A SYNCHRO WHITE PAPER: WIN NEW WORK IN A TOUGH ECONOMY AND COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT WITH THE HIGH-DEFINITION OF 4D BY TOM DENGENIS, CEO
SYNCHRO LTD. “It is notable that the world’s most advanced 4D system is produced by Synchro.” – 2008 BIM Revolution: Centre for Process Innovation
Win New Work with Fast, Effective Communications and Striking Presentations When presenting a project to a client or owner’s selection team, it’s critical to communicate clearly your vision and construction methodology to win support and to differentiate your approach from competitors. Clearly, although the presentation creates a lasting impression, it must be backed by thorough planning, scheduling, what-if analysis, team collaboration, and result in a presentation that is much more than the idea of the project: winning presentations offer the actual delivery approach ready for action. 4D enables users to find innovative delivery approaches that work -- with less risk and higher certainty through the rapid project simulation process, CPM scheduling, and team collaboration -- to find and present the winning project delivery approach. Project simulations and what-if analysis quickly and effectively adds clarity beyond stand-alone traditional methods using time-scaled accuracy while a CPM scheduling engine and sideby-side capabilities facilitate quick answers to audience questioning. We cite in this paper four of many clients who have won significant new business in which 4D was presented to selection teams. How did our 4D help win new business? The Crucial Value of Certainty to Clients and Owners See construction delivery through the eyes of clients and owners, and ask this one simple question: what is their key objective? In one word, it’s certainty. As clients assume the most risk, they seek to make the right decision as to which construction team to contract for the project delivery. Most clients or owners know that construction projects will succeed or fail largely on the basis of how well a team works together to handle problems, explore options and manage solutions. Uncertainty emerges from innovative designs, tight and unforeseen site conditions, unplanned events and change orders: all can disrupt momentum, add time and cost, create more risk and jeopardise quality. If a delivery team can’t rapidly develop and share a clear, integrated view of the project plan under continually evolving project conditions, then how can they communicate and resolve issues efficiently? Clients and owners share with you other potential concerns: How can you connect exciting designs and difficult site conditions with construction scheduling? And coordinate the essential details to still deliver work on time and on budget? How should you allocate and coordinate work space to optimise the project delivery? How can you ensure greater project safety? 1
How will you manage competing points of view or delivery approaches? How will you effectively synchronise the delivery team efforts? Is your strategy to analyse and manage risk performing well enough to explain key issues and how will you best manage the inevitable issues? How do you track and report progress clearly or measure earned value accurately?
As you can add certainty in answering these questions, then the odds improve in your favour to build client confidence and win new business. As your vision and perspective improve for a project, then you become far better positioned to answer tough questions and increase certainty through better technology attuned to 4D. You now have the capability to improve your new business results through 4D modelling, planning and scheduling software, which empowers you with sharper perspective and enables you to share your vision with clients, owners and governing agencies in the pursuit of new business. 4D/5D scheduling enables you to create and/or consolidate project management data from legacy CPM scheduling software as well as project costs systems (adding the 5th dimension) to enable the entire delivery team to share one virtual vision of a project in real-time displayed with the clarity needed to have and to show confidence in your delivery approaches (4D = 3D + Time; 5D = 3D + Time + Cost). Share Your Vision for Construction Delivery in High-Def To prove to clients and owners the value added by your vision for construction delivery in a highly competitive environment, first, you must be able to share your vision in its most highly presentable light in high-definition. Clients and owners value innovation and well vetted approaches, and you will be judged competitively by the clarity of your vision: it is often deemed as a precursor of your ability to add the value of certainty to a project. Clarity of vision is simply an indicator of competence as one cannot manage optimally what one can’t see clearly. Clients and owners diligently test for blind spots that increase risk and management demand before they contract. 4D scheduling enables construction delivery teams to rapidly create, optimise and share their vision. With 4D scheduling, your entire construction delivery team – clients, owners, engineers, architects, constructors, subcontractors, manufacturers and materials’ suppliers – can share a single view of the entire project. Like no other process available to the industry today, 4D scheduling enables the construction delivery team to clearly define delivery approaches, explore options and manage solutions. As the lead contractor for construction services, every participant in the process expects: Clearly defined processes to manage corporate responsibilities, protect workers’ health and safety, care for the environment and deliver shareholder value Control over project planning and scheduling, site logistics and the dynamic field conditions to minimise uncertainty, risk, miscommunications, lost production and rework Efficient task sequencing and planning of work spaces Integrated processes that enable consistency in the scheduling process as project schedules evolve from feasibility levels to weekly construction site task lists. Promotion of innovation and value engineering Clear project tracking with easy to understand planned versus actual progress monitoring Shorter overall project delivery Explore Options for Competitive Advantage 4D scheduling brings pre-construction project visualisation to new heights to help see how to deliver your projects on-target. It avoids weak off-the-cuff and typical, project delivery 2
