Cadnet, our Bulding Information Modelling specialists, have moved to a new office in West Byfleet.

The BIM team can now be found at:
Suite 1
Ground Floor
Block A
Rosemount House
Rosemount Avenue
West Byfleet
KT14 6LB

Cadnet’s new telephone number is 0844 324 0051

Why not pop in and see the team at their new location?

Colin

Can BIM benefit the Facilities Manager as well as the Designer?

The answer is most definitely yes!

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is much more than a design tool employed at the start of a project’s life. In fact, BIM is a process of building management that covers the entire lifecycle of the building, and can deliver major benefits throughout its’ operational phase.

Since occupancy and operations form the longest timeline in any building lifecycle, a Facilities Manager could receive a number of benefits by embracing the BIM process. I’ve summarised what I believe to be the key benefits below:

1. Communication

Centralising key data in a standardised BIM format improves communication, reduces response times, lessens wasted time searching for information, and makes communication easier between colleagues, consultants, contractors and suppliers.

By allowing other stakeholders instant access to the same information, with the certain knowledge that it is accurate and up-to-date, BIM enables the facilities manager to greatly reduce errors and minimise the level of misunderstandings.

2. Space Management

Allowing other departments (such as HR, mail rooms, accounts, etc.) access to real time building-related data ensures that the organisation can instantly track changes in layouts and staff movements. This reduces building vacancies and so helps to improve spatial efficiency.

Changes in space usage can also be identified and audited allowing the internal accounting functions to be kept accurate and up to date.

3. Energy Efficiency

Another benefit for the facilities manager is how BIM can help to improve the efficient use of energy. A BIM model can facilitate the analysis of alternative energy solutions that could dramatically reduce the environmental impact and operating costs of the building or estate in question.

4. Change Management

A well maintained “live” BIM model should provide a true reflection of the building, and can therefore be used with confidence when planning changes to layouts during the operational cycle of the building.

The BIM model’s 3D representation of the building makes communicating these changes easier to understand for the employees, suppliers and contractors, and provides better information about the existing condition of the building. In short, this reduces the usual uncertainty, providing more cost certainty before the works commences.

5. Costs and Budget Planning

It is also possible to store information in the BIM model regarding the life expectancy and replacement costs of various building components. This will assist the facilities manager or building owner to understand the cost benefits of investment in materials and management systems.

6. Existing FM Systems

Finally, remember that BIM models are not there to replace FM systems. In fact the BIM model can be linked to an existing FM system to provide accurate and complementary “real-time” data that makes asset management faster and more accurate.

To find out more about BIM visit our dedicated BIM webpages: www.cadesignservices.co.uk/bim

Our BIM specialist division Cadnet have just posted a list of the most authoritative BIM white papers and publications on the web. Check them out here: Cadnet’s BIM resource list

The real benefit of BIM is customer satisfaction

Our retail clients spend a lot of time trying to understand what their customers want, like and need in order to make them happy and loyal. In the construction industry prioritising and monitoring customer satisfaction is often absent from the project objectives, not recognised as a key performance indicator (KPI), and rarely a shared vision.

There is a lot of speculation about how Building Information Modelling (BIM) will benefit the construction industry and there is no doubt that by automating processes there are many efficiency gains to be had. But while individual supply chain members seek to understand the benefits BIM makes available to their own part of the process and what they personally will gain from it, the overall benefit that BIM offers to the industry is overlooked. This overall benefit of BIM is customer satisfaction.

BIM by its nature is client-centric and can, used well, deliver a better service.  Some of the most pertinent benefits of BIM include:

• Making contract documents more accurate
• Improving communication
• Reducing the costs associated with errors and coordination problems
• Providing the client with better visibility and certainty of the outcome
• Improving project budgeting and cost management
• Improving safety
• Reducing the need for meetings and RFIs
• Speeding up scheduling processes
• Ultimately producing a less defective end product

Meanwhile, customer satisfaction comes from exceeding expectations, that means not just meeting the basic need for a building, but also providing services that meet and exceed their specific individual requirements, as a result delivering something extra. By placing too much emphasis on the financial gains made from small improvements in process and management, the opportunity for real change using the BIM process will be lost. It is time to collectively focus on the client.

Take a look at the BIM model animation below. This shows the BIM modelling process for a large supermarket. At each stage of the modelling process the client is able to interrogate data, simulate, expand, enhance and coordinate the model.

Video supplied by our BIM specialist division – Cadnet

The key to successful BIM is collaboration. This does not necessarily mean that individuals are participating in the BIM process, but they can work with their modelling team to ensure that the BIM model continues to meet their needs and offer building intelligence throughout the lifecylce of the building. Many traditional industry divisions and constructs will need to be overcome for the collaboration to happen.

There is a shortage of independent advice and support available to the construction industry, and this is where we fit in. Our experience in BIM implementation allows us to advise and support clients, professionals and contractors either collectively or individually to deliver a better service and not just a better building. We want to ensure that clients make a real gain from their investment in BIM, and ultimately that they have a satisfied customer.

Mark Johnson, National Accounts Manager – C A Design Services

We are delighted to announce that following a successful period of collaboration, CADS has purchased a majority shareholding in BIM specialists Cadnet Ltd.
The merger comes at a time when Building Information Modelling (or BIM) is becoming more than just a buzzword in the industry. In fact, at CADS, we believe that within a few years BIM will be the mainstream way of working within the construction marketplace.

As soon as we met Colin Williams and the team at Cadnet, we saw an instant fit with CADS and whilst some uncertainty exists amongst potential users, Cadnet has already been through the learning curve in delivering successful BIM projects during recent years. As such it is very well placed to take a lead in delivering practical consultancy, solutions and services and we are very much looking forward to working closely with Cadnet in delivering our combined expertise to the construction and FM markets.

Visit www.cadnet.ltd.uk for more information on the services available, and of course watch this space for further updates.