We view BIM as a software technology that is continuously integrated throughout our entire production and management processes. This is especially true since today’s forum focuses on prefabricated construction, where BIM proves to be truly seamless. The more I work with BIM, the more I realize that my understanding narrows, even as the technology itself expands. So, how can we think about BIM and gradually use it as the driving force behind our industrialization efforts?
When discussing prefabricated or residential industrialization, topics like Industry 4.0, learning from manufacturing industrialization, and building houses like cars inevitably come up. To advance industrialization, our goal is to transform building into an assembly line process. The concept of Industry 4.0 was introduced in the “Made in China 2025” initiative released last year. From my perspective, the construction industry is still in a phase before 2.0—somewhere around 1.5—and far from reaching 4.0. However, as we develop in this field, including manufacturing’s move towards Industry 4.0, many information technologies support us in achieving this transformation.
Our industrialization efforts are fundamentally based on this approach. We observe how industrialization unfolds and how our management methods and models evolve. Many processes require advancement and need to be forecasted and planned ahead. BIM technology, behind the scenes, allows us to simulate all processes before production. Once the simulation is complete, activities like cutting, distribution, and production are integrated into one management system. This forms the technological foundation for moving toward Industry 4.0, with further enhancements through intelligent systems and cloud computing.
From the origins of the construction industry to the field of industrialization, the idea of building houses like cars reflects many consistent principles. We aim to use IT technology to help improve our processes. When BIM was introduced to China ten years ago, it came with software, and we initially believed BIM was about using different software to implement models. At that time, BIM was primarily seen as a method to solve complex form designs, simplifying tasks that were once difficult. We regarded this modeling capability as the foundation of BIM. Later, however, the term BIM evolved to mean Building Information Modeling. Although the concept has been around since the 1970s in academic circles and developed theoretically over many years, we are now actively applying it in practice.
Focusing on the relationship between BIM and industrialization, we find that using BIM as a tool allows us to accumulate valuable experience. This is why the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development in China has repeatedly issued documents to promote BIM’s development. In its first year of introduction, the Ministry merely acknowledged BIM’s benefits without providing implementation guidelines. Then, in 2014, the “Several Opinions on Promoting the Development and Reform of the Construction Industry” encouraged the application of information technologies, including BIM, across engineering design, construction, and maintenance to enhance overall efficiency. The 2015 “Notice on Guiding Opinions on Promoting the Application of Building Information Modeling” emphasized integrating BIM into management processes—using digital models, BIM foundations, and management systems to improve oversight. This period marked the most accurate and correct understanding of BIM during China’s 13th Five-Year Plan, treating BIM as an independent discipline embedded throughout the construction process, such as in safety management. Through BIM, significant improvements in management became possible, paving the way forward.
The Value of BIM in Assembly
BIM’s value goes beyond simple modeling; it must be embedded into the construction process to realize its full benefits. Given BIM’s many advantages, where does it provide the most direct impact in assembly or industrialization? Drawing on numerous BIM case studies from real estate management, we developed a core concept: BIM primarily serves as a coordination tool that proactively manages unknown conditions and mitigates risks before they occur. It enables a “trial before construction” approach, offering detailed installation guidance and allowing us to conduct simulations, including disassembly experiments.
BIM is unique—not just a static model, but an expandable information system. When combined with 4D scheduling (adding time as the fourth dimension), BIM can drive industrialization to new levels of precision and efficiency.
Strictly speaking, BIM alone cannot directly solve issues like water leakage or reduce costs by 10%. However, it acts as a control indicator that continually improves our processes, enabling each step of industrialization to become more complete and efficient. Standardization is essential—a continuous accumulation process that reduces trial-and-error costs and supports refined development and management. Viewing BIM through this lens helps identify potential risks early on.
BIM can vary in detail and scale, managing everything from spatial utilization to component integration. With its visual information model, we can see all elements clearly. BIM components allow us to directly plan transportation, processing, and on-site construction. We can simulate the entire workflow, including production progress and transportation logistics.
Moreover, deepened BIM components can be pre-fabricated in factories. Although the penetration of BIM data into production systems still requires continuous integration, prefabricated structures can only advance effectively by embedding BIM information. This comprehensive understanding spans design, manufacturing, transportation, and on-site construction.
Within BIM, there is a timeline dimension that corresponds with construction schedules, creating a fully interconnected information flow. This offers a rehearsal space for complex details—such as aluminum panel installation, climbing frames, and lifting operations—allowing us to identify and eliminate risks before actual construction. Testing BIM models in advance provides a trial run that improves safety and efficiency.
The biggest impact of BIM is not the visible 3D model itself but the underlying data flow. BIM represents a part of broader informatization—embedding a three-dimensional method into engineering processes. Many BIM applications feature 4D animations that simulate construction progress, adding a timeline to 3D models. This enables detailed analysis of each step’s process, sequence, and spatial requirements, helping anticipate potential risks.
Ultimately, a complete system underpins the entire assembly process—from design through production to construction—making it fully controllable. This requires accessible information management, not just software models. Otherwise, BIM would not require industry specialization. Additionally, BIM can track materials from their source, integrating with technologies like RFID for remote scanning. It monitors the entire lifecycle: design decomposition, factory production, transportation, warehousing, and on-site installation. Information is the foundation of BIM, and information standards align with each enterprise’s management practices rather than being universally fixed.
Breaking the Dilemma of Housing Industrialization
How can we control costs? As universal components increase, costs can gradually decrease. This represents a major challenge. By collecting data through standardized cloud platforms, big data can facilitate the continuous diversification of building components, ultimately lowering industry-wide prices. These ideas are still in early stages, with pilot projects underway. Achieving a fully industrialized level remains difficult and requires robust software support—closely linked to BIM and information management systems.
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