North America Shows Growing Interest in Productization and DfMA Despite Slower Adoption Rates
North America continues to trail several global markets in the adoption of productization and Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) practices within the construction industry, according to new research released by Dodge Construction Network in collaboration with Autodesk. However, despite the slower pace of adoption compared to international peers, the study suggests the region is entering a period of accelerating momentum as awareness, demand, and industry confidence continue to grow.
The findings were published in The Rise of Industrialized Construction SmartMarket Brief, a report examining how industrialized construction methods are evolving across global markets. The research compares North America with more advanced regions such as Australia and New Zealand, Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom and Ireland, where productization and DfMA strategies have already gained broader acceptance across the construction sector.
According to the report, these international markets have moved more aggressively toward industrialized construction approaches that prioritize standardization, prefabrication, manufacturing efficiency, and streamlined assembly processes. In contrast, North America has historically been slower to adopt such methods due to a variety of operational, cultural, and structural challenges within the industry.
Even so, the research highlights strong signs that the market is shifting. Owners, architects, engineers, contractors, and manufacturers who are already familiar with productization and DfMA increasingly recognize the long-term value these approaches can deliver. Many of these industry stakeholders now expect adoption rates to rise significantly over the coming years.
The study also revealed that building product manufacturers anticipate industrialized construction methods becoming mainstream practice within the next three to five years. This growing optimism reflects rising industry interest in improving productivity, reducing project delays, managing labor shortages, and increasing overall construction efficiency.
Productization and DfMA are both considered key pillars of industrialized construction. Productization focuses on designing building systems and components in a more standardized and repeatable way, similar to manufacturing processes used in other industries. DfMA, meanwhile, emphasizes designing structures and components specifically for efficient off-site manufacturing and easier on-site assembly.
Together, these methods can help reduce waste, improve quality control, accelerate construction schedules, and lower project costs while creating safer and more predictable building processes.
Donna Laquidara-Carr, Industry Insights Research Director at Dodge Construction Network, said the report demonstrates that awareness and acceptance of these approaches are growing steadily among North American construction professionals.
“This research makes it clear that while North America has been slower to adopt productization and DfMA, those familiar with them increasingly recognize the value and are preparing to scale,” Laquidara-Carr said. “The opportunity now is to close the gap by addressing long-standing barriers and enabling teams to work in more connected, efficient ways.”
The report notes that one of the major drivers behind increased interest in industrialized construction is the growing pressure facing the construction industry globally. Rising labor shortages, supply chain disruptions, increasing material costs, and the need for faster project delivery are forcing companies to explore more efficient construction methods.
Industrialized construction approaches are increasingly viewed as potential solutions to these challenges because they allow more work to be completed in controlled manufacturing environments before being transported and assembled on-site. This can reduce weather-related delays, improve labor productivity, and enhance consistency across projects.
In regions where DfMA and productization have already achieved broader adoption, companies have reported measurable improvements in project timelines, operational efficiency, quality assurance, and sustainability performance. The success of these methods internationally is helping build confidence among North American stakeholders who may have previously been hesitant to adopt new construction models.
The research also points to growing collaboration between technology providers, contractors, manufacturers, and design teams as another factor contributing to the momentum behind industrialized construction. Digital tools, advanced modeling software, and integrated project delivery methods are making it easier for project teams to coordinate design, manufacturing, and construction processes more effectively.
Autodesk, which partnered with Dodge Construction Network on the report, has been a strong advocate for digital transformation and connected workflows within the architecture, engineering, and construction industries. Industry experts note that technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), digital twins, and cloud-based collaboration platforms are playing an increasingly important role in supporting DfMA and productization strategies.
Despite the positive outlook, the report acknowledges that several barriers continue to slow adoption across North America. These challenges include fragmented project delivery systems, resistance to operational change, limited standardization, and the need for greater workforce training and education related to industrialized construction practices.
Additionally, many construction companies still operate using traditional project-based approaches that can make it difficult to implement manufacturing-style processes at scale. Industry leaders say overcoming these obstacles will require stronger collaboration, investment in technology, and broader cultural shifts throughout the construction ecosystem.
However, the report suggests that attitudes are beginning to change as more organizations gain firsthand experience with industrialized construction methods and recognize the benefits associated with them.
As sustainability, efficiency, and productivity become increasingly important priorities across the built environment, many analysts believe industrialized construction will continue gaining momentum globally. Governments, developers, and institutional investors are also showing growing interest in scalable construction approaches that can help address housing shortages, infrastructure demands, and climate-related goals.
For North America, the research indicates that the market may now be approaching a critical turning point. While adoption rates still lag behind several international regions, awareness and confidence in productization and DfMA are steadily increasing across the industry.
The report concludes that organizations willing to invest in connected workflows, standardized processes, and collaborative project delivery models could be well-positioned to benefit as industrialized construction becomes a more significant part of the future construction landscape.
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