Smart Solutions Category: Construction Management Software

Improving Efficiency & Morale with Customized Software with Procore & McKinstry

After multiple failed attempts to implement project management software that worked for everyone, McKinstry finally found success with Procore. The customized product from Procore increased efficiency, cut delays, and improved morale. Procore is a benefactor of MCAA25.

McKinstry is an MEP design-build contractor providing energy savings performance contract services. They specialize in eco-friendly retrofits of public buildings across the United States. Based in Seattle, WA, the company prides itself on solving problems for clients, eliminating the barriers that stand in the way of building smarter, healthier, and more sustainable environments. But they struggled with barriers of their own.

Tailored to Fit

Before they landed on Procore, getting anything done at McKinstry often required checking with multiple team members—who may or may not have the answer. With no project management software in place, the company relied on spreadsheets and emails to keep track of vital data, resulting in a leaky, inefficient system that created siloes, impeded progress, and frustrated team members. For example, safety information was typically kept in a single, overstuffed binder onsite that was not always accurate or up to date. For two years, the company tried at least four other software solutions, but none achieved widespread adoption, partly due to a resistance to technology and a commitment to obsolete processes among some employees.

When Matt Ophardt, senior standardization program manager, was tasked with bridging the gap between IT and the rest of the business, he concluded that Procore was the best fit—but left nothing to chance. Working with Procore Professional Services, Ophardt spent three months planning, preparing, and configuring Procore to McKinstry’s precise needs. “We took the time to think through each tool and customize it to the way we run our projects, then showed our field teams exactly how they were going to use it,” he said. “They could see right away that it wasn’t really going to be that different—it was just going to optimize what they were doing.”

The result was “fairly instantaneous adoption across most of our projects,” said Ophardt. It helped that team members saw immediate payoff. “Procore optimizes the communication with both customers and subcontractors, and that was the most difficult thing we were struggling with,” Ophardt noted. With all information in one central location, individual project managers and engineers were able to run their projects without checking in with other employees, helping them communicate with specialty contractors faster so they could move on to other tasks. “Procore has helped us gain efficiencies in all aspects of project management, which helps us get all our projects to close out faster,” Ophardt shared.

In this short video, Matt Ophardt, senior standardization program manager at McKinstry, describes how they use Procore to increase productivity: https://procore.wistia.com/medias/yp1urjyer1

Procore Professional Services worked closely McKinstry to configure the software to their exact needs and perform on-site walkthroughs in which employees could ask questions and receive training. After so many false starts, Procore proved to be the one platform that achieved universal adoption across the company and helped drive true digital transformation. McKinstry realized numerous benefits:

  • Increased efficiency by streamlining interactions with contractors and external partners across project management
  • Faster decisions and quicker closeouts with a single source of truth, reducing delays and improving project timelines
  • Company-wide adoption with ease of use, lifting morale and minimizing friction across the entire team

Better Communication Benefits Everyone

Communication has improved since McKinstry implemented Procore, and so have the working relationships among McKinstry employees and partners. “Our subcontractors and customers love using Procore with us, because they face the same struggles we do in terms of communication and focusing on the goals of the project,” said Ophardt. “Having that all in one location in Procore helps all of us do better.”

That newfound coordination even helped retain a key McKinstry engineer. As the person responsible for reviewing submittals, this engineer would become upset when the lack of organization prevented him from confirming their status or priority level. “He felt like he was letting too many people down, and almost left McKinstry because of it,” said Ophardt. “Procore helped him organize that and deliver better to his coworkers, and he is still with us today.”

Overall, the improvements brought about by Procore have lifted morale across the company and made McKinstry a more efficient and exciting place to work. “Procore has definitely helped improve the lives of people at McKinstry,” Ophardt observed.

“Procore has helped us gain efficiencies in all aspects of project management, which helps us get all our projects to close out faster.”
– Matt Ophardt, Senior Standardization Program Manager, McKinstry

Tools Built for Purpose

Why did Procore succeed where so many other solutions had failed? Because it was built by people who understand construction, Ophardt stated. “We’ve purchased other software where it became clear that the people selling it had acquired a company or built a tool without quite understanding how it would be used,” he said. “That’s completely the opposite experience we’ve had with Procore. They understand how we use it and what we need it to do.”

Ophardt continued, “It is night and day how we can communicate with our partners and work internally on our projects.” With Procore in place, McKinstry is spending less time searching through emails and spreadsheets and more time focusing on its important work. “It’s made us so much more digital and connected, with a path to being even more so, that we’re excited about the future.”

For more information, visit www.procore.com. MCAA thanks Procore for being a benefactor of MCAA25 and providing souvenir Western hats in celebration of the Austin, TX, location.

