OSC Attracts Attention from US and Japanese Construction Industries: "Possible to Reduce Construction Costs and Duration"

"Labor Shortage Problem, a Major Obstacle in Construction Industry"
"Utilizing PC Construction Method Can Reduce On-site Labor"

On the 23rd, the OSC Research Group held a symposium titled "OSC! New Paradigm of Innovation in Housing Supply" at the COEX Conference Room in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Heo Midam damdam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] As the domestic construction industry pays attention to Off-Site Construction (OSC) methods, it has been found that countries such as the United States and Japan are also utilizing OSC methods to address labor shortages and other issues.

The OSC Research Group held a symposium on the 23rd at the COEX conference room in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, under the theme "OSC! A New Paradigm for Innovation in Housing Supply."

Professor Choi Jin-wook of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), who was a speaker that day, gave a presentation titled "The Current Status and Prospects of OSC in the United States." Professor Choi pointed out "labor shortage" as a problem faced by the U.S. construction industry, stating, "The labor shortage issue is not new, but it has become more severe recently in the United States. This is related to a chain reaction of rising labor costs and consequently increased construction costs," adding, "The labor shortage is currently a major obstacle in the construction industry and is making future prospects even darker."

He said, "Applying the OSC method can reduce construction costs and time. In the U.S., these advantages have led to increased attention to OSC methods," adding, "Currently, OSC methods are widely used in regions such as California, New York, and Texas. Especially in California and New York, where labor is expensive, the high construction costs have naturally increased interest in OSC."

Professor Choi predicted, "The base of OSC is expected to expand rapidly. According to a McKinsey report, the global OSC market is forecasted to grow by about 9% annually," and "In the future, OSC methods will be used in various places such as hospitals, hotels, and schools across the United States."

Another speaker, Dr. Hiroshi Sakata, emphasized in his presentation titled "Recent Technological Status of Japanese PC Apartment Construction," that "PC construction methods are the core axis of OSC." The PC method is a construction technique where concrete structures such as columns, beams, and slabs are first manufactured in a factory and then transported to the construction site for assembly as part of OSC.

Dr. Sakata explained, "The Japanese construction industry generally uses three methods: ▲Wall-type PC method (W-PC), ▲Ramen PC method (R-PC), and ▲Wall-type Ramen PC method (WR-PC)." He added, "The wall-type PC method can only be applied to buildings up to five stories according to local laws, the Ramen PC method can be applied to super high-rise buildings of 50 to 60 stories, and the wall-type Ramen PC method combines the advantages of the first two methods but can only be used for buildings up to 15 stories."

He said, "The advantages of these PC methods include significant shortening of construction time and reduction of labor at the site," adding, "Regarding current environmental issues, using PC methods is effective as it consumes fewer resources."