Chinese enterprises have been utilizing BIM technology for over a decade. However, honestly, very few have achieved highly effective BIM implementations or received strong evaluations. There are many reasons for this, which we won’t delve into here. Instead, let’s focus on the key questions: What should enterprises consider when applying BIM?
(1) Establish a BIM Organizational Unit
Before an organization decides to adopt BIM technology, it should assign suitable staff from various professional departments to form a dedicated BIM team. This unit will primarily be responsible for planning the BIM adoption strategy and managing BIM-related tasks across different projects. Additionally, during project execution, specific working groups can be formed to handle BIM implementation within each project, ensuring smooth coordination and maximizing the overall benefits of BIM application across the organization.
(2) Assess the Organization’s BIM Capability
Each department should evaluate current policies, goals, and the experience and manpower available with BIM technology. Supported by available funding, organizations should set clear short-term, medium-term, and long-term objectives for BIM adoption to fully capitalize on BIM’s advantages.
(3) Provide BIM Training and Education for Internal Staff
Before implementing BIM, organizations must offer necessary training through experts. This BIM training should cover the latest BIM concepts and technologies, clarify policy requirements, set clear expectations from leadership, and outline stakeholder needs to ensure the organization’s goals and personnel are aligned for successful BIM adoption.
(4) Evaluate the Feasibility of BIM Implementation in Projects
When deciding whether to introduce BIM into a project, organizations should conduct a preliminary feasibility assessment. This includes selecting projects that fit the implementation schedule and learning from previous cases. Important factors include defining (1) project objectives, (2) key stakeholders, (3) critical timelines, (4) benchmarking examples, and (5) anticipated benefits—ensuring the project is set up for success.
(5) Decide on Engaging Professional Consultants or External Experts
For complex projects requiring BIM expertise not available in-house, organizations may hire professional consultants to assist with consultation or execution. However, it is crucial to plan for internal staff to learn BIM technology to improve project efficiency and strengthen the organization’s BIM capabilities over time.
(6) Prepare a BIM Budget
Organizations should select the scope of BIM application for the project, including lifecycle phases, application objectives, and project delivery methods. Understanding the required software and hardware costs through market research and referencing past projects will help compile a realistic BIM budget, which should be integrated into the design and construction phases.
(7) Select Appropriate BIM Applications
Based on the project lifecycle, goals, and evaluation outcomes, the organization must confirm the chosen BIM applications, ensuring they meet the project’s specific requirements.
(8) Assess Execution Capability for Selected BIM Applications
After selecting BIM tools, organizations should critically assess whether they possess adequate resources and expertise to implement them. This includes evaluating team capabilities and the availability of required software and hardware, which is essential for efficient project delivery.
(9) Develop BIM Work Plans, Specifications, and Standards
When formulating BIM work plans and standards, organizations should refer to previous cases to align these documents with project bidding requirements. This facilitates smoother integration into future projects and fosters consistent BIM practices.
(10) Draft Bidding Documents Incorporating BIM Requirements
Organizations should base BIM-related bidding documents on existing contracts for technical services, engineering, or maintenance work. By integrating BIM-specific contract terms and execution specifications from other cases, they can ensure clarity on (1) work processes and schedules, (2) responsibilities, (3) payment methods, (4) deliverables, (5) intellectual property rights, (6) inspection mechanisms, and (7) bidding instructions and evaluation criteria.
(11) Evaluate Vendors’ BIM Execution Capabilities
During vendor selection, organizations must thoroughly review BIM-related proposals. This includes assessing the rationality and accuracy of the work plan, ensuring reasonable BIM cost allocations, and verifying the vendor’s software, hardware, and human resources to guarantee high-quality BIM outcomes.
(12) Review the BIM Execution Plan
Once a contract is signed, the organization should carefully evaluate the BIM execution plan submitted by the vendor to ensure it aligns with contractual requirements. When needed, experts or experienced professionals in the domestic BIM field may be invited to assist with this review.
(13) Monitor the BIM Implementation Process
Given that BIM is still emerging in China, organizations should allow vendors some flexibility in applying BIM, while ensuring the original procurement objectives are met. Organizations should continuously document and review:
- (1) BIM achievements and benefits,
- (2) limitations in BIM application,
- (3) conflicts with contracts, specifications, and procedures, and
- (4) execution records.
This ongoing review helps maximize BIM’s benefits and supports achieving project goals.
(14) Evaluate BIM Implementation Results
BIM primarily serves as an innovative tool and a platform for information recording and communication. To guide future applications, organizations should document at least the following:
- (1) overall project benefits,
- (2) specific benefits related to work tasks,
- (3) areas for future improvement, and
- (4) reviews of original work requirements.
(15) Conduct Post-Project BIM Benefit Evaluations
Organizations should implement a post-project evaluation mechanism to assess the effectiveness of BIM applications. The results can inform future organizational learning and support recognizing and rewarding the BIM team.
(16) Build an Organizational BIM Case Database
Systematically collecting files and data from all BIM project phases allows organizations to create a repository of BIM case studies. These resources serve as valuable references and learning materials for current and future projects within the organization or beyond.
(17) Share BIM Successes and Lessons Learned
By sharing both successful and unsuccessful BIM experiences, organizations can progressively elevate their BIM application levels and contribute to national industry advancements. Participant feedback on shared experiences helps improve organizational capacity and unlocks the full value of BIM.
The above points represent the key considerations the author believes enterprises should keep in mind. Naturally, this discussion does not account for China’s specific national conditions or industry context, which may introduce some bias. Thank you for your understanding! That concludes our overview of what enterprises should consider when applying BIM. I hope this article proves helpful to everyone!
For more related articles, please click to read: Enterprise BIM Application
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