Monitoring Fab Projects in Real Time with MSUITE & McCarl’s

By swapping out Excel spreadsheets for MSUITE software across multiple fabrication shops, McCarl’s Industrial and Mechanical Contractors now has real-time visibility into their workflow, not the two-to-three-day lag time. Adopting a fully digital platform has optimized workflows and increased operational efficiency.

McCarl’s is known for their expertise in complex heavy industrial services and pipe fabrication across various sectors. The collaboration between McCarl’s fabrication management team—led by Jon Bushmire, operations manager, and Max Wimer, project engineer/project manager—and the team at MSUITE, has significantly improved their operations. MSUITE provides McCarl’s with real-time visibility, optimized design-to-fab workflows, and enhanced quality-control (QC) capabilities.

McCarl’s implemented MSUITE across two of their three fabrication shops. Each shop covers 60,000 square feet, and McCarl’s employs about 50 fab shop workers. They use Autodesk’s AutoCAD Plant 3D toolset to send designs to both shops. Integrating Power BI with MSUITE supports enhanced assignments, visibility, and tracking.

According to Bushmire, implementing MSUITE came with the typical challenges of new software adoption, but it has been a success, particularly due to the instrumental role of team members like Wimer. “As we grow, we’ve found the system to be very user-friendly and centralized. Our design and drafting departments are in one area, making it easy to create and distribute drawings to the fab shops. This has streamlined working on the same project across multiple shops, reducing confusion,” said Bushmire.

A recent example involved a job that started in the Beaver Falls, PA, shop but had to be moved due to overflow. Tasks were seamlessly reassigned to another shop with all necessary drawings and welds in place, demonstrating the system’s efficiency and ease of use.

To learn more about how McCarl’s and others are gaining a competitive advantage with MSUITE, read 5 Tips for Optimizing Your Fabrication Operations here: https://www.msuite.com/5-tips-for-optimizing-your-fabrication-operation/

Dashboard Highlights Progress

Integrating MSUITE with Power BI yields a dashboard that provides McCarl’s a comprehensive overview of activities across two fabrication shops and one design team. It allows for easy monitoring of completed stages, tracking the delivery status of items, and determining the next steps for field teams.

McCarl’s can share the dashboard with clients for better transparency, and reports can be easily exported to provide stakeholders with clear visibility into a project’s status—whether it is a project McCarl’s is fabricating for their own job or for others’, as they occasionally do, Bushmire said. For example, reports can show:

  • fabrication projects in process;
  • items in the QC process;
  • items scheduled for delivery; and
  • Items that have been delivered.

Life Before MSUITE

Before implementing MSUITE, McCarl’s used an internally developed Excel spreadsheet to track activities. According to Bushmire, Power BI closely mirrors their old spreadsheet, which made the transition smoother. They utilized this template to pull information into Power BI, maintaining a familiar format for their field teams.

Excel and manual tracking pose several challenges:

  • Limited access: Only one person could use the spreadsheet at a time, leading to inefficiencies.
  • Data integrity issues: Multiple users caused data duplication, deletion, and inconsistencies.
  • Manual updates: Tracking and updating information manually was cumbersome.

Using MSUITE and Power BI allowed McCarl’s to overcome those challenges:

  • Database reliability: The database handles fabrication data management, helping provide accuracy and consistency.
  • Immutable reports: Power BI allows view-only without manipulation, preserving data integrity.
  • Automatic updates: Users can simply refresh the data to get the latest updates without manual input.

“From a management perspective, the real-time visibility provided by MSUITE is invaluable,” said Bushmire. “Previously relying on outdated Excel spreadsheets, the team now benefits from up-to-the-minute data, significantly enhancing their ability to manage fabrication status.” Immediate access to current information is crucial for effective management and decision-making. In addition, MSUITE’s user-friendly interface ensures that everyone, regardless of tech experience, can operate the system easily using tablets.

Attention to Detail

Wimer pointed out, “MSUITE has revolutionized the QC Department by automating the generation of quality documents, which previously required manual input. This automation allows the QC team to make final adjustments and send documents to clients quickly. Our fitters and welders enter heat numbers, select weld procedures, and claim welds completed instantly.”

Wimer noted that MSUITE has streamlined the design-to-fabrication process, especially when releasing drawings to the shop, further enhancing operational efficiency. He also appreciates the close collaboration with MSUITE. “The regular bi-weekly meetings with the MSUITE support team foster a strong partnership. These meetings ensure the software is continually improving and address any immediate issues.

“We’re also working with MSUITE to develop more features tailored for industrial pipe fabricators like us. Our business is very dynamic, given the nature of industrial piping,” said Wimer.

Bushmire added, “In industrial fabrication, tracking every detail is crucial. We need to know the heat number, chemical makeup of the steel, welding procedures, who welded it, and the results of X-ray tests.

“There’s a lot of information to manage. Unlike some types of commercial work, which may not require such extensive tracking, industrial fabrication demands it. For less complex fabrication tasks, I think MSUITE works perfectly, but for intricate levels where tracking is essential, it’s a vital tool,” Bushmire continued.

