All of us think we are embracing BIM wholeheartedly. We think that we are moving forward and making progress by expanding our talents in BIM. We see more and more projects delivered using BIM tools and processes. But are we free from legacy tools yet? There are so many that still use CAD tools for some portions of the projects that it still may be the crutch that not easily discarded.
Why can’t we all just jump into the future and use all BIM tools now?
Here are a few statements that I hear people giving for not using BIM even though their firm may have started the march toward full implementation:
The old tools still work for some portions of the design process.
My staff is not fully trained.
We have a compressed schedule and cannot afford to miss deadlines.
Others on the design team have given us CAD files and we just kept on using them.
The client gave us old files that are in CAD.
CAD is dependable and I know how to use it.
We do not have enough software licenses for everyone to use it yet.
I could go on and on, but you get the point. Some of these reasons may be legitimate and reflect real issues, but sometimes they are excuses that people hide behind when they just don’t want to take the time or effort to move forward. The BIM Manager has to address each of these issues and provide workable plans for getting past them.
The plan might outline stepped levels of progress to address the concerns. Move forward should be done in stages. Your firm may not progress if you just rip away the CAD platform and force everyone to jump. I have heard about firms that have done that, but it is after the workforce has reached the tipping point. They were embracing BIM with gusto and sweeping away the CAD platform was the last step of a managed migration.
So plan out the steps needed to get your staff trained, licenses purchased and processes for dealing with CAD files so that your firm can continue to making small steps that will eventually allow you to jettison the crutch.
To be honest, I hate Revit! It wastes more of my time! Let me be up-front, too! I am not a Revit guru, I do not know everything about Revit. And maybe I just know enough about Reivt. But being in a smaller structural engineering firm, time is money, we use Revit, we use AutoCAD and frankly I’m not going to apologize for wanting to make a profit on a project! In my oppinion we can’t do that with Revit alone, not at this point in time.
I guess you live in a perfect world…free from recession and clients knocking at your firm’s door to do work. Like Jim said, making a profit or even breaking even is the task of a small firm. The BIM process is a great ideal, but very few firms are there. You make us sound like we’re hacks at our jobs…we have to cut costs to keep the business going and make sure payroll is met, while marketing for new work…that when you go after work, you’re competing against most firms, not just a few. I could write a short story on the roadblocks to your theory. Its not a crutch – it’s reality.
With all due respect Jim, that is a load of you-know-what! At my previous place of employment, we had in-house structural and they were the ones to actually realize that they could save so much time with Revit that they made the leap on their own without any nudging, whether Architectural was using Revit or not. Take the time to really and sincerely learn the software, be objective and stay positive. Otherwise you’ve failed before you’ve even left the gate.
Some firms have taken a measured and focused look at BIM and have chosen not to go there based on valid points. That is not where my original post was directed. I was focusing on those firms that have investigated and chosen BIM, but who have staff that have settled back on old tools just because they don’t want to give the new ones a try.
The BIM Manager has to weed through these discussions and define what is needed to move forward. The point of my post was to give advice to BIM Managers. BIM Managers are working for firms that have decided to make the jump. Now they have to figure out how to get everyone on board. Smaller firms or those without BIM Managers may still be in the testing phases or have chosen to not move to BIM and my statements may not apply to them.
I like the post and agree with you!