Factory design is not merely about constructing a building; it also requires ensuring optimal functionality, safety, cost-effectiveness, and compliance with construction standards. To achieve a factory that meets technical and safety standards as mandated by the government, businesses need to understand each step in the design and construction process.
So, what are the steps in a professional factory construction design process? Below are detailed insights to help businesses build factories quickly, to standard, and in a cost-optimized manner.
Factory design according to the process not only ensures efficient operation of the facility but also brings many significant benefits to the business:
- Scientific layout: Properly following the design process helps arrange the factory layout scientifically, optimizing the use of space. Production areas, storage, offices, etc., are organized logically, creating a seamless and efficient production line.
- Maximize area utilization: Careful design helps maximize the factory's area, avoiding wasted space. This is particularly important for businesses with limited land resources.
- Ensure functionality: A properly designed factory ensures that it meets all functional requirements as specified by the business. For example, ventilation, lighting, drainage systems, etc., are designed to align with the production process and ensure safety for workers.
- Solid structure: Proper design processes help calculate and select suitable structures for factories, ensuring the long-term durability of the building.
- Safety for users: Safety factors such as fire protection systems, emergency exits, lightning protection, etc., are designed and comply with regulations, ensuring the safety of workers and property.
- Compliance with construction standards: Factory designs must adhere to the construction standards of Vietnam and international standards, ensuring the quality and safety of the building.
- Avoid design errors: Following proper design processes helps prevent mistakes during the design phase, minimizing additional costs due to repairs or design changes.
- Save construction costs: Detailed and accurate design drawings facilitate easier construction for contractors, reducing both time and construction costs.
- Shorten construction time: A scientific design process helps shorten construction time, allowing the factory to become operational sooner, enabling businesses to quickly recover their investment.
- Optimize production processes: A scientific factory design helps optimize production processes, minimizing transportation time and material handling, thus increasing labor productivity.
- Create a good working environment: A well-ventilated, adequately lit, and hygienic workshop design helps create a favorable working environment for workers, enhancing work efficiency.
- Modern and aesthetic design: Factories designed according to proper procedures often feature modern architecture and aesthetics, creating a positive impression for customers and partners.
- Enhancing corporate credibility: A professionally designed and constructed factory reflects the credibility and capability of the business, helping to build trust with customers and partners.
In summary, designing a factory according to proper procedures is extremely important and brings many benefits to the business. It not only optimizes space and functionality, ensures safety and compliance with construction standards, but also helps reduce costs, shorten construction time, enhance operational efficiency, and create a professional image for the business.
Before starting the design, conducting a real-world survey is a crucial step to ensure the project aligns with natural conditions and usage needs. The business needs to carry out geological, hydrological, and climatic surveys in the construction area. This helps assess the characteristics of the foundation soil, drainage capacity, flood risk, and identify environmental factors affecting the factory structure. From there, engineers can propose suitable design solutions for the foundation, drainage, and ventilation systems.
After gathering all the survey information, the next step is to analyze needs and develop a preliminary plan. The business needs to clearly define the scale, functionality, technical requirements, and safety standards for the factory. At the same time, it should plan for construction timelines, investment budgets, human resources, and potential risks. A detailed plan will help optimize costs, minimize errors, and ensure construction progress.
After completing the survey and planning, the next step is to design detailed drawings to ensure that the project meets functionality, safety, and operational efficiency.
- Architectural Design: The architectural drawings include the layout, structure, wall systems, roofing, drainage, and fire protection (FIRE). Notably, in 2024, factory designs need to focus on sustainability, energy efficiency, and environmental friendliness, such as using green materials, optimizing natural light, and ventilation.
- Structural Design: This phase focuses on load calculations, material selection, and appropriate construction methods to ensure the durability and load-bearing capacity of the project. This is one of the most critical steps in the construction of a factory, helping to ensure that the structure is sustainable, safe, and meets technical standards.
- MEP Design (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing): The MEP system design includes mechanical, plumbing, air conditioning, and other auxiliary systems. In 2024, the trend of applying modern technology, automation, and renewable energy is increasingly emphasized to optimize operational costs and protect the environment.
A detailed and systematic design helps ensure that the construction project is completed on schedule, optimizes costs, and operates efficiently once put into use.
After completing the detailed design drawings, the business needs to carry out the procedures for design approval and apply for a construction permit to ensure that the project complies with legal regulations.
- Design Approval: The factory design documents must be submitted to the relevant authorities for inspection and approval. This process is intended to ensure that the project meets construction standards, occupational safety, fire prevention and fighting (FPF), and environmental protection. Obtaining design approval helps mitigate legal risks and ensures that the project is implemented in accordance with regulations.
- Construction Permit Application: The business must prepare complete legal documents, design drawings, and paperwork related to environmental protection and FPF to apply for a construction permit from the state management agency. This is a mandatory condition before starting construction, facilitating a smooth construction process and avoiding legal violations or suspension due to lack of permits.
Completing the approval and permit application procedures correctly will help the project be implemented legally, ensure progress, and minimize future risks.
After completing the legal procedures, the business needs to carry out the necessary preparations for construction to ensure the progress and quality of the project. This is a crucial phase that directly impacts the effectiveness of the factory design and construction.
