Technologies for customized housing in modular construction

In the modular construction, the range of customization options is limited compared to traditional construction, which can be seen as a negative aspect. Different customization strategies can be adopted by companies, but the choice of the appropriate strategy is related to the technologies used in the operational process, with emphasis on the design and production stages. This study aims to compare the technologies used in the design, production and exchange of information in the development of customized housing in modular construction companies in Brazil and England. To achieve that, three case studies were conducted in English modular construction companies operating in the residential sector. The results of the case studies were compared with the literature on technologies used by Brazilian companies. It was noted that English companies, regardless of their size and type of customization offered, use Revit software to develop the design, and communication between different designers is done via cloud computing. However, communication between designers and production is often done on paper, which leads to errors. The machinery used on the shop floor varies between companies. The results found are similar to the Brazilian reality. It was noted that companies do not make use of all available potential; however, larger companies that are able to perform mass customization invest more in technologies for control and integration between operations. To ensure greater productivity and efficient use of technologies, companies should adopt mass customization.