BIM for SubContractors and SME’s

If you are an architect who still designs in CAD, you are potentially missing out on huge opportunities by providing your clients with an outdated solution. The construction industry is becoming a highly competitive field day-to-day with advanced technologies and Building Information Modeling is the answer in order to stay ahead of the competition. Today, even many small firms begin to offer BIM services to their clients recognizing the output that it can offer.

Many SMEs within the industry are considering BIM not only as a mean for business benefit but as a way not to get left behind. Some of the potential benefits to an SME are following.

BIM enables SMEs to provide an accurate visual design that set them apart from the competitors. As the clients get virtual models and animations of the building, it can help increase the change of repeat work and recommendations.

BIM can provide accurate schedules and material takeoffs that will greatly reduce the time involved in the project along with providing a better cost certainty to clients and contractors. BIM minimizes the risk of waste materials and components on site, as it generates all quantities and measurements automatically with accurate scheduling.

BIM increases communication between all members of the project team using effective collaboration tools and it will help improve the efficiency of the project. Many problems can be identified and solved at the design stage and so reduced the chance of costly mistakes on site. Implementing BIM helps for regularly updated revisions on a daily basis without the need of weekly meetings.

“Chloe Smith, Cabinet Office Minister, told construction industry professionals at the BIM4SME Group launch in April that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) would not be excluded from the drive to adopt BIM across the construction industry.”

A sub-contractor in a construction project is responsible for only a portion of a building’s overall design. The subcontractor has to work with other sub-contractors to ensure the system is coordinated and integrated with the designs provided. If you are a sub-contractor and you do not use BIM, much of your effort is spent producing and updating drawings that may probably have high rates of inaccuracies and inconsistencies. At the same time, the subcontractors, who are using BIM, can foresee the issues and errors at the design stage itself and avoid the errors in job site.

Let us brief the benefits of BIM for SMEs and sub-contractors

• Improved design reliability
• Reduced design risk
• Enhanced communication
• Improved client management
• Reduced costs in planning, design and construction
• Enhanced planning, control and management of construction
• Increased safety
• Better quality of work

Even though cost implication and amount of time available to learn about new technology often prevent SMEs and sub-contractors to use BIM, many are beginning to realize the advantages of BIM in terms of adding value to their services.

More information on “BIM for SME’s” could be found in the book “BIM in Small Practices: Illustrated Case Studies” a book by Robert Klaschka at RIBA Book Stores.

Revit Modeling India is providing BIM solutions to subcontractors and SME’s. If you are planning to implement BIM at your company and are looking for any assistance feel free to Speak to our Experts.