Enabling BIM

Michael McCullen from Asta Development explains why successful Building Information Modelling implementation needs project scheduling software and process transformation, backed up by a tailored BIM education programme

The 2016 Building Management Institute study, Information Modelling the PMI Building High (BIM) readiness dead- Performance Project Talent line is looming large. A 2013, suggest that such leaderfrenzy of activity followed the UK ship skills are hard to teach; government’s 2011 announcement technical skills, however, are that it would mandate the use of far easier to train. BIM but that initial enthusiasm Michael Government requirements and hunger for knowledge has McCullen will not only drive companies given way to a realisation that to embed BIM into recruitpractical steps must be taken to Michael McCullen was a founder of Asta ment, training and talent manupdate tools and processes. In a Development. agement, but into new ways of 2012 NBS National BIM Survey Formed in 1988 Asta working. 39% of respondents claimed to be was acquired by Eleco plc in 2006. Creating new processes that using BIM — but only half were Michael is executive put information management meeting the required level. chairman of Asta and and sharing at the heart of The government is trying to stimulate transformation of the sits on the main Board of Eleco. He holds a computer operations and finding ways to integrate the different stages of public building process, which science degree the construction lifecycle are will impact all players in the construction, engineering and build(Manchester) and an MBA (Warwick). arguably the hardest tasks, since they will require a new ing design sectors. The plan has philosophy and culture of already driven new best practice in public information sharing across professional construction and, as participants reap the and competitive boundaries. benefits of lower risk, lower cost and Despite the chain of different experts increased collaboration these new norms from design through architecture, engiwill inevitably be adopted in the private neering, construction and facilities mansector. agement, building projects must be

When considering business transforma- approached from the start as one project tion, smart leaders look to their people. with one plan — successively enriched and When such transformation is about collabo- refined by each player. This comes down to ration and new ways of working, people people: training everyone to understand become yet more important. Having the right the project lifecycle and the information people in place with the skills to understand transmission required to make the process and implement BIM processes is critical. more efficient and productive.

Unfortunately, hiring expert recruits with Success will require a degree of whole 20 years’ BIM experience simply is not pos- project integration, but what does that actusible, they do not exist, so we expect the focus ally mean? Common definitions suggest that in 2014 to land firmly on BIM education and ‘integration’ means bringing together dispaenhancement of the current skills base. rate things into a harmonious, functional,

Two things are required: strong leader- well co-ordinated and seamless whole. ship to drive the BIM process adoption and Project integration must be co-operative, the technical skills to generate and manage combinatory and non-competitive, a major plans and projects capable of being shared cultural shift that will require new skills across the value chain. A Recent Project from every project manager and, indeed, every manager who is involved in projects. In other words, training must spread beyond the traditional project management expert groups.

BIM-enhanced project management training is now a core learning and development need; not only must it cover BIM theory and the use of BIM software tools, but it must come from industry experts with deep knowledge and recognition of BIM dynamics.

Optimising the planning and control of building projects end-to-end is key. No company can afford to continue without a clear project management software platform strategy. The role of standardised, shareable information about project plan milestones, dependencies, resourcing and scheduling is as essential as the exchange of visualisation and 3D models.

Project scheduling software is a BIM fundamental; the challenge for many will be to weed out the raft of inferior tools and DIY spreadsheets that are endemic. In order to support the coming revolution in information exchange it is essential to choose a solution that has a tried and tested industrystandard scheduling tool at its heart.

Relying on a software solution alone — even if BIM-ready — will be insufficient. To embrace BIM practices the implementation of software solutions must be accompanied by process transformation, backed up by a BIM education programme, ideally connected to the specific tools. Time is ticking down ... the time to start focusing on practical BIM training is now.

■ astadev.com

Asta Development offers an educational programme in co-operation with the BIM Academy. The latter has been analysing and seeking best practices for BIM for several years, and is helping Asta to help spread the word to the wider construction community.