Industrial Fabrication Trends

Bushmire and Wimer agree that the industry is rapidly advancing toward the adoption of new technology, including robotics in welding. Bushmire noted that while every fabricator has their own way of doing things, technological systems greatly enhance efficiency. “Implementing new technology is a significant task and doesn’t happen overnight,” he said. It took McCarl’s about a year to fully integrate and optimize their new MSUITE system.

Bushmire emphasized the importance of ensuring that new systems can integrate seamlessly with robotics and stay updated with the latest technology. As more fabricators adapt to new technology, maintaining pace with these advancements is crucial.

“In our pipe fabrication, the Rotoweld is our most advanced robot. From my visits to the Pipe Fabrication Institute, I’ve become well-acquainted with two industry-leading robots: the Novarc and the Rotoweld. Both are excellent, each with unique strengths suited to different types of fabrication,” said Bushmire.

Impact in the Fab Shop

Wimer reports that staff at various shops find MSUITE comprehensive and easy to use, making their tasks straightforward and satisfying. Bushmire emphasized that the utility of MSUITE depends on the scale of operations. “For high-volume fabrication, tracking thousands of welds each month, MSUITE is essential.”

The new process, combined with tools created in Excel, has significantly streamlined operations at McCarl’s. “We’re just a couple of clicks away from getting 20–30 drawings in,” said Bushmire, noting the immense time saved compared to the previous manual spreadsheet method.

While Excel might work for a single job, McCarl’s found it was not feasible for managing multiple simultaneous projects. Bushmire advises fabricators looking to grow and manage multiple shops seamlessly to consider MSUITE. “As McCarl’s expands into new areas like Nevada, Oregon, and North Carolina, using a system like MSUITE is crucial for ensuring seamless operations across various locations,” he said.

For more information, visit www.msuite.com.

Build Your Business with Updated Time Tracking: Advice from Raken

Modernizing the way you log, review, and approve work hours will positively impact more than just your payroll process. Streamlined digital time tracking with software from companies like Raken can help your construction business build more accurate estimates, increase profitability, and improve employee retention.

The Problem With Manual Methods

If you are using pen and paper or spreadsheets to collect time cards from the field, chances are you are not making the most of your resources. Your field crews are busy with project-related tasks. While they may make every effort to submit time cards on time, any payroll team can tell you that does not always happen.

Without standardization or automation, it takes significant effort to collect and organize time cards from your workforce every week, especially for larger businesses. Even if every worker turns in their hours by your deadline, you still have to manually process time card data when you are using an outdated system. Manual data entry is a tedious, error-prone task.

Accuracy Matters

It is important to pay your workers accurately and on time. Most businesses understand that and, if they are struggling with payroll, will often pull in employees from other departments to help calculate and deliver payments as needed, delaying other important projects and tasks.

If your time data is not accurate, you cannot rely on it to help you inform future budgets and schedules. An inaccurate insight is almost as bad as no insight. Trying to plan a profitable project based on data that is miscalculated or full of errors can seem like an impossible task.

It is all too easy for time theft to occur when workers are using outdated time tracking methods. Workers may make errors or be forced to guess the correct hours to add if they are rushing or multitasking when completing their time cards. With pen and paper or spreadsheets, it is difficult to identify time fraud or distinguish malicious behavior from an honest mistake.

Raken’s flexible time entry options allow construction companies to track time in the way that works best for the business. Companies can choose from three options:

  • Mobile time clock on workers’ individual devices
  • Shared time clock kiosk
  • Supervisor-led digital time cards

Whatever combination you use, the time entry process is easier and faster than pen and paper or over-complicated spreadsheets. Crews or supervisors more easily enter hours by cost code in the field, using the devices they have in their pockets or a shared device every day. They can submit and approve hours with a click or a tap, instead of manually or by email, while the office can see and review this information immediately in a standardized format once it is submitted. Using Raken’s time tracking software minimizes interruptions to your crews’ busy workdays, encouraging compliance.

Other Benefits of Digital Time Tracking

While it is easy to see how going digital with products like Raken’s will help fix some of the issues with outdated methods, there are other, less obvious benefits to updating your time tracking system. For example, with digital time tracking, you can more easily incorporate cost code data in your time-entry process. Once that data is incorporated, time cards become a useful tool for production tracking.

When businesses track hours by cost code, they gain detailed visibility into individual project efficiency. You can see exactly how many hours of labor were spent on specific tasks and measure actual numbers against estimates in real time instead of weeks later. You can use these insights to make more proactive decisions on a day-to-day basis and keep stakeholders better informed of project progress.

Raken allows construction companies to get granular data with unlimited custom cost codes. When you can add custom cost codes to time cards, you can evolve your processes as needed, based on real data. You are not forced to track time by predetermined requirements.

