Enough negativity — this will probably be the last time I write about why factories fail. Not because the reasons have all been covered, but because I’ve spent enough time talking about the negative side of an industry I still believe has enormous promise. That said, one more needs to
There’s a quiet epidemic spreading through the offsite construction industry — and it’s not supply chain issues, labor shortages, or the latest round of code changes. It’s role confusion. Everyone’s suddenly an “advisor,” a “consultant,” or a “partner.” But too often, they’re none of those things. The result? Startups that
Cause and Effect Series
A new “Cause and Effect Series” by Bill Murray I’ve been asked many times, “Why do some modular factories make it while others don’t?” There isn’t one single answer—there are patterns. Over the next few articles, I’m taking a closer look at some of the most common causes I’ve seen
Everyone loves numbers. They’re clear, comforting, and easy to display in a meeting. Backlog, labor costs, and inventory utilization—these are the figures that fill spreadsheets and define progress reports. In my experience, they don’t tell the full story. Some of the most successful factories I’ve seen and managed weren’t the
It’s not a someday problem—it’s a now problem. Ford CEO Jim Farley has been warning that the shortage of skilled tradespeople is already choking the nation’s “essential economy.” He’s talking about construction workers, electricians, machinists, and auto techs—the people who physically make and maintain everything that keeps our society running.
In Albuquerque,New Mexico, a provocative new proposal is stirring up discussions about how cities can reclaim idle land and address housing shortages. Under the plan, modular housing units would be installed on vacant lots across the city—fast, affordable, and with less red tape. What if those modular units were made
For decades, the story was the same: graduate high school, go to college, get a degree, land a career. But for many of today’s young people—especially Gen Z—that story doesn’t feel like the right fit anymore. Instead, they’re taking a serious look at trade schools, particularly in the MEP (mechanical,
A Simple Habit That Can Change Your Entire Factory Originally, I thought of writing this just for offsite factory owners and general managers, but as the words started to form, I realized something important: this message is for everyone. Everyone in an offsite construction factory. Everyone in any workplace, really.
Walk into any offsite construction event, from IBS to a regional builders’ association meeting, and you’ll hear it. Factory owners swapping stories over coffee, leaning on bar counters, or waiting in line for a shuttle bus. And like clockwork, advice flows freely—everything from how to solve labor shortages to why
For generations, $80,000 a year was the picture of middle-class comfort. Families earning it could buy a house in a decent neighborhood, drive a reliable car, pay the bills, and even set a little aside for vacations and college funds. It was the number that seemed to promise stability. But
If you’ve been around the building industry for more than five minutes, you’ve heard the word modular. It’s the golden child of construction right now—hailed as the solution to housing shortages, rising labor costs, and the need for speed. But here’s the problem: too many companies are calling themselves modular
Why climate-smart design is the next big shift for modular and tract builders For decades, homebuilding has followed a simple pattern: design the house, then make it comfortable by adding heating, cooling, and insulation. But today’s builders — especially in modular and prefabricated housing — are flipping that logic upside
What would really happen if you ask your entire team how they’d restart your offsite construction company from scratch — and then tell them you’re ready to do it. Picture this.You gather everyone in your offsite construction company—managers, drafters, production crews, even the guy who somehow always fixes the nail
After thirty years of walking into a modular factory, I ask myself the same question: Is this place truly a small business, or is it more like a hobby that just happens to produce a few homes? The answer isn’t always as obvious as it seems. Production volume, financial planning,
The hum of saws, the clatter of hammers, and the laughter of young voices filled the Whitbeck Construction Education Center in Gansevoort, New York this summer. What might sound like just another week in the life of a bustling construction shop was, in fact, something far more extraordinary: the Northeast
Imagine this: 42 sleek, modern micro‑homes quietly springing up in East Chattanooga—affordable, sustainable, and community‑centered. Welcome to Valentina Estates, the first project of its kind in Tennessee, spearheaded by none other than former pro basketball player Rashad Jones‑Jennings. A true hometown hero, he’s swapping arenas for architecture, and the results are stunning.
