BIM Bankruptcy
The Value and Waste of BIM, Information Management, and Digital Engineering
Understanding BIM Bankruptcy
In construction management, Building Information Modelling (BIM), Information Management, and Digital Engineering are broadcast as innovations designed to add value and enhance efficiency. However, these technologies can sometimes incur costs that outweigh their benefits, a phenomenon known as ‘BIM Bankruptcy’.
‘BIM Bankruptcy’ refers to scenarios where the challenges or failures in implementing BIM result in a net loss rather than a value gain. This term captures a significant and pervasive issue in the industry—the risks and costs associated with the improper implementation or mismanagement of BIM and digital processes.
The Eight Wastes of Lean
In this post, we will examine The 8 Wastes of Lean from two perspectives:
1. How BIM addresses general waste and helps minimise it.
2. How to prevent BIM from becoming one of those wastes.
TIMWOODS: The Eight Wastes of Lean
Lean thinking, developed by Taiichi Ohno of Toyota, focuses on eliminating waste from work processes. Waste is any action or step that does not add value for the customer or consumer. The original seven wastes are:
1. Transportation: Unnecessary movement of products and materials, leading to wasted time and resources.
2. Inventory: Holding excess stock of products and materials that are not processed, which ties up capital and storage space.
3. Motion: Unnecessary movement of people or equipment, leading to wasted effort and potential for injury.
4. Waiting: Idle time when resources are not being used productively due to delays or inefficient processes.
5. Overproduction: Producing more than is needed or before it is needed, leading to excess inventory and waste.
6. Over-processing: Doing more work or using more resources than necessary to meet customer requirements, leading to inefficiency.
7. Defects: Producing products or services that do not meet quality standards, resulting in rework and waste.
Later, an 8th waste was added— Skills —leading to the acronym TIMWOODS:
8. Skills: Underutilising people's talents, skills, and knowledge, resulting in missed opportunities for improvement and innovation.
If you’re interesting in learning more about the 8 Wastes of Lean click here for a great blog article from TheLeanWay - 8 Wastes of Lean
How BIM Addresses Waste
1. Transportation
- Value of BIM: Plan site logistics using modelling, simulation, and Geospatial Information Systems (GIS). Ensure the right information is produced and exchanged at the right time with Information Management.
- Waste of BIM: Multiple systems and movement of information across systems can waste time and increase the risk of error.
2. Inventory
- Value of BIM: Use 3D models with construction schedules and quantity takeoffs to optimise material usage and procurement. Ensure only necessary information is produced and accessible.
- Waste of BIM: Producing unused or obsolete information or data.
3. Motion
- Value of BIM: Optimise site layouts using 3D models, survey information, and construction schedules to minimise unnecessary movement of resources.
- Waste of BIM: Exchanging data or documents inefficiently, such as via email, can lead to wasted effort and potential errors.
4. Waiting
- Value of BIM: Set up seamless information systems to provide stakeholders with timely information and optimise approval processes.
- Waste of BIM: Convoluted review processes with unnecessary layers.
5. Overproduction
- Value of BIM: Use BIM for precise project planning and scope management to avoid overproduction.
- Waste of BIM: Excessive modelling or producing data that adds no value.
6. Over-processing
- Value of BIM: Specify and manage the required level of detail and information to avoid extra processing.
- Waste of BIM: Generating excessive detail in graphical models.
7. Defects
- Value of BIM: Implement clash detection, model coordination, compliance, and quality assurance to support right-first-time delivery.
- Waste of BIM: Producing models or information that do not meet requirements or standards.
8. Skills
- Value of BIM: Ensure all team members are proficient in BIM tools and processes to leverage their skills effectively.
- Waste of BIM: Concentrating digital knowledge within a small group of specialists rather than distributing it among the entire team.
{Have I missed any value adds or wastes of BIM here? If so, drop it in the comments so we can all learn}
Avoiding BIM Bankruptcy
To avoid ‘BIM Bankruptcy’, ensure your BIM implementation has a clear purpose, sufficient competence within your team, and robust standards and processes:
1. Purpose: Avoid overproducing or over-processing by ensuring all BIM activities have a defined goal. This prevents unnecessary complexity and wasted resources.
2. Competence: Equip your team with the right knowledge, tools, and training. Avoid relying solely on specialists when broader team training can suffice and leverage existing skills.
3. Standards and Processes: Implement clear standards and processes to avoid gaps that lead to waiting and defects. Ensure everyone understands their roles and the expectations.
By aligning your digitalisation and BIM efforts with these principles, you can maximise its benefits and minimise the risks, ensuring a successful and value-driven implementation.
Wrapping Up
Everything in a construction project should have a purpose, including BIM, Information Management, and Digital Engineering. They are tools to enhance delivery processes, not ends in themselves. Avoid ‘BIM Bankruptcy’ by ensuring your BIM efforts are purposeful, well-supported by skilled teams, and guided by clear standards and processes. When implemented correctly, BIM, digital tools, and information management can provide substantial rewards for your projects.