Time card data can also help you plan ahead—especially when it is easily accessible and well organized. Digital time tracking gives you more reliable access to historical data to see how previous projects performed. You can easily locate and review past time data without searching through physical files or spending hours on manual analysis, which  allows for better financial planning and, ultimately, better profitability.

Watch this Raken webinar, Making Data-Driven Bid Decisions: https://www.rakenapp.com/webinars/making-data-driven-bid-decisions

Job satisfaction increases when employees are consistently paid on time. If the company is struggling to maintain sufficient cash flow to meet every payroll on time, that can contribute to employee turnover, an especially big concern in the face of ongoing labor shortages. Moreover, manually collecting, reviewing, and approving time cards can lead to burnout in your accounting department.

Easy Time Management

Managing overtime, double time, and any other kind of pay rate can be complex, especially across multiple service areas with different laws and requirements. Raken allows you to manage overtime by setting custom rules and automatically applying them based on the project specifications and more. Both payroll administrators and employees can manage time by project or across all projects with easy-to-use views that make complex information digestible.

Raken also consolidates and organizes time card data automatically so you can more easily apply it. Automated insights demonstrate how work hours are spent and what that means for project progress. Raken integrates with industry-preferred accounting software. Digital solutions like Raken’s for time tracking reduce manual data entry, eliminate errors, increase insights, and save time on payroll every pay period.

For more information, visit www.rakenapp.com.

Helpful Habits of Successful Plumbing Estimators: Thoughts from McCormick Systems

Cultivating successful estimating habits should make creating fast, accurate bids a seamless process, so you win more plumbing jobs. Here are seven things to consider as you cultivate better estimating habits.

If you are new to estimating, or just trying to sharpen your processes, pick a few adjustments to start with, then continue adding to the routine over time. As one habit becomes engrained, move to the next. Soon, both your estimates and bids will give you a competitive edge.

What Makes a Good Plumbing Estimator?

1. Paying Attention to Project Scope
Successful plumbing estimators understand that every project has its own goals, and every owner has their specific demands. To build the most accurate estimate possible, it is crucial to constantly refer to the intended scope as you determine materials, quantities, costs, and timelines. Otherwise, you may miss crucial elements or add unnecessary expenses, eliminating you from consideration during the bidding process.

2. Focusing on Efficiency
Bidding is an incredibly competitive process that relies on speed and accuracy. A good estimator can build winning bids quickly by running takeoff and building efficient estimates and then submitting their bid in a timely manner.

One way to increase your bidding speed is by using estimating software with built-in takeoff, such as the trade-specific solutions created by McCormick Systems. As you make your measurements and identify the materials, prices are automatically added to the estimate, cutting multiple steps out of your process.

Also, properly allocating the time of others is one of the most important elements of building an estimate. If you are able to do this consistently, you can effectively control labor costs, take on more projects simultaneously, and maximize productivity and profitability.

Learn how using estimating templates can help streamline your process: https://www.mccormicksys.com/blog/exploring-estimating-templates-and-how-to-use-them/

3. Being Precise When Building the Estimate
Depending on the job, project owners may comb through hundreds of plumbing bids, so even one mistake or inconsistency could mean you are out of consideration. Building precise estimates involves paying close attention to measurements, calculations, labor costs, and resource availability. It also means verifying this information again before submitting your bid to avoid mistakes and scheduling conflicts.

McCormick has advice on building a winning takeoff and estimating process: https://www.mccormicksys.com/blog/exploring-estimating-templates-and-how-to-use-them/

4. Being Willing to Collaborate
Before building their estimate, a good estimator may contact the project owner to learn more about their expectations, check resources and suppliers for availability, and gather references from previous estimates. As you build the estimate, it is crucial to communicate with project managers, project owners, and other stakeholders about project needs and costs. By keeping an open line of communication, you can stay ahead of changes and avoid mistakes that can impact the expected profitability of a job.

5. Organizing Project Information Appropriately
Developing a system to organize project information where you can easily reference it is critical to creating fast, precise estimates. It also helps you compare actual costs to your estimate during the project. Plumbing estimating software like McCormick Systems’ programs integrates with accounting software to make this step significantly easier.

6. Reassessing Past Performance
Analyzing prior project experiences can help you avoid mistakes, apply the most productive processes, and maximize productivity and profitability. Some projects may have similar layouts or materials, such as water pumps or piping. Identifying these similarities allows you to draw on past experiences, which saves time and helps you build more precise estimates.

7. Leveraging Plumbing Estimating Software
Plumbing estimating software like McCormick’s makes developing these habits much easier because it gives you access to trade-specific features to accurately calculate estimates, increase visibility, analyze past projects, and source high-quality material.

Want to learn more about improving your estimating? Read the blog Five Ways to Simplify Your Estimating here: https://www.mccormicksys.com/blog/five-ways-to-simplify-your-estimating/

How Can You Start Building Successful Habits?