- Selecting a contractor: The process of bidding or choosing a construction contractor with experience, capability, and compliance with technical standards is a key factor. A reputable contractor will ensure that the project is executed according to the design, safely, and to a high standard.
- Preparing materials and equipment: To ensure the project meets standards, the business needs to select high-quality, environmentally friendly building materials that are suitable for the design. Additionally, construction equipment must be inspected and maintained to ensure workplace safety and operational efficiency.
- Preparing the site: This phase includes leveling the ground, handling the foundation, and constructing temporary facilities such as site offices, worker accommodations, and storage for materials. This is an important step that facilitates a smooth construction process and adherence to the schedule.
An experienced contractor will have thorough preparations in place, helping to minimize risks, optimize time, and ensure construction progress.
After completing the preparation work in the design of the factory, the construction phase officially begins. This is an important step that determines the quality, durability, and safety of the factory.
- Foundation Construction: This phase includes excavating the foundation, installing piles, and pouring concrete for the foundation according to the structural design. The foundation work must strictly adhere to technical standards to ensure stability, load-bearing capacity, and long-term safety for the structure.
- Structural Frame Construction: Erecting the steel frame or reinforced concrete structure, including columns, beams, floors, and roofs. This is the main load-bearing framework, crucial for the stability and lifespan of the factory. This process requires high precision to ensure the structure is solid and meets standards.
- Wall and Roof Construction: Building the enclosing walls and installing the roof to complete the main structure. In 2024, the trend is to use insulation materials that are heat-resistant and energy-efficient to help the factory reduce electricity consumption and create a comfortable working environment.
- MEP System Installation: The MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, air conditioning, lighting systems, etc.) will be installed according to the design. Special attention should be paid to automation, energy savings, and integrating modern technologies to optimize operational efficiency for the factory.
The construction process needs to be closely monitored to ensure quality, progress, and compliance with safety standards.
After completing the main construction items based on the factory design drawings, the inspection and completion phase will help ensure that the project meets quality standards before being put into use.
- Quality inspection of the construction: The business needs to conduct a comprehensive inspection of each item according to current construction and safety standards. This includes:
+ Structural inspection: Assessing the durability and load-bearing capacity of the foundation, steel frame, roof, and walls.
+ MEP system inspection: Ensuring that the electrical, water, ventilation, and air conditioning systems operate according to design.
+ Occupational safety assessment: Inspecting the fire prevention and fighting system (FPFS), emergency exits, and other safety factors.
- Detailed completion: After passing the inspection, the factory will enter the completion phase, which includes:
+ Installing doors, painting walls, laying floors, installing furniture, and other auxiliary items.
+ Ensuring aesthetic factors, functionality, and comfort for workers.
Thorough inspection and completion help the project achieve high quality, ensuring safety, aesthetics, and readiness for operation.
After completing the inspection and finalization, the project will be accepted and handed over in preparation for use. This is an important step to ensure that the factory meets all standards for quality, safety, and legal compliance.
- Project Acceptance: The acceptance process will involve the investor, contractor, supervising unit, and relevant authorities. The parties will carry out:
+ A final inspection of the entire project, including the structure, MEP systems, fire prevention and fighting (FPF), and auxiliary items.
+ An assessment of quality, durability, and operational capability to ensure the project meets the standards according to the design and legal regulations.
- Handover of the Project: After the acceptance meets the requirements, the contractor will hand over the factory to the investor, including:
+ Completion documents (drawings, acceptance minutes, quality certificates, etc.).
+ Operating and maintenance instructions for the technical systems to ensure the project operates effectively and sustainably.
A thorough acceptance and handover process helps businesses safely put the factory into operation, in accordance with standards, and ready for production.
After commissioning, regular maintenance and upkeep are crucial factors that help the factory operate stably, safely, and sustainably over time.
- Develop a maintenance plan: Businesses need to establish a periodic maintenance plan for each component, including:
+ Inspecting the factory structure (foundations, columns, beams, roof) to detect and address early signs of deterioration.
+ Maintaining the MEP systems (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, air conditioning, fire protection) to ensure efficient operation.
+ Cleaning and inspecting the ventilation and heat insulation systems to save energy and create a good working environment.
- Carry out maintenance: Regular maintenance helps limit damage, reduce major repair costs, and maintain factory performance. Tasks that need to be performed include:
+ Inspecting and replacing damaged materials, applying waterproofing, and maintaining paint and insulation.
+ Cleaning the electrical systems, machinery, and production equipment to prevent accidents and ensure safety.
+ Repairing immediately upon discovering damage to avoid impacting the production process.
Proper maintenance and upkeep help the factory operate stably, extend the lifespan of the facility, and optimize operating costs.
Designing and constructing the factory according to the correct process not only optimizes functionality but also ensures safety, saves costs, and shortens construction time. To ensure the quality of the factory, businesses should choose a reputable design company with experience in industrial construction. Adhering to the proper factory design process will help businesses operate production efficiently, develop sustainably, and gain a competitive advantage in the long term. Contact BIC now for consultation on factory design and legal support.
