science

Kit-of-parts

Kit-of-parts is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Kit-of-parts rather than just read about it. In short: Kit-of-parts theory refers to the study and application of object-oriented building techniques, where building components are pre-designed / pre-engineered / pre-fabricated for inclusion in joint-based (linear element), panel-based (planar element), module-based (solid element), and deployable (time element) construction systems. Construction Kit-of-parts construction is a special subset of pre-fabrication that not…

Key takeaways

Kit-of-parts belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Kit-of-parts to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Kit-of-parts from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Kit-of-parts theory refers to the study and application of object-oriented building techniques, where building components are pre-designed / pre-engineered / pre-fabricated for inclusion in joint-based (linear element), panel-based (planar element), module-based (solid element), and deployable (time element) construction systems.

Construction Kit-of-parts construction is a special subset of pre-fabrication that not only attempts to achieve flexibility in assembly and efficiency in manufacture, but also by definition requires a capacity for demountability, disassembly, and reuse. Kit-of-parts structures can be assembled and taken apart in a variety of ways like a construction toy. In 2023, a consortium led by Akerlof Ltd were commissioned by MHCLG to develop a digital kit of parts for low rise housing, using MMC.

Architecture Kit-of-parts architecture involves organizing the individual parts and raw material in a building into assemblies of standard easy-to-manufacture components, sized for convenient handling or according to shipping constraints. The construction of the building is carried out on the assembly level as opposed to the raw material level. The architect defines a parts library describing every major assembly in the building. The assemblies are conceived in a systematic way, based on certain rules such as increment, size, or by shape grammar. Standard, simple connections between the assemblies are carefully defined, so the number of possible shapes and appearance the parts can take is limitless.

Philosophy Kit-of-parts philosophy goes hand in hand with advanced manufacturing, automation, and computer and information technologies. Handling multiple identical components as instances of a master element is an efficient use of the computer in the planning stage, and use of standard components can take advantage of mass-production and mass-customization manufacturing technologies.

MESR Some engineering fields refer to kit-of-parts using the acronym MESR, which stands for the following:

Modular – Systems and subsystems are designed such that discrete unit processes can be replaced with upgraded / enhanced technology as it becomes available. Extensible – Initial components and subsystems delivered with a structure or vehicle are not discarded or replaced as additional unit processes are added during subsequent stages of development. Scalable – Components and subsystems can be coupled / decoupled as required to accommodate specific design loads. Reconfigurable – Components and subsystems can be moved between locations and / or subsystems to perform a similar or identical function.

See also E. Ambasz (Ed.). (1972). Italy: The New Domestic Landscape, Achievements and Problems of Italian Design. New York: The Museum of Modern Art. A. Allison (2002). PREFAB. Salt Lake City: Gibbs Smith. C. Davies (1988). High Tech Architecture. London: Thames and Hudson. I. Ebong (2005). Kit Homes Modern. New York, NY, USA: Harper Collins Publishers. S. Kendall; J. Teicher (2000). Residential Open Building. London & New York: E & FN Spon. R. Kronenburg (2002). Houses in Motion. Great Britain: Wiley-Academy. R. Kronenburg (2003). Portable Architecture. Oxford: Elsevier / Architectural Press. K. Kurokawa (1977). Metabolism in Architecture. Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press, Inc. T. Nakamura (ed.). (1988). Norman Foster 1964–1987. A + U Architecture and Urbanism, May Extra Edition. M. Pawley (1993). Future Systems: The Story of Tomorrow. London: Phaidon Press Limited. J. Siegal (2002). Mobile: The art of portable architecture. USA: Princetion Architectutal Press. W. J. Van Heuvel (1992). Structuralism in Dutch Architecture. Rotterdam: Uitgeverij Publishers.

References

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Kit-of-parts

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Kit-of-parts claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Kit-of-parts before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Kit-of-parts ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Kit-of-parts

In research: Kit-of-parts appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Kit-of-parts in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Kit-of-parts is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Manufacturing, Prefabricated buildings, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Kit-of-parts outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Kit-of-parts in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Kit-of-parts means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Kit-of-parts out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Kit-of-parts in simple terms?

Why does Kit-of-parts matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Kit-of-parts?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Kit-of-parts.