The first step to building strong plumbing estimating habits is determining where you can improve the most. You can do this by examining your current plumbing estimating process. Ask yourself, “Are there any common mistakes or pitfalls I’ve noticed when creating estimates?”

Some examples of potential pitfalls include the following:

  • Overestimating or underestimating
  • Consistently providing incorrect labor costs
  • Being slow to adapt to changes provided by the project owner

Once you have identified an issue, begin applying the applicable habit that aligns with your problem.

How Can Construction Estimating Software Help You Build Good Habits?

These helpful habits are significantly easier to develop if you use plumbing estimating software. While you cannot change all of your habits instantly, the software gives you the tools to identify your weakest areas and work to improve them.

Watch this short webinar on using McCormick’s estimating software for mechanical and plumbing contractors; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgnKPC0gQeg

Additionally, construction plumbing estimating software gives you greater visibility into project costs, automates measurements and calculations, securely stores project information, and allows you to easily reassess past performance to determine areas of improvement. Investing in plumbing-specific software such as McCormick’s ensures that you have access to features built for your projects, so you can start applying these habits to maintain long-term success.

For more information, visit https://www.mccormicksys.com.

Increase Sales and Customer Satisfaction with XOi & J.M. Brennan, Inc.

With XOi, J.M. Brennan, Inc. was better able to show customers exactly what their projects needed and why, resulting in increased sales and revenue. Tracking their key performance indicators (KPIs) with XOi, J.M. Brennan has seen their closure rate for field quotes increase by 10 percent, among other improvements.

Existing Systems Fell Short

J.M. Brennan faced several challenges in their service operations before adopting XOi. They had recently migrated to Coins ERP+ and used Microsoft Teams for advanced tasking and field quoting. While these systems were useful in their own right, they lacked the necessary features and customization options to support J.M. Brennan’s innovative service vision, operationalize their ideas, and meet the evolving needs of their customers.

The service reports generated were generic and lacked effective customization, hindering the company’s ability to provide detailed documentation and tell the customer story. J.M. Brennan also struggled to find a way to efficiently document their service activities and condition assessments, which were crucial for both internal processes and customer communication.

Customizing Counts

J.M. Brennan discovered XOi and realized its potential to address their challenges. They were particularly drawn to XOi’s custom workflows, which allowed them to easily create and tailor processes to their specific needs.

The ability to document service activities with videos and easily share them with customers intrigued the team. As they began using XOi, they observed significant positive outcomes:

  • Exceptional customer response: When J.M. Brennan introduced XOi to their customers, they received exceptionally positive feedback. Customers were pleased with the ability to view visual quotes, preventive maintenance activities, and other service documentation.
  • Increased sales and revenue: The use of XOi in field quotes and customer presentations had a substantial impact on closing deals. J.M. Brennan’s customers could now see precisely why equipment needed replacement, leading to increased sales and revenue—and high levels of confidence.
  • Streamlined workflows: XOi’s customizable workflows allowed J.M. Brennan to standardize service practices, ensuring consistency and quality in their work. Technicians now have clear guidelines, resulting in improved training processes.
  • Proactive maintenance: Using XOi’s custom workflows, J.M. Brennan created their own rating system for equipment condition assessment, enabling them to be proactive in identifying potential issues. This proactive approach contributed to customer satisfaction and trust.

XOi Yields Excellent Results

J.M. Brennan tracks various metrics and KPIs with XOi, including usage by technicians, safety-related data, end-of-life reports, and the number of quotes produced and secured. Adopting XOi yielded the following results:

  • Reduced time on advanced tasking for preventive maintenance agreements: XOi streamlined the tasking process, reducing the time needed to complete advanced tasking by 20 percent.
  • Increased customer satisfaction: Standardized workflows and visual documentation led to a 10-fold increase in customer satisfaction.
  • Perfect consistency in preventive maintenance: XOi helped J.M. Brennan achieve 100-percent consistency in preventive maintenance tasks.
  • Higher closure rate on field quotes: J.M. Brennan anticipates a 10-percent increase in their closure rate for field quotes, leading to measurable revenue growth.

Managing Change Effectively

J.M. Brennan fully embraced XOi from day one. Their leadership made it a priority to attend every onboarding meeting and brought thoughtful questions to the table. They partnered with their XOi onboarding and customer success managers to provide their team with comprehensive training and support.

J.M. Brennan understood that change could be met with resistance and required support from leadership from the start, so they ensured that their team received the necessary coaching and assistance to become proficient with XOi and how it works with Coins. As a result, J.M. Brennan successfully transformed their service operations with XOi, addressing the challenges they faced in documenting service activities, providing better customer communication, and streamlining workflows.

