Bridging the Gap: Insights & Innovations in Construction

As AR and AI continue to sweep the construction industry, what are some of the best and most proven ways to leverage this enigmatic technology? Could it, in fact, help us address some of the largest and most persistent pain points of the industry at large? Join Todd and guest NK Chaitanya as they discuss the connection between data and AI, NK’s company ConstructN.ai, how AR can be leveraged to increase onsite safety, and the burgeo...

Where do most training programs fall short? The answer may lie in the way we’ve been approaching the subject of training at large. Straight from GRAITEC Innovate2Build with Amy Powell of Well Works, this episode takes a closer look at what it means to truly and effectively train workers, how to support the “learning transfer” in every stage of training, and how emotional intelligence comes into play.

Amy Powell is the founder of We...

Now that prefabrication is taking off, we’re looking for ways to make it a seamless process. Is there yet a “perfect software” that has everything you need for a prefab project? Often, we don’t streamline our workflows until something raises the alarm bells. In this episode from Advancing Prefabrication 2024, we sit down with Chris Fischer to discuss some of the biggest hurdles facing widespread, cross-industry adoption of the pref...

Prefab has demonstrated itself to be a valuable addition to the construction industry, but there’s still some pushback against it. When we’re certain of the benefit of new processes, we just need to be persistent. As they say, “the proof is in the pudding.” In this episode, Mike Barrett of CRB joins us to discuss how the cumulative successes of prefab will ultimately be key to widespread adoption.

Mike Barrett is Vice President of ...

The productization of prefab will be a tricky and incremental process. Can we still bring our creativity to the table when there are so many unknowns? In this episode, Todd Mustard joins us at Advancing Prefabrication 2024 and sparks a discussion about repurposing supply chains, the power of BI dashboards, and growing widespread interest in IBEW Local 48.

Todd Mustard is Executive Manager at Oregon Columbia Chapter NECA. He represe...

Depending on how you look at them, AI and prefabrication in construction can be time-saving game changers or tools of disruption. Paul Sweeney joined us at Advancing Prefab 2024 to discuss the substantial shifts in mindset around prefabrication as a whole, how to look at the past to prepare for the future, the positive aspects of newer technology, and new alignments between industries that were once completely disparate.

Paul Sween...

A solid management team is foundational to the success of your company. When you come to management with a request or idea, whether they listen or not will inform how you interact with your job as a whole. In this episode from Advancing Prefab 2024, Chris Traugh joins us to discuss the importance of morale, the exciting future of productization, and how to attract and retain new hires in an industry that endures huge labor shortage...

Transparency is often key to the success of a project. When you bring in something newer, like prefabrication, harmony and communication between teams is essential. Join host Todd and guest Steve Houston as they discuss how to combat inertia, the current inefficiencies of the construction industry, and what “works” compared to what’s “always been done.”

Steve Houston is Senior Director of Building Technologies and Vertical Manufact...

The great Dave Cooper joined us at Advancing Prefab 2024. He brought plenty of energy and hard facts about the industry. Namely, there is a cool-factor with jobs when you're young. If you can go home and show off the unique things you're doing and building in a career, it's going to be a draw for the next generation. Once you have people on board, how do you keep them there? Culture. Culture. Culture. Tune in to see where the rest ...

Each and every building is indeed one of a kind, but in truth, not everything needs to be that special. UMC's Ryan Hoggatt worked on a project one time that had two almost identical buildings but a bathroom on the bottom floor of each had a different center point. His point with the story here is that the subtle differences between buildings and projects makes it hard to replicate and fabricate. Repeatability and consistency doesn'...

In this episode from Advancing Prefab 2024, we see how often buildings are simply means to an end for bog companies. A pharmaceutical company makes molecules that make people better, and they just happen to need a building to do that. Later we delve into market dynamics, focusing on the data center space, where big manufacturers and clients are pushing for value chain advancement and improved communication with supply chains. The e...

Work shouldn't be wasteful and work shouldn't be burdensome. Robert Penney says that anyone who has stopped liking their work can find joy in it again through better communication, process improvement, and keeping a pulse on the latest industry best practices. Building skills looks different for everyone and the path towards enjoying your work again may surprise you.

Robert Penney is the national director of continuous improvement ...

Offsite facilities are opening up everywhere. Everyone wants a shot at getting prefab 'right' and growing the industry into the massive potential that we know is there. Will the backbone of the industry still remain in hardware or are currents shifting towards software?

Anthony Montesano is a solution sales manager at StrucSoft. He is a seasoned veteran of the industry - from shipping software on CDs in the early 2000s to connectin...

Back again from Advancing Prefab comes Amr Raafat and Stuart Meurer. Each year, these two take a longitudinal look at how the field of prefab has changed over time. The big topic this year? AI, naturally. A unique angle came from our conversation because their company Windover Construction used AI to assist in projects and were able to verify that it was indeed accurate. Perhaps over the next year we will see other companies doing ...

How do you build something that's never been tried before? How do you model something that's never been modeled before? If you're looking for the answer to those questions, Alain Michalak is your guy. He brings the "there must be a way" mindset to every project - including the Las Vegas Sphere. This episode is rich with advice for challenging the way things have always been done and paving the way for projects of the future.

Alain ...

AI has already become integral in society. How is it affecting the construction industry—and what do we see as its long-term effects? Join host Todd and guest Patrick Murphy as they discuss generative AI in construction, the journey from congressman to construction startup founder, how Togal.AI addresses expectations and misconceptions about artificial intelligence, and next steps for the professionals who are just beginning their ...

Perhaps we will soon find out. Workers who use smart powered suits like those made by German Bionics often have a better quality of life. People who once came home and iced their back for hours now have time to play with the kids or pursue hobbies. People even take fewer sick days from being in pain. From the company side, there is a reduction in worker's comp, those seasoned industry experts can stick around longer and pass their ...

What does it take to become fully carbon-neutral in this industry? What are some practical steps we can take in that direction? Join host Todd and guest Ben Meyer as they discuss the current conversation around sustainable practices, common pitfalls and misconceptions about carbon neutrality, and how essential it is to take collaboration and partnerships into account when we’re planning for the future of our business. Ben Meyer ser...

Is there a way to balance innovation and tradition? The answer is yes, but it takes mindfulness and strategy. Join host Todd and guest Chris Tatge as they discuss the “old guard” in the timber industry, reckoning with new tech and sustainable practices, the ever-changing field of the supply chain, and Chris’s journey in scaling a self-made business to the top of the market.

Chris Tatge is a 25-year veteran framer and Founder, Presi...