BIM for Beginners: 7 Key Points for Successful Implementation

BIM (Building Information Modeling) is an innovative method for centrally managing building information from design through construction and maintenance. In recent years, the construction industry has rapidly advanced BIM implementation, and with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism making the use of BIM/CIM a principle for public works, the trend toward adopting BIM across the industry has strengthened. BIM has now become an unavoidable keyword, and many companies and projects are considering its introduction.

That said, beginners starting with BIM may have many concerns: “Will it really improve work efficiency?” “Where should we start?” “Will implementing it actually increase our workload?” In practice, mastering BIM requires a different approach from traditional drawing creation, and if one jumps in without sufficient preparation, it can be hard to feel its benefits and some give up.

This article explains seven points that BIM beginners should keep in mind to succeed in implementation. It concretely summarizes what to prepare in advance for BIM adoption and tips to avoid failures in operation. Please use this as a reference and take the first step toward BIM utilization.

1. Clarify the purpose and goals of implementation

Before introducing BIM, first clarify within the company why you are implementing it. It is important to specifically define what problems you want to solve and how you want to improve operations. If you start just because it’s trendy, you may end up in a situation where “we don’t know what actually improved.” Identify the problems currently faced within the company and organize how BIM can improve them.

Examples of effects that can be expected from BIM implementation include:

• Improved design quality: By performing clash detection and simulations on a 3D model, you can reduce design errors and rework that are easy to overlook in drawings

• Smoother consensus building: Because a three-dimensional completed image can be shared, it becomes easier to explain to owners and stakeholders, helping to prevent troubles caused by misaligned understanding

• Improved information sharing and work efficiency: When drawings and specification information are consolidated into a single model, maintaining consistency and sharing data during changes becomes smoother, reducing duplicate work

If you implement without clarifying these purposes, you may end up creating BIM models that no one on site uses. In some cases, the issues can be solved by other means without forcibly introducing BIM. If it is difficult to judge within your company, seeking advice from a specialist consultant is an option. In any case, when organizing the purpose of implementation, be sure to incorporate the opinions of practitioners such as designers on site and ensure everyone shares a common understanding.

2. Executive commitment and BIM promotion structure

To succeed in BIM implementation, strong commitment and support from executives are indispensable rather than leaving it to the field. Clearly demonstrate the company’s intention to promote BIM and invest the necessary resources top-down. First, appoint a BIM manager (person in charge of BIM promotion) to oversee the implementation project and organize the internal structure. Ideally, assign a dedicated person who can concentrate on planning the implementation, coordinating with departments, and training members. With the BIM manager leading and guiding the entire team, the implementation project can proceed smoothly.

Executives are also responsible for securing the time and human resources required for BIM implementation. For example, support is needed to review project schedules and personnel allocation so that designers can secure time within work hours to learn BIM. Simply telling staff who are already overwhelmed with regular duties to “also learn BIM” places a heavy burden on them and will not lead to adoption. Senior management should support the establishment of learning periods and encourage participation in training so that the field can work on BIM with confidence. It is also important that executives themselves fully understand the significance and goals of BIM implementation and regularly check progress to provide support. Only when top-down backing and on-site cooperation are combined will BIM take root internally and produce results.

3. Organize current business workflows

As a prerequisite for BIM implementation, organize and visualize your company’s current business workflows. If the traditional design and construction processes remain unclear, the responses after BIM introduction will be ad hoc, and partial improvement measures may lead to further confusion. To avoid this, first identify the current procedures and information flows and organize the issues.

Specifically, take stock of points such as “in which project phases will BIM be used and to what extent,” “what scope of work is handled by our company,” “what building uses, structures, and scales are common,” and “how roles are divided with external partners.” Clarifying the business flow that has been ambiguous until now can be a significant benefit by itself when introducing BIM. From there, view the entire process and identify the points where “BIM conversion would be most effective,” prioritize them, and reflect them in the implementation plan. By grasping the overall picture in advance, you can prevent mismatches such as “even with BIM, it didn’t make things easier” after implementation.

4. Select appropriate BIM tools

Choosing the BIM software and tools that suit your company is also an important step toward success. Various BIM software packages are available today for architectural design or construction management, and they differ in operability, strengths, and applicable fields. Select the tool that best fits your implementation goals and business content. For example, if architectural design is primary, consider software strong in architectural design; if it includes MEP design, consider tools that handle MEP. Also, because license costs and required hardware specs differ by software, make a comprehensive judgment including costs and operational aspects.

When selecting, check the following points:

• Functionality and applicability: Does it sufficiently provide functions for the fields your company mainly handles, such as architectural design, structural, MEP, or civil engineering

• Data compatibility: If data exchange with other companies or partners is required, does it support standard formats (such as IFC) and ensure compatibility with other software

• Support system: Is Japanese-language support, training services, and a user community available? Is there an environment where you can consult when in trouble

• Implementation cost: Are the purchase or subscription fees within budget? Is the cost-effectiveness appropriate when preparing for multiple seats

Also, prepare the hardware environment needed to run BIM software. BIM working with 3D models generates large amounts of data, requiring high-performance PCs, sufficient graphics capability, and storage capacity. Check the software’s recommended specifications and consider introducing workstations or strengthening the network environment if necessary. If possible, try a trial version to test the operability or investigate other companies’ case studies, and take time to choose the most suitable tool for your company.