approaches that are not fit for purpose but rather are standard and consequently uninspiring, given the uniqueness of every worthy new pursuit. The delivery team’s greatest challenges often demand that they identify the most promising options to solve construction problems, select the best competing ideas to implement, and then quickly and effectively communicate these approaches to the client. 4D scheduling must effectively support a shared vision of the project to help clarify and resolve competing solutions: Review and analyse several scenarios in powerful side-by-side graphical simulation Understand the effects on earned value and time, if required for competitive selection, and keep up-to-date while tracking performance during delivery. Compare your options so that the best solutions consistently emerge to add real value. Target uncertainty right from the beginning: use the key team members and subject matter experts, as needed, to participate in the process of eliminating uncertainty without adding complexity to the process. Sell Your Ability to Manage Solutions not just have the lowest price By most measures, the construction industry is unpredictable, above all, in delivery time, cost and quality. 4D enables you to better manage the essential activities of construction delivery to ensure project success right from the beginning, during the delivery and right to the end while commissioning the project for completion: Synchronise planning and delivery workflow Dynamically share one vision of the entire project Handle continuous and iterative design activities in stride Coordinate multiple planning iterations Support a geographically-distributed delivery team Integrate the supply chain at a detailed level Enable dynamic team participation Reduce project rework Promote effective pre-construction constructability studies and thorough design review Promote better project estimating and cost analysis Improve project monitoring by comparing planned verses actual project performance Synchronise project schedules Communicate clearly and concisely. When 4D scheduling is used, project members experience the full power of team effectiveness and synergy through clear communications and thorough delivery analysis. Deliver Increased Certainty: Explore Options, Eliminate Waste, and Discover Innovative and Effective Approaches Construction project delivery demands high levels of certainty and detail to manage risk. Without effective supporting technology, continuous industrial improvement and real innovation are elusive. 4D scheduling supports early problem-solving and low-cost iterative exploration of innovations. 4D comprehensive scheduling capabilities keep solutions logically connected where the impact of changes can be quickly understood. Integrate and Synchronise Your Delivery Team Involving the wider delivery team is always required but it can be a real challenge. Involving more people is counterintuitive and complicates matters when a convergent approach will solve problems more quickly. When pressed for time and deadlines loom, effective options have always been elusive and are inherently limited.
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However, the requirements for certainty and safe construction operations are omnipresent. When unique concerns are present, more options are required, not less. With Synchro, involving more people is easy, logical and a straight route to higher certainty. Supply chain integration is difficult to achieve. However, its absence is the root cause of project delays and site interruptions. 4D scheduling supports the logical integration of every subcontractor and major supplier on the project. Supply chain integration requires support on both sides of the contractual relationship to plan and schedule activities, track progress as well as identify and isolate risk at the task level of the schedule. 4D scheduling will create schedules collaboratively in a fully integrated environment and enables you to monitor work activities to effectively analyse progress. Another key aspect of the visual 4D scheduling display is to help eliminate work area clashes between companies, work crews or material delivery requirements before they adversely affect your site. FOUR WINNING CASE STUDY SNAPSHOTS By way of illustration, consider how our clients have used the high-definition of 4D to win new work in a tough economy and highly competitive environment. We offer four case studies of clients who used 4D effectively in winning their projects: 1) Turner Construction won new work constructing a terminal at an international airport 2) Rudolph & Sletten won a cardio-vascular project for a leading healthcare system 3) Manitoba Hydro won approval for its proposal for a hydro-electric power station by a Canadian province’s regulatory authority 4) Power Construction has won commercial construction projects using our 4D. CASE STUDY 1: Turner Construction Project: Sacramento International Airport's Terminal B "Synchro assisted us in demonstrating our knowledge of the project and our ability to solve key issues through the use of 4D simulation. Synchro is an extremely efficient tool that helped us illustrate the effectiveness of how the Turner Team would be a collaborative partner in one of the largest public works projects in the history of Sacramento County." -- Ken Harms, Business Development Manager at Turner Construction Turner Construction competed to win a $286 million new airside concourse project, which included 19 gates and numerous international arrival services. The 40 year-old Terminal B modernisation project began in order to meet the rising demand for passenger services and enhance the ability of the airport to attract new carriers and routes for the Sacramento County Airport Systems. Turner is the leading general builder in the U.S., ranking first or second in the major segments of the building construction field. At the time, Turner had completed $9.6 billion of construction. Turner offers clients a nationwide network of offices across the U.S. Founded in 1902, the firm is a subsidiary of HOCHTIEF. Turner selected the Synchro software application for these reasons: Turner wanted to demonstrate to the owner that they had the capability to fit scheduling around phasing. Turner wanted to make clear to the client and owner, how to visualize Turner's resource allocation system, which was not a bell curve, but rather a steep mountain of manpower requirements, to be climbed fast. Synchro enabled Turner clearly to visualise the schedule and utilise the unique features of the software, before presenting to the client. If the owner preferred different phasing, Synchro could change it and show how phasing was cost-connected.
