Integrated Digital Delivery (IDD) & Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
Design for Manufacturing and Assembly
Integrated Digital Delivery (IDD)
Integrated Digital Delivery (IDD) is the use of digital technologies to integrate work processes and connect stakeholders working on the same project throughout the construction and building life-cycle. This includes on-site design, fabrication, and assembly, as well as building operations and maintenance.
IDD builds on the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Virtual Design and Construction (VDC), which have been implemented in many projects over the past few years.
Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) – an approach that integrates people, systems, business structures, and practices into a process that collaboratively harnesses the talents and insights of all participants to optimize project results, increase value to the owner, reduce waste, and maximize efficiency through all phases of design, fabrication, and construction. (American Institute of Architects)
Areas covered by IDD
Digital Design
Engaging stakeholders to achieve optimised and coordinated design that meets client's, regulatory and downstream requirements.
Digital Fabrication
Translating design to standardised components for automating off-site production.
Digital Design
Engaging stakeholders to achieve optimised and coordinated design that meets client's, regulatory and downstream requirements.
Digital Fabrication
Translating design to standardised components for automating off-site production.
Digital Asset Delivery & Management
Real time monitoring for operations and maintenance to enhance asset values.
Digital Construction
Just in time delivery, installation and monitoring of on-site activities to maximise productivity and minimise rework.
Digital Asset Delivery & Management
Real time monitoring for operations and maintenance to enhance asset values.
Digital Construction
Just in time delivery, installation and monitoring of on-site activities to maximise productivity and minimise rework.
IDD covers the following four areas
How does IPD work?
- The project owner hires a full team.
A project owner works to hire a full team of contractors quickly, which typically includes a design team, a general contractor, engineers, a project management team, and more. Most project owners that implement an IPD also often use a lean construction method, which aims to curb costs and delays. This can mean reducing materials, crews, and wait times between construction phases. Every team member must agree on shared goals before anything can proceed.
- The team signs a contract.
The contract outlines the project’s timeline, schedule, liability, payments, and risk/reward terms. In an IPD contract, everyone shares equal responsibility, so if one team goes off-schedule and loses money, everyone loses money. If one team member gets ahead of schedule, everyone benefits. Once the multi-party contract is signed, the project moves into the design phase.
- The team approves the design.
Owners, architects, and engineers work together with the other stakeholders in a project during the design phase to ensure the building is viable according to the terms of the contract. This keeps everyone on the same page from the very beginning and can help mitigate any potential delays The design team benefits from having engineers, general contractors, and other professionals offer feedback.
- Once the building permits are in, construction begins.
Daily construction may only involve the general contractor and project management team, but everyone on the IPD team is kept informed in case of any issues or timeline delays arise.
3 Key Differences
Advantages of the IPD
- Promotes clear communication
Due to the nature of an IPD construction project, where all stakeholders are accountable, the delivery method also promotes communication and frequent cross-team check-ins.
- Incentivizes quality
The shared accountability incentivizes team members to perform at their best, elevating the quality of the project.
- Increases productivity
IDP reduces waiting time between different phases of a construction project since each team is involved in every phase. For example, the general contractor can get a head start on ordering materials and equipment because they take part in the design phase of the project and know the project’s needs.
Disadvantages of the IPD
- Individual performance affects the entire project
One team member’s underperformance compromises the entire timeline and other stakeholders.
- Group decision-making can slow the process down
In IPD projects, the entire group must come to a consensus on all parts of the project, which is not as time effective as other types of project delivery methods, like design-bid-build. IDP contracts typically stipulate a form of group consensus for decisions on the project, which can also slow down the overall construction process.
- High project costs
Though IPD projects often implement lean construction, meaning they emphasize efficiency, zero-waste materials, and cross-over between the design and construction phases, it is generally a higher-cost project delivery method because of the risk involved. In IDP contracts, all parties are contractually bound to each other, meaning that one team’s delay has ripple effects across the entire construction project.
