The “BIM Revolution” fizzled since technology was never the problem. The primary challenges facing the AECOO sector are due to lack of owner leadership and competency…
The adoption of BIM as a tool to efficiently manage the life-cycle of built structures requires a full understanding of LEAN collaborative processes as they apply to asset total cost of ownership.
An understanding of dynamic interrelationships of disparate knowledge domains and needs of all participants and stakeholders is rarely taught and practiced even less. The “gorilla in the room” is that less than 5% of real property owners both understand and practice total cost of ownership life-cycle asset management.
Any major positive upon the AECOO sector must begin with education and a focus upon change management. The adoption of LEAN project delivery methods requires a totally different way of doing business on a day-to-day base for most owners, architects, engineers, construction contractors, building users… etc.
LEAN AECOO impacts on every element of thinking, work, and business models. Changing work flows and business relationships, restructuring how organizations interact and are compensated is a requirement.
Furthermore, a common data environment (CDE) is a fundamental element. A standardized set of terms, definitions, and data formats is needed. For example, a locally researched unit price description of construction tasks, organized by Masterformat, and regularly update, should be required by every real property owner. Depending exclusively upon contractor or subcontractor quotes, and/or internal cost data, is recipe for waste, dissatisfaction, and overall poor outcomes.
Financial transparency and common data improve mutual understanding or requirements from concept through warranty period and beyond for all stakeholders.
For example, integrated project delivery, IPD (for major new construction), and job order contracting, JOC (for renovation, repair, and minor new construction), a proven LEAN construction delivery methods capable of consistently delivering approximately 90% of projects on-time, on-budget, and to everyone’s satisfactions. This level of performance is a far cry from the current dismal performance across the AECOO community.
The buck stops with owners.
Both of the above methods, however, require owner leadership and competency. Neither can be accomplished through a third-party, i.e. a consultant, without risk of poor performance and/or increased potential for mismanagement. Owners must be directly involved as they ultimately defined requirements and pay the bills.
LEAN AECOO / Facilities Management will eventually become the norm, if not a legal requirement. Arguably, the public sector should be requiring LEAN currently or otherwise be delinquent of their fiduciary responsibility. The benefits of clarity on the required scope of work… for all project stakeholders… from the very early stages, shared risk/reward, and mutual trust drastically reduce change orders and legal disputes. The availability of current, shared, and mutually understandable data to all parties ensures that everything is correct and to specification.
Learn more about LEAN Construction Delivery Methods and Life-cycle Facilities Management… info@4BT.US