Panel: Automation in factories can speed production and draw a new workforce to factory‑built homes

Brian Culker of the International Code Council said bringing construction into factories opens opportunities for automation that reduce waste and speed assembly; he described automation's role in quality assurance and larger‑scale materials. "We fundamentally believe that safety and affordability go hand in hand," Culker said, arguing that automation can improve both.

Dr. Leslie Gu of the Manufactured Housing Institute described factory tours showing automation that eases physical labor and accelerates output; she said automation helps factories attract a broader pool of workers, including women and younger people. Both panelists framed automation as a way to address an aging construction workforce while improving affordability and product consistency.