By leveraging the power of XOi’s customization, proactive maintenance features, and integration capabilities, J.M. Brennan enhanced customer satisfaction, increased revenue, and positioned themselves as an innovative and competitive player in their industry. Their commitment to adapting to new technology and their partnership with XOi have proven to be a winning combination for their business.

For more information, visit xoi.io.

Boosting Mechanical Revenue 30 Percent

After making the transition from paper recordkeeping to BuildOps software, “our revenue has grown by 30 percent, we’ve doubled the number of tickets that we can handle, and we’re working more efficiently than before,” said Scott Fuksa, president of Jackson Mechanical Service.

Jackson Mechanical has been a cornerstone of the Oklahoma City mechanical services industry since 1957. With a strong commitment to fair pricing, exceptional customer service, niche specialties, and continuous technical training, Jackson Mechanical has grown from a small team of three to a robust operation with more than 80 employees and a fleet of 63 service trucks. Despite their growth, the company was mired in an archaic system of color-coded folders to manage their expansive operations.

“It was very old school,” recalled Travis Fuksa, project manager at Jackson Mechanical. “If something wasn’t on the original ticket, that information would be gone.” The outdated system was not just slow; it was a black hole for data and dollars.

Transformational Change

Recognizing the need for modernization, Jackson Mechanical decided to make a leap to BuildOps. More than just adopting new software, the transition meant transforming their entire operational approach.

“Several members of the BuildOps and Jackson team came in over the weekend to manually enter hundreds of historical records for cost. It had to be done this way because Jackson was completely on paper,” said Thurain Hlaing, BuildOps senior customer success manager. “It really felt like we were one team doing what had to be done for the best result.”

This collaborative effort ensured a smooth transition. No more lost data, no more missed opportunities. BuildOps delivered a single platform where job progress, contract details, and crucial communications converged—in real time. The results were immediate and impactful. The time it took to schedule jobs was cut by half. The team managed to handle double the number of service tickets. As a result, revenue grew substantially.

“With BuildOps, we feel like we can go after anything,” Travis Fuksa said. “The sky’s the limit as far as the size of the project.”

Communication That Connects

BuildOps redefined how the Jackson Mechanical team interacts, especially when every second counts. “BuildOps has helped us streamline our dispatching tremendously,” said Amanda Campbell, customer service manager. “It has taken half the time to create a job and get it scheduled.” Real-time updates from the field keep the whole team in sync and sharp, safeguarding timelines and budgets.

Since implementing BuildOps, Jackson Mechanical is thriving. They’ve expanded into two new buildings to accommodate their growth. “BuildOps helps us grow, helps us keep information flowing properly,” said Scott Fuksa. “We love it here at Jackson Mechanical.”

Check out BuildOps’ Construction Industry Insights and Trends web page.

For more information, visit BuildOps.com.

Software Links Office and Field Saving Time and Hassle

With construction challenges increasing and timelines decreasing, DILFO turned to Trimble’s ProjectSight project management software to improve communication, manage risk, and save time on every project. Based in Ottawa, DILFO is one of Eastern Ontario’s largest mechanical contracting, HVAC services, and plumbing and heating contractors. The second-generation, family-owned business was founded in 1980 and employs more than 200 construction and service professionals. ProjectSight helped them streamline their document control and enhance team collaboration.

Connecting the Office and Field

Director of Operations Brendan Myers oversees day-to-day work, including DILFO’s sheet metal and plumbing fabrication as well as field and service operations. Like many construction professionals, Myers believes, “It’s harder to build these days. Project managers need information in a way that isn’t cumbersome so they can focus on their tasks. It’s also getting harder and harder for our foremen to do their job. There’s more safety requirements, more paperwork, and the schedules are getting shorter.”

DILFO’s previous solution was working well in the field, but they needed a more holistic approach that could tie the office and field together as one with the documentation to run a project successfully. After a thorough review, Myers chose Trimble’s ProjectSight because it was “the one that was best geared for what we needed,” said Myers. “Document control is top-notch, revisions are an automatic process, and there is no concern about human error.”

Managing Risk With Confidence

One of the most important ways ProjectSight has helped DILFO is risk management. The software makes it easier for Myers and others at the company to know they are meeting contractual obligations on a project—and to help them prove it later if necessary. “We’re mitigating risk by tracking everything,” he said. “When an issue happens onsite and impacts or delays our work, we can very quickly capture that and bring it up to everybody. The foreman can send it to the project manager or superintendent, and they can decide whether they want to take action or not.”

That level of tracking and communication helps keep projects moving forward and gives DILFO peace of mind long afterward. “We’re validating that we’re meeting contractual obligations. We’ve done the work, it’s been approved, and the general contractor has signed off on it,” Myers noted.

ProjectSight has helped DILFO foster a sense of teamwork and ownership between the office and the field, so important information does not fall through the cracks.

