Standardization of Prefabricated Wood Panels to Improve Housing Manufacturing in SMEs

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are critical actors in housing supply chains; however, they often struggle to adopt industrialized construction. High variability, limited infrastructure, and skill constraints can reduce repeatability and quality. This study shows that SMEs can start with targeted standardization of prefabricated wood panels. A panel library and coded kits support scalable production, repeatable quality, and a structured workflow for light timber framing. Evidence is provided by a Chilean industrial case study using a time-study campaign. The campaign quantified processing, setup, and internal movement times across a five-station manual layout. Results indicate that a standardized panel set for larger housing typologies stabilizes manual operations. Throughput improves only after key bottlenecks are addressed as staffing increases from 12 to 18 operators, enabling production above 200 homes per year. When two of eight activities are automated at Station 2 using CNC (fixing and cutting), annual capacity can approach 300 homes. Overall, the findings suggest a staged pathway for SMEs: standardize first, add selective automation once constraints are removed, and then integrate internal logistics to sustain the transition from craft-based to industrialized housing production.