When you finish your morning espresso, the last thing on your mind is what happens to those spent coffee grounds. Most of us assume they vanish into the trash, destined for landfills. But what if that leftover caffeine kick could help build your next home or office building? Thanks to
When rising sea levels and intensifying hurricanes threaten to wash away our coastal dreams, Seasafe Homes stands as a powerful beacon of innovation. Based in Tampa Bay, Florida, Seasafe isn’t merely building homes — they’re creating a new standard of resilience, speed, and energy efficiency designed to thrive where others
In a quiet corner of Durham, North Carolina, a small team of engineers is quietly working on something that could reshape the future of homebuilding. The company is called BotBuilt, and their mission is simple—but far from easy: use AI-powered robotics to solve one of the biggest problems in construction
In the words of Peter Drucker, “The greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence—it is to act with yesterday’s logic.” Never has that statement rung more true than in the current crisis gripping housing markets across North America. We are living in a time of turbulence: high
The construction industry often resists change, but one startup is proving that with vision, engineering, and perseverance, the system can be reimagined—quite literally. San Leandro-based Reframe Systems just won the prestigious 2025 House Building Prize from the Centre for Natural Material Innovation at the University of Cambridge, recognizing their groundbreaking
CertainTeed stands out as a pioneer, especially with its innovative ONE PRECISION ASSEMBLIES™ (OPA™) system. This cutting-edge approach to building is redefining efficiency, quality, and sustainability in residential construction. photos – OPA™ system Understanding ONE PRECISION ASSEMBLIES™ Introduced in March 2023, the OPA™ system offers fully constructed wall, floor, ceiling,
Offsite construction as a segment of the homebuilding industry, often times suffers from a common bafflement, lack of an understanding coupled with an appreciation for Building Science. In a recent conversation with Mark Eckard,President of Restoration North he attempts to cut to the chase. Mark is a veteran builder as
Enough negativity — this will probably be the last time I write about why factories fail. Not because the reasons have all been covered, but
There’s a quiet epidemic spreading through the offsite construction industry — and it’s not supply chain issues, labor shortages, or the latest round of code
Cause and Effect Series
A new “Cause and Effect Series” by Bill Murray I’ve been asked many times, “Why do some modular factories make it while others don’t?” There
Everyone loves numbers. They’re clear, comforting, and easy to display in a meeting. Backlog, labor costs, and inventory utilization—these are the figures that fill spreadsheets
It’s not a someday problem—it’s a now problem. Ford CEO Jim Farley has been warning that the shortage of skilled tradespeople is already choking the
In Albuquerque,New Mexico, a provocative new proposal is stirring up discussions about how cities can reclaim idle land and address housing shortages. Under the plan,
For decades, the story was the same: graduate high school, go to college, get a degree, land a career. But for many of today’s young
A Simple Habit That Can Change Your Entire Factory Originally, I thought of writing this just for offsite factory owners and general managers, but as
Walk into any offsite construction event, from IBS to a regional builders’ association meeting, and you’ll hear it. Factory owners swapping stories over coffee, leaning
For generations, $80,000 a year was the picture of middle-class comfort. Families earning it could buy a house in a decent neighborhood, drive a reliable
If you’ve been around the building industry for more than five minutes, you’ve heard the word modular. It’s the golden child of construction right now—hailed
Why climate-smart design is the next big shift for modular and tract builders For decades, homebuilding has followed a simple pattern: design the house, then
What would really happen if you ask your entire team how they’d restart your offsite construction company from scratch — and then tell them you’re
After thirty years of walking into a modular factory, I ask myself the same question: Is this place truly a small business, or is it
The hum of saws, the clatter of hammers, and the laughter of young voices filled the Whitbeck Construction Education Center in Gansevoort, New York this
Imagine this: 42 sleek, modern micro‑homes quietly springing up in East Chattanooga—affordable, sustainable, and community‑centered. Welcome to Valentina Estates, the first project of its kind in
When you finish your morning espresso, the last thing on your mind is what happens to those spent coffee grounds. Most of us assume they
When rising sea levels and intensifying hurricanes threaten to wash away our coastal dreams, Seasafe Homes stands as a powerful beacon of innovation. Based in
In a quiet corner of Durham, North Carolina, a small team of engineers is quietly working on something that could reshape the future of homebuilding.
In the words of Peter Drucker, “The greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence—it is to act with yesterday’s logic.” Never has
The construction industry often resists change, but one startup is proving that with vision, engineering, and perseverance, the system can be reimagined—quite literally. San Leandro-based
CertainTeed stands out as a pioneer, especially with its innovative ONE PRECISION ASSEMBLIES™ (OPA™) system. This cutting-edge approach to building is redefining efficiency, quality, and
Offsite construction as a segment of the homebuilding industry, often times suffers from a common bafflement, lack of an understanding coupled with an appreciation for