BIM SHOW LIVE 14 - BIM for manufacturers

Editor's Notes

• #3: First let me start by giving you a brief introduction to what AluK do and how the finished product is produced.Our curtain wall, window and door systems have been used on some iconic building around the world the Burj in Dubai, Mancini Building in Italy, Office towers in China and Chelsea Creek apartments in London
• #4: Beforewe get to the finished product stage the process starts with the raw material On average 70% comes from recycled aluminium and 30% is from mined bauxite that is then smelted down to produce virgin aluminium
• #5: The recycled and virgin material are then formed into aluminium billet ready to go through the extrusion process
• #7: We then test our systems to all the latest standards and launch them to into the market place windows, door and curtain wall systems
• #8: So all of those processes are pretty well unseen by the rest of the industry and for us as a business that is much of the hard work out of the way.Now comes the easy bit of assisting with the design and specification and it is now that we become involved with BIM.So we take the architects details and add our system performance data and details to the specification and drawings.
• #9: We then follow the process and assist with technical expertise through fabrication – installation and finally through to completion of the facade
• #10: So how does this relate to BIMThere is still a lot of confusion about BIM especially for those businesses where it is a sideline issue rather than there main focus, such as oursAs it turns out we already do al lot of BIMing without realising it, I believe it is all about collaboration so for us BIM is about making sure we provide solutions
• #11: When involved in the early design stages the first conversation we have is to ascertain what are the aesthetic and performance requirements of the façade glazing.Currently the questions and the answers that we ask and answer help determine what systems are most suitable, this in turn influences lead times, on or off site fabrication and what other associated products are required, things like glass, panels and cladding.All this information that we now use internally can be shared with the project team and help influence the BEP BIM Execution Plan
• #12: Historically we would have only got involved with detailing our systems at Stage E or now Stage 4 and would have provided 2D section and interface details.Now with our 3D content being free and easy to use it can be utilised right from design intent stage. This means a lot of the information that wouldn’t be available until later in the project is embedded right from the beginning.The 2D interface detailing will still be required but if the correct sizes of glazing profiles are already there in the model there is less alteration required at these later stages.
• #13: Specifications can be fairly redundant documents once a project progresses beyond tender stage, changes are made to the system and performance requirements. Unsurprising really as it is usually a pdf document that is included in the tender package and then forgotten about.This does not follow with how information should be managed for 1192 and what is needed in my opinion is a live document that can be updated directly from the information within the model and vice versaMaybe the ideal would be too have all the information contained within the model content, my reservations with this are only short term but relate to the fact that not enough manufacturers have good enough content for this to happen so a linked specification is a good temporary solutionObviously all the content needs to be COBie compliant but there is lots of other information that can be useful in the design, construction and FM stage that also needs to be managed
• #14: There is little point us going to all the effort of designing and specifying the glazing systems and managing all this information if at the crucial point i.e. when it has to get fabricated and installed we revert back to a tape measure and a hack saw.We are currently working with the providers of our manufacturing software to develop a link to 3D design software so all information contained within the model will be exported direct and provide all the information required to cut and prep the profiles ready for assembly.
• #15: Okay so now it is time for me to get on my soap box and let you know what I think that the manufacturing side of the construction industry needs to help them properly engage with BIM.It is very simple the only thing we need is opportunity, manufacturers are used to dealing with new technology and regulations and can react to the requirements of the market well. To do this there needs to be a financial incentive as we are all in business to increase turnover and profit margins. By involving system manufacturers and the more professional specialist sub-contractors early on in the design process (with the assurance that they will not be wasting their efforts) I am confident they will react by not only to what the current requirements are but also suggest innovative ways of doing things better.
• #16: Despite having just said that all we need is opportunity it is not that simple.I don’t need to highlight to anyone here what the main issues are for suppliers in the construction market and I don’t want to stand here and moan about the problems.What I would suggest is that as well as the design side of the industry getting on board the BIM Express lets make sure we buy a ticket for our colleagues in procurement and see if we cant explain the benefits to them as well.
• #17: To finish I would like to suggest that one of the problems with BIM is that it is at the same time a very simple acronym that is misunderstood and a complicated term that is over explained.Ultimately BIM will no longer exist and it will just become the way we work but until then and knowing how much our industry loves an acronym I have some alternative suggestions to describe the process.