The ConTechCrew The Industrial Shift in Construction for Contractors to Survive and Scale with Jonathan Marsh
Oct 7, 2025
Jonathan Marsh, a construction technologist and founder of Steel Toe Consulting, dives into key insights from the MCAA Fab conference. He discusses the rising trend of prefabrication, emphasizing shifts toward manufacturing standards. Marsh also highlights the pressing roles of AI and robotics in transforming the industry. The conversation uncovers how contractors need to choose their focus—be it manufacturing, installation, or service—to thrive amid labor shortages and market disparities. It's an engaging look at the future of construction!
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Post-Event Processing Matters
- Jonathan described needing downtime after event tours to process ideas and avoid disruptive overload.
- He said staging sessions at MCAA Fab pulled collective intelligence from diverse companies and roles.
Give Process, Not Just Drawings
- Binsky shifted from contractor mindset to manufacturer mindset by prescribing processes, not just drawings.
- That supply of needs-and-methods pushes contractors closer to an industrialized manufacturing model.
Properly Funded Innovation Works
- Conovate exemplified a funded, staffed innovation hub that solves company problems and prototypes materials and processes.
- Effective innovation teams need communication, resources, and authority to act as the company's