What Is Industrial Construction?

J&R Construction creates complex and specialized facilities for manufacturing or transporting products or materials. From factories to power plants, these structures often take up large plots of land and require extensive planning to ensure they meet specific guidelines.

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The research team defines Detailed information needs based on findings from industry practice, tools, and mini-case studies. These unbiased definitions represent an advance to the body of knowledge.

Unlike commercial construction, which is more of a general term used to describe constructing facilities like offices, hospitals, and stores, industrial construction focuses on the design and building of structures that house a company’s manufacturing process. Typically, industrial buildings require larger plots of land because they need space for heavy machinery and all the technical components that make up their manufacturing process. Additionally, they need to be strategically located away from residential areas.

These types of buildings are often found on the outskirts of towns or cities. They are also designed with effective floor plans that provide easy access to machinery and all other equipment required to produce products and materials. The infrastructure of these kinds of buildings includes plumbing, electrical and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Depending on the type of business, they may also need around-the-clock shipping and receiving capabilities.

On the other hand, commercial buildings are built for people and usually have an aesthetic design meant to attract customers. These buildings are primarily designed to meet customer demands, so they have to be conveniently located. Moreover, these buildings must have enough space to accommodate everyone who wants to go inside the facility simultaneously. Therefore, they need to have wider corridors, oversized doors, and high ceilings.

Companies in this industry produce products that other businesses consume, so they are usually required to follow more stringent governmental regulations. That translates to more paperwork and inspections from different agencies. As such, it’s important to choose an experienced contractor who understands all the complexities of this type of construction.

When it comes to industrial construction, a well-thought-out workflow can save time and money. That is because a good workflow allows you to streamline the project’s process and ensures all necessary steps are taken. It can also reduce the need for supervision and increase efficiency. In addition, it can help you stay organized and avoid costly mistakes.

A construction workflow system should provide a real-time communication platform and allow you to upload documents. That will make it easier for your team to access the necessary information. It will also help you reduce the number of emails and phone calls you receive. Additionally, it should have the ability to track revisions. That will prevent duplication of files and allow you to manage the revisions more easily.

Whether working on a large industrial construction project or a smaller residential one, it is important to have a clear and efficient communication process. That will help you to avoid any mistakes or delays in your project. Additionally, it will help you keep everyone on the same page and ensure that all your team members have access to the information they need.

A good construction workflow should provide an accurate schedule of the work to be completed and the materials needed. It should also allow for a review of the program by all parties involved in the project. A construction management software solution that can handle multiple projects is essential to ensure your project runs smoothly.

Another essential feature of a construction workflow is the ability to monitor and track all project costs. That will help you stay on track with your budget and avoid unexpected expenses. It will also help you identify potential issues before they arise and make changes to improve your project.

Another way to improve your construction workflow is by implementing a maintenance workflow. That will ensure that all your equipment and machinery are in good condition. It will also help you minimize downtime and ensure that all of your projects are delivered on time.

Industrial construction focuses on building or renovating facilities used for manufacturing, distribution, storage, and other purposes related to producing goods. This type of construction can include everything from factories to power plants. It can also involve the construction of specialized buildings like warehouses, which may require special infrastructure to support heavy equipment and other specialized operations. The design of industrial buildings is centered around functionality rather than aesthetics. These structures must be able to meet specific requirements and guidelines set forth by government agencies.

In addition to meeting the standards of governing bodies, industrial construction also requires compliance with regulations regarding environmental safety and other guidelines set by law. These buildings often have large machines that could cause harm if improperly operated. Site planning teams for these buildings consider this when developing their plans for the project.

While commercial construction focuses on a goal similar to industrial projects, they operate on a much smaller scale. Consumer access is the primary concern for commercial projects like retail stores. They need to provide easy access for consumers and keep them moving throughout the space without getting lost. Industrial buildings must meet unique conveyance requirements, including round-the-clock shipping and receiving. They must also have nearby air or railroad transportation accessible to facilitate the delivery of raw materials and finished products to customers.

Regarding infrastructure, industrial projects must feature robust electrical and plumbing systems that can handle the heavy machinery used in these settings. These systems must be able to operate under demanding conditions and comply with strict guidelines for both safety and efficiency. In contrast, commercial buildings rely on a less-rigid infrastructure, such as HVAC and plumbing, that run to various parts of the building so tenants can use them as needed. They must be able to serve the needs of the businesses and their employees and offer comfort for those who work there. That makes the two styles of construction vastly different from one another. A skilled construction team will understand the differences and know how to construct a safe and functional building for either type of operation.

Safety is an essential component of industrial construction. This requires the application of best practices and high-tech safety equipment. It is also important to train employees to use these tools properly. This is especially vital for dangerous components such as chemicals and explosives. This can help to reduce accidents and injuries on the worksite.

It is difficult to achieve a completely safe workplace, but it is important to minimize the risks. The construction industry should implement general safety precautions and rules, such as warning signs to alert workers of any dangers or requiring them to wear protective gear. It is also important to inspect the condition of equipment and machines regularly. This can help prevent accidents and ensure that all equipment is working properly.

Construction sites can have multiple hazards, such as falling from heights and electrical hazards. In addition, there is often heavy machinery on site, which can pose a risk to the health and well-being of workers. Employees should be trained to operate these machines and follow all the applicable guidelines. Additionally, employers should provide adequate fall protection systems and ensure that all electrical devices are tagged to prevent overloading or short circuits.

Industrialized construction applies production processes and technologies from the manufacturing sector to the construction industry to improve key project objectives of time, cost, quality, environment, and safety (Lewicki Citation, 1966). Several approaches have been developed to industrialize construction, including offsite production (OSP) (Nadim and Goulding Citation2011), prefabrication (Steinhardt et al. Citation2013a), and modern methods of construction (MMC) (Rahman Citation2014).

During the COVID-19 pandemic, industrial construction companies followed a variety of infection prevention and control (IPC) protocols to limit the spread of COVID-19 among staff and contractors. These included social distancing, isolation and quarantine, PPE requirements, and cleaning and sanitizing protocols. This paper discusses the rationale and practices for these protocols and associated cost & schedule impacts. It also demonstrates how these protocols can be applied to an existing industrial process plant, such as Dow Louisiana facilities, in the spring and summer of 2020.