Interlocking Bricks: Production Technology Presentation

Introduction

• With the increase in human population, the availability of many resources is becoming scarce as the days go by.
• Individuals have the increased need to acquire basic needs, own property and live a luxurious life.
• Due to this fact, there has been an increase in the demand for goods and services over the years (Heizer and Render, 2011).
• Owning a home is among the main dreams of every adult in the world.
• This has however proven to be difficult due to the rise in the cost of factors of production.
• This includes factors such as land, raw materials and labor.
• As a result, building houses has become an expensive activity (LCH, 2011).

Interlocking Bricks

• However, there has been an advancement on the process of building and construction.
• The use of interlocking bricks has tremendously reduced the cost of building.
• It is cheap to buy or manufacture these bricks as compared to buying stones for construction.
• In addition, they require the use of minimal amount of cement.
• This in turn reduces the cost of construction.
• Other advantages of using interlocking bricks for construction include:
  • They produces relatively strong buildings as compared to other modes of construction.
  • The buildings that are constructed using this technology are more attractive as compared to buildings constructed using other methods.
  • The technology is environment friendly.
  • It is not labor intensive.
  • Construction of building takes a shorter time.
• This new technology commenced to be used in the mid 1990`s (Ndirangu, 2009).
• However, its mass production commenced in the 21 century.
• Many buildings in both rural and urban centers have been constructed using the technology.
• Constructors and developers have discovered the benefits of this new technology hence its massive application.
• These bricks are manufactured with the use of special machines.
• These machines mix and compress sand and cement together in appropriate ratios.
• The mixture is then dried under intense heat, producing bricks that are hard and strong.
• These bricks are manufactured in different shapes and designs depending on the taste and preference of the client.
• In construction, the bricks are arranged in such a way that they interlock with each other, producing a strong wall.
• Several organizations and building and construction companies have adopted this new method of construction.
• They include:
  • Low Cost Housing International.
  • Hydraform PVT Limited (India).
  • UN Habitat.
• These companies enjoy the following benefits:
  • Reduced competition since their market is not flooded.
  • Lower costs of production.
  • Availability of cheap labor (it requires mostly unskilled labor).
  • Readily available market.
  • High levels of profitability.

References

Heizer, J., & Render, B. (2011). Operations management. Boston, MA: Prentice-Hall.

LCH. (2011). Interlocking Bricks. LCH International. Web.

Ndirangu, M. (2009). Building and Construction in the 21st Century. Nairobi: Longhorn.