One Hundred Factories

Unlocking the collective capacity of local timber MMC manufacturers
One Hundred Factories timber workshop
Title: One Hundred Factories: Unlocking the collective capacity of local timber MMC manufacturers
Funded by: Forestry Commission, Timber in Construction Innovation Fund
Funding amount: £199,639
Location: UK
Dates: June 2023 – March 2024
Project partners: Open Systems Lab, University of Plymouth, Woodlab LTD, Maahee's Way LTD
University of Plymouth PI/Co-I: Dr Alejandro Veliz Reyes
University of Plymouth staff: Duhan Olmez
 

Summary

Modern methods of construction (MMC) are often associated with large, capital-intensive factories. In this project we explore an alternative scenario: supporting small and medium companies to join the digital construction industry.
By creating wider productive and more inclusive ecosystems, we will benefit communities and companies left behind through large capital, innovation, and levelling-up investments. Funded by the Forestry Commission (2023–25) and in partnership with Open Systems Lab, we are creating digital material passports and quality control plans to support SMEs willing to engage with the digital construction sector, allowing them to track their productivity and maintain good manufacturing and quality standards.

Objectives

  1. To develop a digital infrastructure that supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in joining the timber manufacturing industry.
  2. To promote the use and adoption of UK-grown timber in the house building sector.
  3. To create a material passport to 'track and trace' timber building elements in order to support their reusability.
  4. To create a manufacturing control plan, supporting quality assurance in the manufacturing of timber building elements.
  5. To test the application of these innovations in a real-world building scenario.

The project aims to revolutionise timber construction by developing digital infrastructure that empowers small and medium-sized enterprises to produce high-quality, sustainable building components from locally grown timber, driving innovation in low-carbon housing solutions.

Alejandro Veliz ReyesDr Alejandro Veliz Reyes
Project Lead, University of Plymouth

Context of the issue

The construction industry faces increasing pressure to adopt sustainable building practices in response to the UK's net-zero carbon targets and the housing shortage. Timber-based MMC present a low-carbon alternative, yet their widespread adoption is hindered by a lack of skilled labour, infrastructure, and efficient supply chains.
Traditional approaches, like centralised factories, carry significant financial risks and require extensive investment. There is a growing need for a distributed manufacturing model that allows SMEs to participate in producing high-quality, sustainable timber building components. This project is necessary to bridge that gap by creating digital infrastructure that can standardise production, ensure quality, and streamline processes, making timber MMC more accessible and scalable across the UK.
One Hundred Factories timber modules

How the project addresses the issue

The idea is to develop a digital infrastructure that supports a distributed network of SMEs to manufacture modular timber building kits. It introduces a 'material passport' system that tracks the sustainability, provenance, and quality of timber components, ensuring traceability across the production process. By standardising manufacturing data and quality control measures, the project enables SMEs to produce high-quality, locally sourced timber components without the need for large, centralised factories.
The system will be tested at two production sites in Devon and the Midlands, with feedback and validation cycles supported by advanced 3D scanning technology and input from industry experts. This approach ensures consistent production quality while fostering local supply chains and the adoption of sustainable, low-carbon construction methods.
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Partners

Addressing global challenges through the lens of place

Plymouth's cross-institutional place-based research aligns with government agendas for people and place, as well as UKRI and British Academy priorities.
A critical mass of Social sciences, Humanities and the Arts for People and the Economy (SHAPE) researchers in collaboration with Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM) colleagues are tackling global challenges associated with health, marine and sustainability.
Place-based research concept: crowd of people standing on a computer motherboard.