Design for assembly in construction system: three iterative upgrades of a panelized system

As a scientific design methodology, Design for Assembly (DFA) aims to enhance product assembly efficiency through the design simplification. Checkered Playroom, a children's activity building designed by Unitinno Architecture Studio, has been constructed in over 160 times in China, undergoing three iterations of design. This paper begins with a brief review of the development of DFA concepts, and then provides a detailed discussion of the design, composition and construction of the three generations of Checkered Playrooms. Finally, through an analysis of the assembly design of the three generations of Checkered Playrooms, design strategies for improving assembly efficiency are discussed, including the reduction of part quantity, the increase of module size, the improvements in module shapes, and the simplification of connection joints. These strategies can also be applied to other building system designs to enhance assembly efficiency.