5. Human resource development and learning support

The success or failure of BIM implementation ultimately depends on the skills of the people who handle it. Systematic education and training for employees are essential to establish new tools and workflows. Provide opportunities to learn not only basic BIM software operations but also BIM concepts and operational methods in a structured manner. There are various means, such as attending training or online courses provided by the software vendor, internal training with external instructors, and using e-learning materials. If there are few experienced people within the company, utilizing BIM implementation support consultants or communities is also effective.

Particularly for BIM beginners, many are confused by the different way of thinking compared to traditional 2D CAD, so providing solid learning support at the initial stage is important. Leaving it to individual self-study often leads to frustration in the face of the vast number of functions. Formulate a development plan that includes OJT and have employees acquire skills step by step. For example, conduct basic training in the first two months and then have employees gain BIM modeling experience in actual projects with seniors over the next three to four months. Also, as mentioned earlier, it is essential that supervisors and executives support securing study time so that “there is no time to study because work is busy” does not occur. Recognize that BIM implementation cannot succeed without employee skill development and commit to thorough human resource development.

6. Establish BIM operation rules and standards

To use BIM within an organization, it is necessary to establish internal operation rules and standards. When multiple members handle the same model, if each person draws in their own way, the data will become chaotic. To prevent that, formulate common rules that the whole team should follow before implementation. For example, naming conventions for elements, rules for assigning layers and attribute information, output formats for drawings and documents, file storage locations, and version control methods. At the start of a project, the BIM manager should spearhead these decisions and document them for thorough dissemination so that operations proceed smoothly.

It is also important to reconsider attachment to traditional methods. Each company has long-cultivated drawing styles and internal formats, but attempting to completely replicate them in BIM can cause excessive effort. Focus on extracting the necessary information from the BIM model itself and be flexible in “aligning the appearance of output drawings to a certain standard.” In other words, clarify the purpose of the drawings and summarize them within the range that can be expressed without undue effort using the BIM software’s standard functions. For example, being overly particular about drawing decoration or fine expressions can increase modeling labor and defeat the purpose. Update your company’s formats as needed to achieve efficient output.

Consider information management methods before BIM implementation. Because BIM handles 3D models plus accompanying information, the amount of information increases dramatically compared to before. If you cannot handle this massive data and resort to ad hoc measures such as revising only part in 2D drawings and managing the rest separately in Excel, inconsistencies between the model and drawings will arise and cause confusion. To avoid this, set policies during the workflow organization stage on “which information is stored in the model and which is managed separately” and “to what level of detail the model will be developed (LOD level).” The point is to not include everything, but to appropriately simplify and select information according to the project’s purpose.

Also note that even with BIM, 2D drawings are not completely unnecessary. In some cases, such as detailed drawings and joint details, it is more efficient to create them in 2D. In such cases, decide on rules for linking and managing the BIM model and 2D drawings. For example, draw detail drawings in 2D and associate them with elements in the model using drawing numbers or IDs. However, to prevent rework due to duplicate management, clearly define the update flow. Prepare a system that allows operation while maintaining consistency, assuming the coexistence of BIM and traditional methods.

7. Start small and expand gradually

Finally, the shortcut to success with BIM is to start small and expand in stages. Rather than applying it across all projects company-wide at once, first pilot it in a manageable scope. For example, try model creation and drawing output in relatively simple, small-scale projects or at the schematic design stage. Use these pilot projects to identify practical issues and problems, and revise the operation rules and workflows described above as needed. By accumulating small successes and gradually expanding the scope of application, you can diffuse BIM within the company without overextending.

Depending on each company’s situation, a practical approach is to first set the goal of “using BIM at the schematic design level,” then gradually “expand application to the construction drawing level.” In practice, there are examples where within about six months the schematic design drawing output was handled by BIM, and over the following year the workflow expanded to detailed drawings and construction-stage utilization. While it is ideal to complete everything in BIM at once, each phase on site requires different information and accuracy, so it is also necessary to be flexible by operating separate design models, construction models, and facility management models. Start BIM utilization where you can achieve results in your company, and slide into the next stage while verifying outcomes. By steadily building achievements, internal understanding deepens and ultimately accelerates BIM implementation.

Conclusion

We have introduced seven points for successful BIM implementation. From preparation to operation, various efforts are required, but if you address each point steadily, BIM will surely contribute greatly to work efficiency and quality improvement. The beginning may be a series of trial and error, but as know-how accumulates internally, it will lead to fundamental reforms in the design and construction process and position your company to lead the next-generation construction DX.

Also, to maximize BIM’s effects, don’t overlook the use of related cutting-edge technologies. For example, by introducing [simple surveying with LRTK](https://www.lrtk.lefixea.com/) for site surveying and measurement, you can easily obtain position information with centimeter-level accuracy (half-inch accuracy) using a smartphone without special expensive equipment. Using such tools allows accurate site data to be quickly reflected in the BIM model, greatly streamlining the coordination between design and construction.

Incorporate the latest technologies as appropriate and apply BIM in a way that fits your company. The journey to BIM implementation is not without challenges, but beyond it lies opportunities for new value creation and strengthening competitiveness. Use this article as a reference and challenge yourself to innovate construction projects with BIM.