Harris Prefab Strategy Saves Time & Money Video

(St. Paul, Minn.) –Harris has released its next expertise video in “The REEL Harris” series. Its Manufacturing + Prefabrication Video highlights how the leading contractor’s approach to prefabricating mechanical components for buildings and facilities across the country improves productivity and overall operations.

Smart builders rely on trusted prefabrication partners, like Harris, as their approach to providing mechanical systems helps meet today’s rigorous project schedules. With prefabrication facilities strategically located nationwide, Harris moves work typically done at a job site to an off-site, environmentally-controlled prefab facility, increasing efficiency, quality, speed to market and safety for customers and project crews.

“All of our projects start with a ‘prefabricate everything’ approach,” says Michel Michno, chief executive officer, Harris. “Our processes not only focus on prefabrication but also on early decision-making and planning. Early decision making is how we maximize prefab: it brings the right people together at the right time to determine what is best for the project.”

With today’s construction costs and labor shortages, Michno says maximizing prefabrication creates significant value for owners and other project stakeholders. Not only does installation become faster and easier, but customers often see labor savings due to less on-site mechanical work. Jobsites become safer as hazards and distractions are reduced. Harris’ approach also mitigates supply chain issues as part of the process includes vigorous preplanning and communication, which helps keeps projects on track, on time and on (or below) budget.

Harris leverages advanced modeling tools and employs Building Information Modeling (BIM) early on, making it easier to identify ways to maximize prefabrication and modularization as physical and functional building characteristics can be seen virtually – before shovels even hit the dirt. When manufacturing methods and assembly are based on digital component models, more of the construction process can be brought into a factory environment through prefabrication. The need for field allowances is essentially eliminated as BIM allows prefabricated components to be seen at a granular level.

How do the components get to the job site? Harris uses a hub-and-spoke strategy, with the hub being the project site and the spokes branching out to designated prefabrication shops, as well as to co-fabrication sites on-or-near the project. The process creates just-in-time delivery and installation. Bulk materials are fabricated in a main facility, then flat-packed and shipped to a co-fabrication site. Final assembly is completed and prefabricated components and modules are delivered to the building, often being lifted into the air and immediately installed.

Harris’ fabrication teams work with the most advanced cutters, drills, welding equipment and plasma tables, providing customers with unmatched precision at high speed. Its crews are certified in pressure vessel repairs and alterations, power piping, power boilers and a wide range of welding specialties.

“The REEL Harris” is the company’s video series capturing behind-the-scenes work at Harris offices and jobsites nationwide to show how its collaborative approach to providing mechanical systems for customers improves building performance – saving energy, increasing efficiency and enhancing occupancy comfort.

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About Harris
Headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, Harris is a leading national mechanical contractor specializing in design and engineering, construction, building automation, service, manufacturing, conveyors and end-to-end building systems with 14 offices nationwide. Customers who partner with Harris benefit from its national reach, regional offices, local expertise and more than 70 years of experience. From power plants to stand-alone hospitals, stadiums to concert halls, Harris brings a spirit of creative problem solving and a commitment to excellence to every project, no matter the size, complexity or location. The company continues to make itself a destination workplace. In 2021, Harris was named to the list of Top Workplaces USA