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Turner also wanted to increase communications with the owner to help them visualize problems early. The software provided clear, visual scheduling of the construction 4D modelling.
The Synchro simulation became a powerful tool to demonstrate resource needs to the owner. Synchro provided:
Conversion of 2D drawings into a 3D model support Construction modelling support 4D simulation and planning support Support during the competitive bid process Training of the Project Management and Business Development Team
Synchro became an efficient tool for problem solving and also allowed Turner to simulate efficiently in the design phase to prevent the following problems during the building phase: Synchro visualized and avoided the need to move repeatedly thousands of feet of airport security fence during the life of the project. Synchro simulated how one crane, instead of two, would suffice to help assure the crane's height and boom were correct. It allowed for less congestion in the construction area and increased safety for the workers as well as lowering costs. Synchro revealed the need for an unplanned but critically necessary temporary road for construction traffic to keep essential airside operations flowing and functional. Synchronized an optimal paving schedule to prevent blocking the runway for planes to the terminal for 32 days. Improved work site zones and phasing sequences with a specific emphasis on safety for workers onsite. "We rely heavily on field staff to present solutions during the bidding presentation. They had done the work and knew the job best. With Synchro, we placed them in the best position to be successful. The Synchro simulation was a successful tool in helping Turner attain success," said Ken Harms (now with Gibane Building Company). "Synchro helped us communicate efficiently in order to achieve our goals. We had all the data but we needed to understand how to communicate it effectively with our client and come out the winner." Read the Full Case Study: (Link: http://www.synchroltd.com/news/CS20081217145211). CASE STUDY 2: Rudolph and Sletten Project: UCSF Cardiovascular Research Institute "We used Synchro's 4D BIM schedule simulation to communicate among the project stakeholders the complex construction sequences and site logistics. The ability to see clearly the schedule sequences creates a team dialogue and encourages creative problem solving." --Michael Piotrkowski, Director of Technical Development, Rudolph and Sletten The University of California at San Francisco is a leading university that advances health worldwide by conducting advanced biomedical research, educating graduate students in the life sciences and health professions, and providing complex patient care. Their new building will be a collaborative centre that brings basic research scientists and clinicians together under the same roof, thus accelerating their efforts to understand cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attack and stroke. It will house the existing worldrenowned UCSF Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI), and will be home to a new UCSF Center for Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease.
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The new building will enable UCSF to bring together scientists and clinicians who are now dispersed over several sites, while also integrating many levels of research aimed at understanding, preventing and treating these diseases. By pooling physicians' knowledge of physiology and disease with basic scientists' understanding of genetics, chemistry, protein interactions, molecular and cell biology, and model systems, UCSF hopes to attain a level of sophistication in thinking about disease mechanisms that would not otherwise be possible. Facilitating that type of collaboration has been a guiding factor in planning the new facility, including its proximity to the cancer research building. UCSF has shown throughout its history that interaction of scientists with different skills and knowledge is the key to valuable discovery and quicker "translation" of research into patient care. Rudolph and Sletten consulted with View by View of San Francisco on using 4D for the project. Rudolph and Sletten is known for its innovative approach to building and ethics in business dealings. More than 85% of its business is from repeat clients. Rudolph and Sletten is a subsidiary of Tutor Perini Corporation, the 9th largest general contractor in the nation as ranked by Engineering News Record. The new 232,000 square-foot building focusing on cardiovascular disease will include "clusters" of about 20 faculty offices on each of its three floors, which are joined by a central staircase. Flexible laboratory space will accommodate nearly 500 graduate students, post-doctoral scientists and other researchers. Synchro provided: Technical back-up to the consultant, View by View Highly responsive client service Construction modeling support for Rudolph and Sletten Rudolph and Sletten and View By View were able to optimize the added value of BIM for delivery: Synchro provided the delivery team onsite with a shared, common view of the