Working Faster and Better

ProjectSight not only helps protect the company, it also enables employees to do their work faster and better. Everyone knows what information they need to capture and where to store and retrieve it. Myers recalled that before ProjectSight, teams were organizing files differently and there was little standardization. “[Files] were either in a folder somewhere or in email,” he said. “I saw the need for standardization across the company to improve document control and alleviate some of the inefficiencies that can happen with revisions and lots of documents and emails.”

Having a centralized location for documentation means team members know where all the checklists, drawings, and pictures are, and that makes life a lot easier in the office and in the field. Myers elaborated, “Having a spot with all of the history, where you can understand what has happened and write comments, is great. Otherwise, if something happens and I can’t get access to someone’s email, I’m completely out of the loop.”

Promoting Collaboration

Many contractors are good at getting data to the field, but it can be more challenging to get data from the field to the office. With ProjectSight as the central location, the office can see what has been done in the field to track completion. Foremen are seeing that the work they are putting in is making a difference as well, giving them increased peace of mind and job satisfaction.

Myers said ProjectSight has saved DILFO time on every project. “It’s quick and accurate. We are capturing our work onsite each day, and superintendents don’t have to go to the site to see where it’s at. They can focus on other things in the office,” he observed.

Beyond tracking progress, perhaps most important is the sense of teamwork and ownership ProjectSight has helped foster between the office and the field. “Foremen now can see the status of a submittal or request for information. They know whether a decision has been made or not, if so what it is, and things don’t get forgotten or fall through the cracks.”

Supporting Service Teams

Not only has ProjectSight helped DILFO’s construction operations run more efficiently, it has enabled the company to get the most from its service business. With standardization and stronger document control, DILFO’s service division now can quickly access as-built documentation from the construction phase. “Our business model is built around servicing what we construct,” Myers said. “If we don’t have a clear understanding of what was constructed, there’s very little advantage for our service team, because we’re going in blind. By having a solution like ProjectSight, where everything is organized the same way every time and laid out very cleanly, there’s no confusion.”

Looking Ahead

Myers sees a bright future for DILFO with ProjectSight, because the software is backed by a strong company that is continually updating and improving the product. “I’ve always been impressed with our relationship with Trimble. There’s really good communication there, and they always listen to our questions and feedback,” he said. “ProjectSight is not a software that was bought and sitting on a shelf; it’s constantly changing and improving.”

Myers continued, “For what we get versus the other platforms out there, it’s priced right, the support is fantastic, I love all of the guides and videos, there’s a lot of resources there, so I’m happy with it. I am excited about the future with ProjectSight and Trimble. I’ve bought into the ecosystem, and we want to continue to grow with Trimble and take advantage of all the solutions Trimble has that are going to help us be a successful contractor. I think we’re both moving in the right direction, and I’m excited to see where this takes us.”

For more information, visit projectsight.trimble.com.

 

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Maximizing Project Coordination

With 360° reality capture from OpenSpace, UMC is harnessing real-time data and visualization to mitigate risk and optimize workflows. UMC recognizes that effective project coordination and adoption of innovative technologies are critical for success. Complete jobsite capture helps achieve unprecedented accuracy and efficiency in project planning and execution. Here are the most common uses of OpenSpace that help minimize errors and enhance collaboration across the full construction lifecycle.

  1. Requests for information (RFIs): Successful coordination and issue resolution require clarity on RFIs. With photo documentation from OpenSpace, teams can easily pull up 360° captures to view the state of construction and make informed decisions on things like pricing and adjustments. Real-time visibility into a project’s progress significantly reduces the risk of costly changes and saves time. Josh Wilson, project executive at UMC, said, “OpenSpace has quickly become one of our most valuable tools in the field for communication, documentation, and reporting.”
  2. Design intent vs. as-built: OpenSpace helps clarify complexities on the construction site. If concerns are raised about something on the jobsite, the team can simply overlay the model view on the site conditions captured. The team can then quickly identify discrepancies between the design and actual construction and address potential issues proactively, avoiding delays and rework down the line.
  3. Ensuring quality control (QC): Reality capture can also help subcontractors improve QC. Through side-by-side comparisons of models and site conditions in OpenSpace, teams can ensure all necessary elements are in place as per the design specifications. As UMC’s Wilson put it, “The OpenSpace image capture process and user interface makes it a breeze to compare real-world construction progress to the coordinated building information modeling (BIM) and quickly highlight potential quality assurance or QC discrepancies or identify areas in need of an RFI.”
  4. Communication and collaboration: By providing a centralized platform for sharing and reviewing site documentation, OpenSpace facilitates effective communication and collaboration among project stakeholders. Teams can quickly access relevant information and coordinate their efforts more efficiently. This streamlined communication workflow fosters a culture of collaboration and accountability, ultimately driving project success and quick adoption of OpenSpace across organizations.

