Hello Revit Forum, new user considering Revit implementation

[redmapleprojects]

Hello guys, good to be here.

So I'm here because I want to take my very small construction company to the next level. Our first project was a redisential 7,000 sq. feet building. Pretty much everything was a mess, on foundations and structure we had a 20%+ cost overrun, which meant we had to sacrifice many design ideas to keep the overall project with "only" a 10% overcost. MEP installation was also problematic, with multiple items that had to be redone during construction.

For our next project, we'll be making a small building with a total area of about 11,000 sq feet. My questions are the following:

1. Is it worth it to implement Revit in my business considering the size of projects we are currently handling?
2. Should I as manager take formal training in the tool? My experience is in project management, so for my next project I will take a much bigger role in Architectural/MEP coordination. On the first project I just trusted the firm I subcontracted but learned the hard way. I understand implementing BIM is something that requires leadership and processes and I am willing to put the effort for this to work.
3. For my main drafter (and even myself), there is an Autodesk approved training that starts April 22nd, its 40 hours and you present a certification exam. How recommendable is this route vs. other training options such as online tutorials, user manuals, and pretty much "playing with the software".

Any other feedback or suggestions you may have will be welcome. Thanks in advance!

Gerry

[Robin Deurloo]

Hey Gerry, welcome to the forum.
I was wondering if your company does drawings now as well, in AutoCAD or any other program, or that other companies do that for you. What I mean is, does the architect make a model/drawings, the structural engineer, the MEP guy? If that is the case and you have mainly a coordination role I would go with navisworks or solibri instead of revit for yourself. You can do clash control with those to better check all the models. If your drafter needs to do modelling work for the project then a course would be best but you need to know that after a course there is still a lot to learn and figure out before he is as fast with revit as he is with the program he uses now. Depending on your guy that can take up to 6 months.

[Karalon10]

Hi Gerry,

If you are the construction company this will definately work in your favor.

But I need to know what the other players in your projects are supplying you with.

I think I may have misunderstood your role in the construction process, you mention a drafter, so are you in the design team (ie structural) or are you doing the actual building and construction? Are you the architect? Are you the developer? You say construction company, but then some of your other points make me think you are an architect.

The reason this is important, is because it will mean either you are receiving 3D models from other parties, or you are the ones making them.

If you are just getting models from others, then it is much less complicated for you in some respects (like software choice).
If you are just doing project management, then Navisworks Manage is a better choice for what you need, revit is a design tool and then we leverage that data in the model for other phases (such as construction) using other software that is better suited to the task.

Revit has some clash detection features, but you are limited to clash detection between elements existing solely in the revit environment.
What does this mean? It means if your architect is working in archicad, and your mechanical designer in inventor, and your structural team in revit then you have no way of doing clash detection, short of traditional methods (which by the way should also work but there is a greater risk of error)

Navisworks on the other hand can take almost any file format, and put them in a federated model state for you to be able to do clash detection.

So to answer your questions in order here and concisely - and sorry to answer some with questions

1. First, analyse your needs. Revit is great for modeling, but what exactly do you need to get out of it? If you are doing only the project management side then revit is not what you want.
2. The advantage is on small firms for implementation. Your costs are lower, and you have less people to train. Formal training as a project manager (BIM Coordinator - is really where you are going here) is a good idea, but it will be hard to find. The company I am with now does offer training in this role, but...it will depend on where you are. Are you in the EU or UK? If so I can point you to someone that can help you.
3. Definately do a basic training course. Don't forget though that this is a software training course. They teach you how to use the software, not how to apply it to your business. So yes formal training is a good idea (again I can help you with that if you are in the EU or the UK)
Is the certification the Autodesk certification? I would say 40 hours is not enough to complete this certification, the Autodesk recommendation is Something like 400 hours of revit usage before you do the certified Professional exam.