Concurrent Design for Industrial Buildings
In a market where speed, cost efficiency, and flexibility drive decision-making, manufacturers are rethinking how they approach facility selection and design. Concurrent manufacturing process and facility design is emerging as a powerful strategy, especially when evaluating existing industrial buildings.
By aligning manufacturing requirements with facility capabilities from the start, companies can transform existing spaces into high-performing, production-ready environments faster and more cost-effectively than new construction.
What Is Concurrent Design?
Concurrent design is an integrated approach where manufacturing processes, equipment layouts, and facility requirements are developed simultaneously. Instead of forcing a process into a building or building from scratch, this method ensures both evolve together, unlocking smarter, more efficient solutions.
Why Concurrent Design Matters for Existing Industrial Buildings
Faster Speed to Production
Time is often the most critical factor for manufacturers. Concurrent design accelerates timelines by identifying building fit early, before costly redesigns occur. By evaluating factors like column spacing, ceiling heights, floor loads, dock configurations, and utilities, tenants can move from lease execution to production startup faster, giving them a clear competitive advantage.
Lower Costs, Smarter Investments
Concurrent design reduces unnecessary capital spend by focusing only on what truly matters. Manufacturers can leverage existing building assets (power, floors, cranes), avoid overbuilding or excessive retrofits, and prioritize high-impact upgrades. This results in lower upfront costs, improved lease economics, and faster ROI, making existing buildings a financially attractive alternative to new construction.
Built-In Flexibility for Future Growth
Modern manufacturing demands adaptability. Concurrent design supports this through modular layouts, scalable infrastructure, and optimized workflows. Even buildings with perceived limitations, such as irregular layouts, can be optimized through smarter process design rather than structural changes. The result is a facility that evolves with the business, reducing the need for relocation.
Reduced Risk and Greater Confidence
Evaluating manufacturing, facility, and regulatory requirements together allows teams to identify potential issues early, when they are easier and less expensive to solve. This includes material flow challenges, safety and compliance considerations, and environmental requirements. Early alignment leads to fewer surprises, smoother execution, and stronger confidence for both tenants and stakeholders.
Supporting Sustainability Goals
Adaptive reuse is no longer a compromise; it’s a strategic advantage. Concurrent design enhances sustainability by reducing the need for new construction, lowering environmental impact, and optimizing energy and space utilization. For many organizations, this directly supports ESG initiatives and strengthens community redevelopment efforts.
A Smarter Way to Position Industrial Real Estate
Concurrent design shifts the narrative around existing buildings. Instead of being seen as outdated or limiting, they become faster to deploy, more cost-effective, more operationally flexible, and lower-risk. For brokers and owners, this creates a compelling value proposition that resonates with modern manufacturers.
Partner with The Productivity Team
The Productivity Team (TPT) combines manufacturing engineering and facility expertise to help clients evaluate and optimize industrial spaces through a manufacturing-first lens. Our team supports real estate stakeholders by conducting facility assessments aligned with manufacturing needs, identifying strategic upgrades and improvements, and positioning properties to attract and retain long-term tenants.
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