dell Cabin, the UK's first fully passported prefabricated timber building. Findings indicate that DfDMA has the potential to improve production consistency, material traceability, and embodied carbon outcomes, demonstrating its potential to enable resilient, SME-centred construction ecosystems.</p> 2026-09-25T13:23:16Z Dataset Dataset 10.6084/m9.figshare.33995372.v1 https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Digital_infrastructure_for_the_inclusion_of_Small_and_Medium_Enterprises_SMEs_in_design_for_distributed_manufacturing_and_assembly_construction_ecosystems/33995372 CC BY 4.0