Implementing BIM to streamline a

Following the launch of the Government Construction Strategy in 2011, the UK construction sector has witnessed a significant increase in the awareness and adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM). As recognised by the strategy, there are synergies between Lean Construction and BIM. BIM implementation demands changes in existing process and procedures for design and construction, representing a technology change but also a people and process change. Therefore, the implementation of BIM is a business decision that should be aligned with a business strategy in making the organisation leaner. This paper presents a BIM implementation project through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) between the University of Salford and Links, a design, manufacture and fit-out SME based in the UK. KTP is a government-funded initiative to support businesses improvements by accessing universities expertise. The project aims is to implement BIM as a catalyst for a lean transformation, streamlining process and operations. The research adopts a case study methodology on a BIM implementation for Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) at Links through an approach of reviewing the organisational business process and workflows followed by exploring and implementing appropriate technologies that then enable the people and process transformation. The 30 months project is being delivered through 5 key stages. This paper presents the findings from the first two stages that have been completed to date of 1. Establishing and consolidating best practice knowledge in BIM; 2. Conducting a detailed review and analysis of the organisation’s current situation, and the third, which is currently progressing, of 3. Developing a BIM-based collaborative strategy. The remaining stages will implement a BIMbased collaborative strategy for DfMA through a pilot project before conducting a project review and evaluation.