project among all participants in the project "Big Room" co-location facility on the worksite. Synchro's scheduling capabilities enhanced their ability to sequence optimally, for example, the site logistics and exterior skin system of the new building. Synchro enables the delivery team to communicate better among the construction delivery team, consultant and the client/philanthropic teams at UCSF. The construction team with Synchro embodies USCF's own philosophy on the worksite about the vital importance of proximate "relational teams" working collaboratively to solve complex problems. Synchro provided leading construction technology to contribute to the construction of this scientific research institute, which could benefit so many people from its medical advances. "Synchro has been useful at UCSF to schedule site logistics," said Mitch Boryslawski, Principal at View By View. "It is so helpful to identify and address potential scheduling problems early with 4D BIM software." Read the Full Case Study: (Link: http://www.synchroltd.com/news/CS20091120124959). CASE STUDY 3: Manitoba Hydro Project: Wuskwatim Power Generating Station "The multiple views -- the bird's eye and plan views -- are key to showing the overall picture. In some high impact decisions it really helps to bring everyone onto the same
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page." -- John Cassano, P.ENG, Schedule and Cost Control Engineer, Wuskwatim Engineering Dept, New Generation Construction Division The $1.6 billion Wuskwatim Generating Station is being developed by an equity partnership between the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (NCN) and Manitoba Hydro. NCN had significant input into the development of the project's Environmental Impact Statement and in September 2001 both parties signed a non-binding Agreement-inPrinciple for the project providing an equity partnership in the project if NCN elected to exercise the option. NCN and Manitoba Hydro became official business partners offering the opportunity to own up to 33% of the Wuskwatim Generating Station. This cooperative approach to planning the project includes combining traditional knowledge with scientific knowledge toward the environmental assessment studies. Headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba Hydro is a Crown Corporation and the province's major energy utility and: - Exports electricity to more than 30 electric utilities in four wholesale markets in Canada and the USA's Midwest. - Maintains a position as the lowest cost provider of domestic electricity rates in Canada. - Serves more than a half-million electric customers and a quarter-million natural gas customers in Manitoba. - Generates nearly all its electricity from self-renewing water power from 14 hydroelectric generating stations primarily on the Winnipeg, Saskatchewan and Nelson Rivers. - With capital assets-in-service at original cost exceeding $11 billion is one of Canada's largest, energy utilities and is governed by the Manitoba Hydroelectric Board. Manitoba Hydro first discovered Synchro at the 2007 Annual Primavera User Conference in Orlando and was intrigued by the alternatives offered in a demo there. The utility then put Synchro to work initially in its bidding process in a repeatedly, concrete-driven schedule and to show the process both to management and the construction team. "Synchro really paid dividends during the analysis of our General Civil Works contracts," said John Cassano, Schedule and Cost Control Engineer. "Using Synchro, we were able to analyse various schedule alternatives proposed by different bidders." In order to develop the 4D model, Manitoba Hydro used 2D concrete pour drawings to create a 3D rendition of the entire generating station. This model was then linked to the master construction schedule (created in Primavera) and from this a 4D model was born. Synchro was used to show the sequence of how the generating station was being built and compare the different schedules proposed by each contractor. Synchro also became a communications tool for sharing a common view of the construction sequence with management and key team members. "We needed to present these alternatives to a large group of people who are responsible for selecting the best value option," John Cassano said. "With Synchro we were able clearly to show the differences in the bids and everyone in the room was 'on the same page'. For now, we are primarily interested in the concrete sequencing but have plans to incorporate the turbines, generators and cranes into our 4D model." In addition to bidding and communications Manitoba Hydro has used Synchro to test their own construction approach. Manitoba Hydro uses Synchro because: 7
It helps management more clearly assess alternative schedules proposed by various bidders. It finds value in envisioning the construction approach as well as testing the validity of their master construction schedule. It specifically preferred to see this project from multiple views through the functionality provided specifically by Synchro. It wants the capability to discover potential problems early, run 'what if' scenarios and quickly re-synchronize the plan, as necessary.
