Top 10 tips for construction firms in 2010

Expert advice for ensuring a successful 2010.

9. Time to take BIM seriously

Simply put, it doesn’t matter where your place in the building process is, the quicker and better you understand Building Information Modelling, the more profitable your business will become.
“You simply get better bids with BIM, as you can accurately demonstrate the complexity of projects. The scope is better defined and it gives you an accurate tonnage right from the time of bids – all at the touch of a button,” says Thornton Tomasetti principal Kyle Krall.
“The more people who are involved in the process, the greater the chance of introducing mistakes, which have cost implications, as you have to spend more time reproducing project information manually. Then work has to be redone, material is wasted, or material is missing at the last minute. Changes or modifications have to be effected on-site,” adds Ruggero Valsecchi, export sales manager for Progman Oy.
“BIM means time, energy and cost savings are inherent because you already have all the information in your model, and do not need to recalibrate manually,”

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10. Work smarter not harder

Don’t just put your head down and keep doing the same thing. A new year is a great time to reassess and ensure that your business is maximised and optimised. Could you benefit from using the latest technology, for example?
“In most industries, technology has played a major role in helping to manage and control business processes and risk. Unfortunately, for many years the construction industry has proven an exception to the rule; a fact that is surprising when you consider that many construction projects actually cost more than the total annual turnover of most medium to large sized companies,” says Causeway COO Paul Madeira.
Or are you throwing money away on PMV?
“Auction prices are, if not lower, at least avoiding the middle-man’s cut. It is a cash-quick settlement business and provides immediate availability to fill an immediate need,” states Keith Lupton, general manager World Wide Auctioneers.
“If you have a project that will last two to three years, why buy new equipment that has a guarantee for ten years, but will have its biggest depreciation value [over this initial period]? Why not buy second-hand?” reasons Tom Cornell, managing director Europe, Iron Planet.
So, make sure your assets and resources are all working for you.