North America Lags in Productization and DfMA Adoption, but Momentum Is Building

New Dodge Construction Network and Autodesk research points to low current use, strong future demand, and measurable performance gains

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--North America trails global peers in the adoption of productization and Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA), according to new research from Dodge Construction Network (Dodge) in partnership with Autodesk. However, the findings point to a market poised for growth, with increasing demand, proven benefits, and strong industry intent to expand use.

Published in The Rise of Industrialized Construction SmartMarket Brief, the study shows North America lags Australia/New Zealand, Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom/Ireland in implementing these advanced construction methods. Yet many owners, designers, and contractors familiar with these approaches plan to increase adoption, and building product manufacturers expect industrialized construction to become standard practice within three to five years.

“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,” said Donna Laquidara-Carr, PhD, LEED AP, Industry Insights Research Director at Dodge. “The opportunity now is to close the gap by addressing long-standing barriers and enabling teams to work in more connected, efficient ways.”

Adoption Remains Limited

While prefabrication is widely used in North America (73% of practitioners familiar with industrialized construction), adoption drops significantly for more advanced methods:

• 35% use productization
• 17% use DfMA
• Both trail the global average of 49%

Awareness is also lower, with only about half of practitioners reporting moderate familiarity—well below global benchmarks.

Benefits Are Clear for Early Adopters

Among those using productization or DfMA:

• 73% report improved schedule performance
• 47% cite greater cost predictability and more consistent, reusable design
• 60% believe productization would improve project outcomes

Demand Is Growing Among Those Familiar with Industrialized Construction

Intent to expand use is strong:

• 59% plan to increase productization
• 57% plan to increase DfMA within three years
• At least 75% expect these methods to become standard at their organization across a significant share of projects

Barriers Are Holding the Market Back

Key challenges include:

• Traditional procurement models (69%), which limit early collaboration
• Lack of knowledge (55%), with limited access to practical guidance
• Weak supply chain integration, with few long-term partnerships in place

A Market at an Inflection Point

The gap between current adoption and future intent is significant, but so is the opportunity. Results from more mature markets show that productization and DfMA can consistently improve speed, cost predictability, and project outcomes—if industry barriers are addressed.

About the Report

The Rise of Industrialized Construction SmartMarket Brief was developed by Dodge Construction Network in partnership with Autodesk. The study examines adoption of prefabrication, productization, and DfMA across global markets, including responses from practitioners in the United States and Canada.

For more construction industry data and insights, visit construction.com.

About Dodge Construction Network

Dodge Construction Network harnesses data, analytics, and industry connections to be the leading source of insights and opportunities in the commercial construction industry. With five trusted solutions – Dodge One, The Blue Book, Sweets, IMS, and Principia - Dodge connects construction professionals across all stages of the building process. Designed for both small teams and large enterprises, these tools simplify complexity, empowering you to build thriving businesses and communities. With over a century of experience, Dodge Construction Network is the catalyst for modern construction. To learn more, visit construction.com.

About Autodesk

The world’s designers, engineers, builders, and creators trust Autodesk to help them design and make anything. From the buildings we live and work in, to the cars we drive and the bridges we drive over. From the products we use and rely on, to the movies and games that inspire us. Autodesk’s Design and Make Platform unlocks the power of data to accelerate insights and automate processes, empowering our customers with the technology to create the world around us and deliver better outcomes for their business and the planet. For more information, visit autodesk.com or follow @autodesk. #MakeAnything