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Fabrication Information Modeling (FIM) for Architectural, Engineering & Construction (AEC)
Integrated Engineering Project Management: from Design through to Site Erection.
How can the structural steelwork supply chain be organized to the benefit of all involved, enabling the necessary individual competitive advantages throughout contracting, whilst delivering complete project management facilities to the engineering team?
The answer lies in a very real and direct implementation of the long expounded BIM or Building Information Modeling concept. Many have talked about BIM and also claim full working implementation, although in reality we are still a long way from seeing a single model hold all the information required from the Architect to the Facilities Manager! Indeed, what many claim to have implemented is in fact simply integration between "islands of interoperability" within areas of the chain or more generally import/export through a series of links.
What is FIM?
FIM (n. abbr): Fabrication Information Modeling. Business strategy methodology that harnesses the structural supply chain and workflows between engineering, fabricators and construction companies through open, best practice solutions and standards based integration.
It is clear that the immediate future lies in specialized industry de facto databases that integrate as far as possible and inter communicate across the entire supply chain. With this in mind and as a result of unique positioning and significant knowledge of the structural steel engineering, detailing and fabrication industries, AceCad has developed a complete single source solution from engineering design through detailing, fabrication and ultimately erection. This solution has been brought about through best of breed integration of StruCad, the World's leading 3D structural detailing system and StruM.I.S .NET, the ultimate fabrication management system for steelwork fabricators.
"AceCad's commitment to delivering productivity advantages throughout these sectors has resulted in unique competitive advantages for our users and combined with years of best practice research and dialogue with leading steelwork contractors has enabled this integrated and unique single source approach".
Benefits
Fabrication Information Modeling benefits the entire structural steelwork supply chain from the engineering team, through detailing specialists, fabrication contractors and erection teams.
- Integration with leading analysis systems
- Integrated connection design
- Automatic fabrication and general arrangement drawing production
- Freeware model and drawing collaboration
- CAM/CNC data generation
- Integration with M.I.S and MRP systems
- Integrated Estimating
- Seamless purchasing and stock management
- Production management
- Budgetary control and analysis
- Instant real-time reporting/tracking with 3D model
Benefits specifically to the engineer include integration with leading analysis systems, and incorporated connection design tools to facilitate realization of connections rapidly, to the mutual satisfaction of the architect, engineer and fabricator. With automatic fabrication and general arrangement drawing production, freeware model and drawing collaboration and CNC data generation, projects can be managed more effectively. Project management capability is taken a step further through production as the data generated from the 3D model populates the StruM.I.S .NET management information system needed for multi project fabrication - the circumstances of most steelwork contractors. From estimating and tendering, through to purchasing and inventory, nesting and routing, the system facilitates all the tasks of the steelwork fabricator. With bar coding, budgetary control and analysis, coupled with instant reporting, progress can be monitored from anywhere in the world over the internet. The entire production process can be tracked real time in the 3D model, such that an enquiry may be made of any component and the exact status revealed. With integrated erection and phasing facilities, detailed planning of complex sites in combination with freeware model viewing tools enables efficient project delivery.
Fabrication Information Modeling brings benefits across the supply chain to each function, delivering rapid detailing completion and the industries most accurate automatic drawing production. Together with efficiency and productivity advantages across the entire production process and complete project management and collaboration tools Fabrication Information Modeling is the off the shelf solution of the future - available now!