AP600 modularization allows many more construction activities to proceed in parallel. This reduces the calendar time for plant construction and thereby reduces the cost of money and the exposure risks associated with plant financing. Secondly, with many more construction activities occurring off-site in factory-type and shipyard environments, the amount of skilled field craft labor needed to complete the plant is reduced. Shop labor costs substantially less than field labor. In addition to the labor cost savings, having more welding and fabrication performed in factory environments increases the quality of the work, increases the flexibility in scheduling, and reduces the amount of specialized tools on site.