Dornan Engineering Leads the Skills for Design for Modular Manufacturing and Assembly
For decades Dornan Group has delivered mechanical and electrical engineering solutions on construction projects across Europe. As the company incorporated volumetric building into their offering, this has augmented the skillsets required towards structural engineering and Modern Methods of Construction (MMC).
Image courtesy of Dornan Engineering
In a construction market marked by rising costs and growing demand, the priority is finding a company that can manage both while delivering projects safely and efficiently. Companies need to look beyond traditional ways of building to MMC and an off-site, manufacturing-based mindset to achieve results.
As a result, Design for Manufacturing & Assembly (DfMA) is becoming an increasingly popular option for construction companies and engineering firms, with leading firms leveraging it to streamline work, reduce waste, and accelerate project delivery through off-site fabrication and modular construction. It’s a strategic shift that Dornan Engineering made as far back as 2018, opening a facility for prefabrication and volumetric building. Here, engineers, digital designers, and onsite assembly teams work together to create panelised kits of parts which can be quickly transported and assembled at the construction site, in conjunction with traditional build elements.
Micheál O’Connor, Group Managing Director at Dornan Engineering, said that while the company would have traditionally recruited mechanical and electrical engineers, the growing emphasis on prefabrication and off-site construction has expanded the skillset required on modern projects. Today, Dornan also actively seeks structural engineers who can design systems optimised for repeatable off-site manufacturing and modular assembly, complementing their core engineering team.
As we go more into off-site modular assembly as the preferred method of building, we will need to work with Quality Control Technician and Structural Engineers more typically associated with manufacturing than construction.
Regardless of the training or skills background new hires possess, Dornan Engineering place a heavy emphasis on on-the-ground training, similar to an apprenticeship. This ensures all engineers joining the company get the experience needed for their future role in a highly practical way. There is also a well-integrated culture of training and professional development ran through a proprietary Learning Management System.
An in-house Learning & Development Team, comprised of Ljubo Vilhelm and Raul Alvarez Vizcaino, manages content for the internal Learning Management System. Ljubo transitioned from a career in the petroleum sector to teaching the principles of Design for Manufacturing & Assembly (DfMA) and Building Information Modelling, alongside more traditional engineering processes.
When I started with Dornan Engineering, learning and professional development was important, but it has taken on even greater significance in recent years. People did the mandatory training alright – but now engagement levels are really high. People exploring their own career paths.
Dornan’s Learning Management System offers 2,000+ learning resources and 70 live, online classes each year, available to all employees. This equips staff with key competencies, including the technical skills to effectively implement DfMA strategies; digital and technological fluency, project management, lean methodologies, and change management; and soft skills such as communication and collaboration.
Ljubo added that Dornan employees can access 1:1 career coaching with a Learning & Development Business Partner, Avril Mansworth, to help determine their right individual learning path.
Developing our training modules is intuitive and we respond to each project-specific need. We also let our people guide us on what they want to learn about to develop their career. That’s how you build engagement. The digital tools and tracking help, and people will be reminded if they aren’t meeting the minimum training requirements, but in general if we give people flexible learning options that supports their development, they want it.
Head of Learning & Development at Dornan Engineering
Image courtesy of Dornan Engineering
Dornan Engineering’s commitment to fostering individual and professional growth for each employee ensures a more future-ready workforce. It also ensures the right people can deliver on its mission for safer, greener, and more efficient construction outcomes.
Micheál said that adapting to MMC skillsets is part of a natural move for construction and engineering firms in Ireland. He added that companies of all sizes across the country are often unfairly maligned as being behind the times when it comes to MMC.
Ireland has the infrastructure and skillset to succeed in MMC. There are already a lot of modular facilities here, working locally and shipping overseas.
Group Managing Director at Dornan Engineering
Much of this success stems from a culture of ongoing professional development and a willingness to adapt to new ideas fostered by companies such as Dornan Engineering.
