Product Platform Rulebook Update

THE CONSTRUCTION Leadership Council (CLC) has announced it will be taking over the reins of the Product Platform Rulebook in 2024 as part of its new Industrialised Construction workstream.

The Product Platform Rulebook is a guide for construction clients and industry suppliers to encourage the harmonisation of specifications, products and components in the built environment. The adoption of Product Platforms in construction could reduce costs by up to 31%, according to the CLC.

The publication was first created by the Construction Innovation Hub, but the organisation’s funding for this has now ended.

The CLC says the Product Platform Rulebook “is a shining example of what can be achieved when government and industry come together to drive change.”

As a key enabler for the Infrastructure and Projects Authority’s (IPA) Transforming Infrastructure Performance (TIP) agenda, the CLC says “it is critical that government and industry find ways to continue this impact.”

Platform Playbook Update

The CLC workstream will revise and re-release the Rulebook in the form of a new ‘Platform Playbook’. It will set out a path to the adoption of platform approaches for social infrastructure delivery.

The group is chaired by Ron Lang, former Chief Technical Officer of the Hub and now Regional Director at AtkinsRéalis.

Ron Lang said: “The Product Platform Rulebook and the concepts it contains present a logical path to a more industrialised, more productive construction sector. But this work is far from complete, and we continue to learn through our collective experiences of applying these concepts in practice.

“I am delighted to have the opportunity to lead the next step in its development through the CLC and thank my industry peers for continuing to commit their time and expertise for the collective benefit of our sector.”

The decision to pass the Rulebook over to the CLC for update has been warmly welcomed by former Construction Innovation Hub members.

The Hub’s Programme Director Keith Waller, believes the Rulebook still has a powerful role to play: “Yet another of the Hub’s output has found a new home to drive forward its legacy. Given that our analysis identified that the adoption of platform approaches in construction could unlock long term productivity gains of up to £7.8bn per annum, I am delighted the CLC will now be using its convening power to ensure these benefits can be achieved.”

Steven Yeomans, former Hub Programme Lead and now Chief Engineer for Construction at the Manufacturing Technology Centre believes the planned update shows what can be achieved through continuing collaboration: “As the former lead partner of the Hub, we’ll continue to support this ongoing, transformative work through our participation in the CLC’s Industrialised Construction workstream. In doing so, we can enable the construction sector to address performance and productivity challenges.”

The new Platform playbook is expected to be published for comment in November with a series of supporting activities being planned for 2024.

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