THREE REASONS WHY GENERAL CONTRACTORS SHOULD CARE WHO BUILDS THEIR CIM MODELS
Mistakes happen - that is a fact. The goal is to find ways to minimize how often they occur and find solutions to prevent the same mistake from happening again in the future. Mistakes are a potential downfall when a project requires the collaboration of multiple parties. When it comes to your responsibilities, there is a level of certainty that you know the job will get done properly that you will not have for the other participants involved, especially if they are someone you have never partnered with before. You need to assess if they are capable, reliable, and can deliver accurate and timely results. As a General Contractor, you are the spearhead of the project. It is up to you to find subcontractors who can fill the gaps in the services offered to complete the job. However, sometimes your subcontractors have to utilize vendors of their own. But how do you know that they are reliable, that they won’t make any mistakes? Read more to learn why general contractors should care who their site contractors use for creating 3D models.
What are the impacts of a bad CIM model?
Lack of Buildability
Prefabrications will not be aligned if there are inaccurate dimensions, elevations, reference points, missing tolerances, etc. Physical Access and Installation sequences will be negatively impacted.
Delays in workplanning
Field productivity is down, rework is required, crews are upset, and schedule compression may occur
Accountability & Cost Absorption
Responsibility can get blurry when third parties are involved. Usually, GCs absorb the initial extra cost from poor CIM work to maintain the momentum of job productivity. Their cost recovery usually takes a long time, and can sometimes be incomplete.
How can you try to avoid this?
If you are a general contractor who self-performs your own site work, then you are directly responsible for who you hire to carry out your GPS needs. Start by researching various options and verifying their years of experience and capabilities. There are several key factors to consider when hiring a 3D modeler. If you have never worked with them before, you could request a demo to assess the quality and usability of their work. If you outsource your site work, we recommend adding an additional level of due diligence upfront to reduce your risks further. While vetting the various earthwork companies bidding for the project, ask who they use for modeling and conduct your own investigation. This will help you narrow down the right choice for the job. Once you have selected a company that uses a reliable resource for all its GPS needs, you should be able to establish a trusting relationship with both vendors. This is very important because a General Contractor needs to ensure all parties involved deliver precise results and do their job accurately since they own the outcome. Their clients expect that they can assemble the right team to ensure they get exactly what they requested, on time, that complies with safety codes, and is on budget.
If you have any more questions about why a bad 3D model affects General Contractors or need help hiring 3D modelers, reach out to 877-572-3414 or email us at info@eci3d.com!