Any physical structure depends on accurate time data and robust LEAN Facility management practices. From concept through recycling in order to maintain required levels of performance efficiently.
While we all know the importance of proper maintenance schedules to mitigating disruption of building services, execution has proven somewhat difficult.
When you purchase a car, you given an instruction manual and a service manual. The latter is key to trouble free operation, and to maintaining a valid warranty.
When we buy or we lease a building, office, or home we more often than not, know relatively little about the actual physical and functional conditions at the time of the transaction.
Anyone who purchases a building, for example, certainly would benefit from knowing who designed it, how it was built, what are the components and systems used, how they were installed, etc.
Generally, this information is not readily available and at best is incomplete.
There is very little, if any laws to protect the purchaser should there be “hidden” issues.
BIM – Building Information Modeling technology and business processes, if leveraged properly, can deliver numerous benefits during the LEAN Facility management stage:
- Detailed knowledge of the building
- LEAN construction delivery methods to lower life-cycle costs
- Financial transparency
- Information-based decision support
- Key performance indicators
- Long term, beneficial relationships with all stakeholders and services partners
LEAN Construction Delivery and life-cycle LEAN Facility management are best value processes that are foundational elements of BIM. A key element of both is that stakeholders and participants are involved at the earliest possible point in any project. Equally important to these collaborative process is the used of common terms, definitions, and data architectures. Generally referred to as a Common Data Environment (CDE), the ability for all participants to understand and share common information is critical to maximizing productivity and minimizing risk.
Unfortunately, far too many in the AEC community view specific software packages, such as Revit or Archicad, as BIM. While these visualization tools are clearly of value that are only one of several items available to BIM practitioners. In fact, exclusive focus on tools like this can introduce an unnecessary level of complexity and may not be easily or well adapted by facilities managers or other key stakeholders. The cost and sophistication, therefore, may simply not be worth the required expenditure of vital resources.
The key to BIM, as noted, is a common data environment and LEAN collaborative business processes.
Organizing the information required from all the disparate knowledge domains (design, engineering, construction, maintenance, procurement, etc.), information (costs, plans, certificates…), and participants, however, can now easily be done.
The Cloud performs perfectly for this purpose as it allows all parties to access current information anywhere and at any time. The type and level of information, of course, can be easily controlled.
Leveraging cloud technology, maintenance management, and all activities associated throughout the life-cycle of a built structure, can be monitored, accessed, and updated in real-time.
Furthermore, and perhaps most importantly, the prove, robust, best LEAN facility management practices, such as Integrated Project Delivery, Job Order Contracting, and Asset Life-cycle Total Cost of Management, can be embedded into cloud technology and adapted to the needs of each participating organization. No longer are organizations limited to a single archaic or monolithic software technology. Applications and/or plug-ins are linked via the cloud to be best leveraged by all participants. Big data can be accesses and databases built instantaneously to support current requirements.
Use of current actionable information by all stakeholders and participants permits full exploitation of available resources, while reducing the risk of rework and excessive delays in implementation.
The use of the CDE becomes strategic for example also in managing and monitoring the use of space, energy, and financial resources.
Solutions as NEXT.FM or Building in Cloud, allow, through any devices (desktop, tablet, or smartphone) and a common Web browser to access freely, provided that you have an Internet connection, the information of the building and to provide collaboration tools to workers involved in maintenance management.
Have you some cases of successful implementation of BIM in the Lean Facility management processes to highlight and you would like to bring to the attention of those working in the industry?
If yes please write me commenting on this post, the most interesting will be published.