BIM, or Building Information Modeling, is a process that has revolutionized the architecture, engineering, and construction industries.
However, its use has only recently become mainstream in the construction world. The main advantage of BIM is that it allows stakeholders to collaborate more effectively on projects by providing a single source of information.
This blog post will discuss the eight tips for successful BIM implementation. By following our tips and guidelines, you can ensure a successful and efficient BIM implementation plan, so let’s get started right away.
The first step in any successful BIM implementation is to get buy-in from senior management and other stakeholders. They need to make the final decision to transition to BIM, which can be an elaborate process. Without their support, the rest of your efforts will be for naught.
Implementing BIM can be a costly and time-consuming process. So you may encounter some resistance from the stakeholders and the top management.
That’s why you should present a clear business case for BIM that outlines the many benefits it can bring to the organization. You can discuss how the upfront costs for BIM implementation are negligible in the long run. Also, it might help if you could provide some case studies on how other competing businesses are using BIM in their processes.
Once you get their approval, you can move to the next logical step.
This is where the real work begins. A BIM Implementation Plan (BIP) is a structured, comprehensive document that helps your company identify the various benefits, scopes, and roles that come with implementing BIM in the different project phases.
A good BIM Implementation Plan will cover:
This document can be used as a guide for a successful transition to BIM. It will also help in getting everyone on the same page and ensure a clear understanding of the expectations, requirements, and goals for BIM.
One of the most important (but often overlooked) aspects of a successful BIM implementation is setting SMART goals. This will help ensure that everyone involved in the process is working towards the same objectives and has a clear idea of the final outcome.
Some good goals can include:
Don’t forget to keep a realistic state of mind when setting the BIM goals. Otherwise, you might get high expectations and rush the results into an unsuccessful implementation.
Once everything is set and well-documented, it’s time to move to the next important step.
Now that you have everything lined up, it’s time to select the software that will be used for the BIM implementation. You need to find software that meets your specific needs and is compatible with the rest of your organization’s systems.
The selection process can be daunting, but there are many factors to consider when choosing BIM software, such as:
Do your own research and choose software that perfectly fits your company’s needs. It should be quality software that will satisfy all future workflows of the projects.
We personally discovered that Allplan BIM software is our best go-to solution for our projects, but don’t take our word for it, make your own testing. You can even try a couple of software apps and check their features before purchasing since most offer free testing trials.
Also, don’t base your decision just on price. Almost every high-quality BIM suite usually costs more, but it will save you money in the long run and make the implementation process as smooth as possible.
Now that you have the software, it’s time to assemble your team who will work with it. You will need people with different skill sets who can work together cohesively to create and manage BIM models.
The team can consist of:
As a team leader, you should train your team members on how to use the software and get them up to speed on the company’s standards and procedures. This is an essential step in ensuring a successful BIM implementation.
With proper training, teams will adapt faster and are less likely to struggle which could lead to frustration and project delays.
It might also be helpful to establish a mentorship program so that new users can learn from more experienced employees. This will help shorten the learning curve and ensure that everyone is up to speed on the software.
Next, it’s time to set the standards and processes for creating and managing BIM models. In this step, you should plan out all methods of communication between the different stakeholders affected by the project.
This plan can be in the form of a table where everything is clearly mapped out about who is interacting with who, the obligations of each team member, the deliverables, etc.
Also, you should define the standards for the objects you’ll be using in your projects. In addition, with the help of your new BIM software, you can set up standardized model templates that will make your team’s job much easier.
Setting up model templates will make everything quicker and will help your team get used to the new system easier. Also, it will ensure everyone is working from the same, standardized models.
For your BIM implementation to be successful, you need to continuously monitor and evaluate the process.
Make sure to track how well the software is working with your company’s workflows, how efficiently everyone is using it, and if any areas need improvement.
Based on this information, you can then adjust your standards and processes as needed. This will help ensure that the BIM implementation is always up-to-date and meets your company’s needs.
It’s also a good idea to establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to track project progress and the overall success of the BIM implementation.
Monitoring, evaluating, and adjusting the BIM implementation as needed is essential to a successful deployment.
The final tip is to keep up with the latest industry changes. Technology is constantly evolving, and you need to make sure that your BIM implementation plan can adapt to these changes.
For example, new software features might be released, or new methods of communication could become available. Make sure that your team is always learning about the latest trends that can be used in their workflows.
BIM is a constantly changing technology, and you need to make sure that your company’s BIM implementation plan can adapt as needed. And by adapting to small regular changes over time, you will embrace the BIM technology to the fullest.
Remember, implementing BIM can’t happen instantly overnight. For a successful BIM implementation, you need to have patience.
According to our experience, it will take some time for everyone on your team to get used to the new system and run it smoothly. But with hard work and dedication, you can successfully implement BIM in your construction process. And once you do, you’ll see all of the benefits that come with it!
Take our example…
Breon has been investing in BIM technology since 2015 to become fully BIM-ready – as we are today. Our professionals considered a wide range of processes that include auditing the systems, mitigating risks, relentless planning for the actual BIM implementation, and constant evaluation.
Along the way, we’ve picked up these eight tips that can help you to successfully implement BIM in your business. So make sure to follow them if you want to change your construction business for the better, and let us know if we can help you with your future BIM projects.
References:
https://revizto.com/en/bim-implementation-plan/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877705814019419
https://www.bimspot.io/blogs/how-to-implement-bim/
https://www.thenbs.com/knowledge/10-rules-for-a-successful-bim-implementation
https://www.kreo.net/blog/how-to-implement-bim-and-improve-your-construction-process