Synchro provided demonstrations to project management: 4D simulation software Tutorials for training One-on-one technical advice from service-minded experts Ongoing technical support, advice and upgrades for the software. Synchro has helped Manitoba Hydro add clarity to the bid review and evaluation process. Synchro enabled the utility company to address problems in their master construction schedule. It has helped communicate the project's construction to stakeholders and management. It helps them share a common view with their contractors and supply chain. It helps them identify new options and manage solutions to save time and money. "Everything we have asked Synchro to do, it has done," said John Cassano. "It was very easy for me to pick up. We've got some pretty big plans for interfacing 3D drawings with Synchro." Read the Full Case Study: (Link: http://www.synchroltd.com/news/CS20081208170135). CASE STUDY 4: Power Construction, Chicago Project: BIM Commercial Construction Projects "I hear a lot that there are things you just can't see. Synchro allows us to take the model, assemble it, put it to a schedule and analyze it. Synchro helps visualize potential problems and allows you to better assess the situation at any given time." -- Jim Schrader, BIM Manager Power Construction Company, LLC Power Construction is deploying Synchro's 4D software for model-based scheduling in the strategic plan of its building information modelling (BIM) management. The firm gives to its 225 professionals and 200 trades' people a simple, straight-forward objective: understand the expectations of clients, architects and subcontractors, then work hard to exceed those expectations. Power is intent upon gaining the many advantages of business information modelling to exceed expectations and gain repeat business from which more than 90% of Power's workload is awarded. Founded in 1926 in Chicago, Power Construction Company, LLC is an 82-year old management-owned, commercial construction company with a unique business model. Power has chosen to limit its geographic reach to just the greater Chicago area. With more than $500 million in revenue each year, Power is the largest builder working exclusively in this region. In its 82-year history, Power Construction has never been in litigation for performance matters with any client, architect or subcontractor. Power is using Synchro primarily for construction site logistics after developing 4D 8
construction models from shop drafts. Jim Schrader likes the ease of use of Synchro, especially when it comes to updating files, in order to gain the benefits of 4D business information modelling. Since November 2007 he had used Synchro at his previous company on multiple projects in healthcare, school and hotel construction projects for site logistics and scheduling prior to his coming to Power, where he introduced Synchro for BIM management. Synchro has found a place in Power's strategic plan for virtual project management and scheduling. He is able to track through utilization the predicted and actual schedules as well as use it for site logistics. He sees value in Synchro 4D for soft clash detection. In 2009 Jim made plans to roll-out Synchro Server further to enhance site logistics for Power Construction. Jim values the way in which the Synchro graphic engine works with its speed and the excellent ability to manipulate the file with scheduling in 4D. With his training as an architect, Jim prefers to build the schematic model in 3D first and then link it to scheduling. Further, he cited "huge benefits in the object engine of Synchro." Power Construction uses the Synchro software application for a number of reasons: Power wants to build and rigorously test their construction models in 4D. It wants to be able to uncover potential problems early. The company uses Synchro to track and manage project scheduling. It deploys Synchro to manage site logistics in the field. Power has built Synchro into the strategic plan for its BIM and virtual construction management. Synchro provided: 4D simulation software Support for construction modelling techniques Ongoing technical support, advice and upgrades for the software. Synchro has become a useful tool for BIM construction model development and analysis. The scheduling feature helps Power understand the project better to: Visualize potential problems with the construction model created from digitized shop drawings. Schedule, track and re-schedule projects quickly and easily. Manage site logistics efficiently in real-time in the field. Optimize the many benefits of business information modelling with technology designed for it. "Synchro is extremely user-friendly," said Jim Schrader. "It's the best 4-D scheduling asset around." Read the Full Case Study: (Link: http://www.synchroltd.com/news/CS20081217203634). HISTORY Born of Necessity Synchro Ltd, a UK company, began 4D scheduling software product development in 2001. At its heart is the recognition that, until the project production is clearly defined and integrated, demand cannot be understood and coordination cannot be achieved.
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Synchro’s 4D scheduling system offers a genuinely different approach to the management of projects by synchronising design, scheduling, supply chain management, risk management and earned value measurement. Synchro has a track record for developing innovative technology for construction projects throughout the UK and in 2007 began worldwide distribution of its third generation of products and today is beginning the shipment of its fourth generation product. Innovation Built for Reality Today, Synchro has technology relationships in the form of technology development agreements with Oracle|Primavera, Asta, TechSoft3D, Objectivity, Google, Autodesk and Agilis. These strategic relationships offer our joint customers the right ingredients to leverage existing software investments and extend benefits beyond information silos, which commonly exist between well-formed industry processes. Synchro’s aim and principles are straightforward: deliver software that serves the construction delivery team and survives the dynamics of everyday demands in the construction industry. As construction is a series of problems that get solved, our software enables users to explore options and manage solutions. We help our clients win new business in a tough economy with the high-definition of our 4D solution. To learn more about how Synchro can help you improve your competitive position to win new business, please contact me at tom.dengenis@synchroltd.com. #
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