(example)
Example: Replacing a Build Step with Information
This example illustrates how Open Source Ecology (OSE) replaces recurring construction labor with upfront design and specification, eliminating entire build steps rather than accelerating them.
Conventional Build Step (Labor Exists)
Scenario: Interior wall electrical rough-in
Typical field process:
- Carpenter frames wall.
- Electrician arrives later.
- Electrician measures stud bays and decides box heights.
- Holes are drilled and wires are routed and stapled.
- Inspector verifies placement and clearances.
- Drywall work is delayed or works around incomplete bays.
- Electrician returns to correct conflicts or inspection issues.
Hidden labor present:
- Measuring and layout
- Drawing interpretation
- Field decision-making
- Trade coordination
- Waiting between steps
- Rework and callbacks
Although classified as electrical labor, most of this work exists due to uncertainty rather than physical necessity.
OSE Replacement: Information Eliminates the Step
OSE replaces this workflow with a fully specified wall module drawing set that functions as an executable specification rather than advisory documentation.
The drawing set includes:
- Fixed stud spacing
- Fixed electrical box heights relative to a datum
- Fixed wire routing paths
- Predefined hole locations
- Fastener schedules
- Electrical ports at module boundaries
These specifications remove all discretionary field decisions.
Wall module assembly proceeds as follows:
- Pre-cut studs are placed into a jig.
- Electrical boxes snap into indexed locations.
- Wiring is placed into predefined channels or indexed holes.
- The module is closed and sealed.
- Quality control is pass/fail against the specification.
Remaining labor is limited to physical actions such as placing, fastening, and joining components.
Labor Eliminated by Design
| Eliminated Labor | Replaced By |
|---|---|
| Measuring and layout | Dimensioned CAD |
| Judgment and interpretation | Fixed standards |
| Trade coordination | Module completeness |
| Inspection negotiation | Pre-approval and evidence |
| Rework and callbacks | Elimination of degrees of freedom |
System-Level Impact
The conventional process allocates approximately 15–25% of wall-related labor to layout, coordination, and correction. In the OSE system, this labor is removed entirely and replaced with a one-time design effort amortized across all builds.
This example demonstrates how OSE replaces labor with information to collapse all-in labor toward the physical minimum.