C3 for Project BIM Success

Recently, I was asked to advise on "Design BIM" setup for a large tower project with the team dispersed in different geographical regions. I spent some time establishing BEP, Model break down, BIM resourcing and the like. During my time with them, one of the team members asked me for some tips on successful BIM management on that project.

My advise to him was C3. Having robust BEP and other protocols and procedures setup is a first step toward successful BIM implementation on a project. But what sits above all is this C3. I advised them to focus on the C3.

Here what C3 looks like.

COMMUNICATION

Communication is the first ingredient for BIM success on any project. So what should you communicate? Basically everything that you do in your 'BIM' model (oops!) that affects a person sitting next to you should be communicated. For instance, in Revit world, simple things like tidying up project browser and filing views under appropriate folders, introducing new workset or migrating objects on appropriate workset, areas in abeyance, key changes in model elements, introducing new method of doing something, deviating from family/type naming convention etc. The list could go on and on. Also, decide protocols for internal communication and external communication; i.e. what, when and how for internal communication will be different to external communication. Establish some basic communication protocols and "communicate" that to the entire team in a clear manner.


CONSISTENCY

Consistency is the next ingredient for BIM success, specially on a large project with disperse teams and multiple users. When I was managing "Design BIM" side of things in my previous roles, I used to tell my users that focus on consistency and not what is right or wrong. Nothing is right or wrong, at least in BIM world. Agree a method and stick with it. Consistently 'wrong' can be rectified quicker than a mixed bag. The reason why I used to insist this to my teams is because many times a "User A" would come to me and say look! I have found a sophisticated way of doing 'something' so I think we should model in this way. Next is "User B" who finds another way of doing that 'something' and he/she thinks we should approach modelling that way. Now as a BIM Manager my focus shifts from BIM management to people's management, you know what I mean! To avoid that I used to tell my users that focus on consistency so that we can achieve efficiency in what we do. Sophistication can be achieved later.


COMMITMENT

Commitment is the third and last ingredient for BIM success, specially on a large project with disperse teams and multiple users. You need commitment from all users so that they communicate as per established protocol and maintain consistency throughout the project.

If you manage to achieve C3 on your project then BIM success on your project is virtually guarenteed.