Keys to a Successful BIM Implementation: What Project Management Needs to Know about Your First Revit Project

by Dave Webster, BIM/CAD Specialist for the AECOO Industry

Hi Again! Last we chatted we talked about kicking off your first Revit project and the aspects of a healthy launch. We discussed the personalities and responsibilities we are looking for on this initial project. The next and one of the biggest aspects needed for the success of this team and project is to be sure there is a good understanding of BIM and full buy-in from management and senior management staff. We have seen this so many times in firms where users understand the need and are embracing the tools but the project managers have a lack of interest in the tools; they are only interested in the time and effort and whether the project can meet schedule and budget constraints.

It is critical for project managers and staff managers to understand the fundamental differences between the CAD process and the BIM process! At a minimum, managers must have a full understanding of the time involved to model the project versus drafting the orthogonal views. The team will require more time during schematic design and design development phases of the project to achieve the model but if the model has been constructed intelligently, the team will make up the difference during the construction documentation phase of the project. I am sure you have seen the graph below at one time or another but I want to be sure this is something you keep in mind throughout the design and documentation process. It is obvious the time allocation needed in a BIM process shifts towards the early phases of the project. Managers need to understand this in order to properly schedule and allocate budget costs as well as align the client expectations. This is just one of many aspects of managing a BIM project that must be taught to project managers for better project success. I will most likely create an entire series of blogs for the “New BIM Project Manager Tips and Insights”. Stay Tuned!

So…what are your takeaways for today?

• Support from management is a must!
• Redefine your proposals with regards to tasks and cost allocation per project phases.
• Educate and reset your client expectations regarding project schedule and deliverables.
• Redesign your menu of services with costs that portray value based costs and not time and material costs!

CHECKLIST TO DATE:

• Phased Goals: Established
• Pilot Project: Identified
• Training: Scheduled
• Project Schedule: Comfortable
• Design: Simple
• Management Bought in
• Team: Excited