BIM, LEAN and all the ‘unseen’

In the Details

Over the years, our primary focus on healthcare projects in South Africa and Africa, combined with extensive research, analysis, and close collaboration with clients and stakeholders, has enabled us to grasp intricate design nuances. This approach has allowed us to build a comprehensive library of meticulously detailed construction and equipment installation specifications.

This foundation supports our extensive healthcare design experience, empowering us to translate a client’s design vision into reality while delivering highly polished, feasible building projects.

Communication is key

To achieve this, every aspect of the building, from structural elements to interior finishes, requires meticulous documentation and specification to ensure quality, durability, and compliance with regulatory standards. Maintaining consistency and clarity in specifications is crucial to prevent misunderstandings or discrepancies during the construction phase. Clear communication with contractors and suppliers is paramount to ensure that specified materials and finishes meet desired quality standards and performance criteria.

It’s important to note that a significant portion of the labour force in the South African construction industry consists of semi-skilled, low-skilled, and unskilled workers.

However, achieving a high standard of design and construction necessitates investment. Clients must be prepared to invest in the expertise, materials, and craftsmanship required to deliver a superior healthcare facility. Cutting corners or opting for cheaper alternatives may compromise the integrity and functionality of the design, leading to dissatisfaction and costly revisions later on.

As architects, we also assist clients in navigating the choice between locally produced and imported products, considering factors such as logistics and longer lead times.

LEAN Principles

In our day-to-day work, especially during the design phase of projects, we collaborate closely with project teams comprising experienced professional engineers, quantity surveyors, and the client’s project team. Throughout this process, our goal is to adopt a ‘LEAN’ approach borrowed from the manufacturing industry.

‘LEAN’ emphasizes minimizing waste — anything that does not add value to the product — while maximizing productivity.

Agility

As a boutique firm, we are designed to meet these challenges. We have embraced the task of staying abreast of rapidly evolving technologies and have already made significant strides in automating repetitive tasks wherever possible. However, one of the primary obstacles we face is the initial investment cost associated with software licenses, computer hardware, and the learning curve associated with Building Information Modelling (BIM) and other technologies.

These challenges contribute to the slow adoption of new technologies across various specialties within building consulting firms in Africa. Despite our firm’s commitment to being early adopters of technology, we are constrained by the overall sluggish uptake in the market and the persistent traditional mindset prevalent in the construction industry.

Coordination

Full BIM adoption necessitates a skilled workforce extending ideally from clients and consulting firms to building contractors on site. This approach can lead to enhanced design coordination, clash detection, and improved project visualization. By integrating this with our streamlined project processes, we are confident that clients who invest will experience these benefits and collaborate with us to drive positive change in the built environment.