Wilson added, “The OpenSpace platform has also allowed our team to provide a more robust as-built deliverable to clients by allowing building owners and facility staff to virtually tour their space at any point during the construction process and hit the ground running on day one.”

For more information, visit www. openspace.ai.

 

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Managing Communication, Keeping Projects On Track

Miscommunication and excessive administrative efforts led Modern to adopt MSUITE technology to manage their fabrication operations in unison with other departments. “MSUITE helps prioritize the work for our shop managers to make sure we’re on the right track,” said Jim Tedrow, piping operations leader.

Managing Moving Parts

Modern, a mechanical contractor in the Eastern Iowa market and beyond for over 80 years, has had tremendous growth and built a positive culture with loyal employees who stay with Modern for decades. “I have been with Modern for 23 years and seen its amazing growth firsthand,” said Tedrow. “We’ve moved into three different shops, beginning at a small shop of 27,000 square feet to currently a 90,000 square-foot building with office space and a fabrication floor for piping, plumbing, and sheet metal. Now, that’s grown, and we’re looking at another expansion.”

The high volume of work, combined with shifting priorities, documentation requirements, and staffing and schedule changes, all make production very complex; as a result, in a traditional (highly manual) working environment, communication is either nonexistent or delayed. “MSUITE fills this gap and allows stakeholders to update data that automatically resets priorities and indicates delays or schedule changes. In addition, with all of those moving parts impacting production and deliveries, MSUITE enables real-time fabrication visibility on more substantial projects,” said Tedrow.

“Quality control and quality assurance are always challenges in any business. MSUITE improves quality assurance and quality control through automating digital documentation and tracking, eliminating things we used to do manually,” said Tedrow.

Tracking Changes

MSUITE provides critical visibility and communications between the fabrication shop and workers in the field, designers, engineers, project managers, and customers. The technology offers a single-source platform for collaboration, production, and delivery across multiple stakeholders involved in ensuring project success. For example, staff can update notes, place things on hold, and update due dates, helping the fabrication shop operate in sync with other departments at a high level and keeping everyone on the same page. Tedrow added, “Having complete visibility and tracking work in progress enables us to use metrics for improving performance.”

Read MSUITE’s tips for improving fabrication shop operations: https://www.msuite.com/5-tips-for-mechanical-contractors-enhancing-fabrication-shop-operations/

MSUITE offers several features that help Modern digitize its operation:

  • The Digital Fab Shop means a paperless job floor, where the drawings on the floor are always the most current version. No more losing drawings or building off the wrong document.
  • Weld Log Tracking digitally captures the welder identification, welding procedures, heat numbers, inspector, quality assurance process, and quality assurance results for reporting and administration.
  • Digital tracking makes nondestructive evaluations more manageable; because X-ray testing, welder identifications and numbers, and other data are mapped and captured, generating reports is easy, and manual entry is eliminated.
  • Automatic closeout documentation generates multiple documents, such as a drawing status report, weld tracking, bill of lading, and final drawing markups.

“Creating a paperless job floor, improving quality control, closeout documentation, and Weld Log Tracking are value-added benefits of the real-time productivity gained through enhanced visibility and eliminating communication gaps in one platform—making MSUITE a game-changer for Modern,” said Tedrow.

“The selling point to our team for adopting technology is that it’s hard to estimate the benefits of offsite fabrication construction. Being able to leverage data in MSUITE and provide it to the design and estimating departments enables Modern to win more business,” Tedrow explained.

Improving Worker Performance

MSUITE tracks employee productivity automatically and helps provide Modern with actionable data to help improve employee performance, no matter the level. “Historically, this was a ‘gut’ observation or [involved] manually adding stats to spreadsheets, but these types of tasks are eliminated from managing and helping staff improve performance,” said Tedrow.

The MSUITE team trained Modern staff onsite, and the technology has evolved over the years. “The customer support team is very effective; their support desk is second to none, and they’re speedy to respond. … The key to adoption is leadership communication, adaptability, and explaining how MSUITE improves employee and organization performance. With any technology adoption effort, there’s a cultural and behavioral change.”

Real-Time Transparency

With MSUITE, control and product accuracy processes run as high as 95 to 98 percent, translating to a 2-percent failure rate on parts coming out of the fabrication shop. “If we’re doing a large industrial job, MSUITE offers ‘full disclosure’ of what our fab shop is doing and what we’re working on at any stage,” said Tedrow.

“MSUITE enables notifications to stakeholders, and it’s super easy and keeps all the messages and data in one platform and automatically connected to the production schedule. Archaic data silos (email in-box, spreadsheets, paper, phone calls, product changes, etc.) are nearly eliminated.  Important tasks, messages, drawing notes, deadlines, change requests, and schedule changes that sometimes fall through the cracks are averted because everyone is on the same page with real-time data in MSUITE,” said, Tedrow.

For more information, visit www.msuite.com.

Extra Eyes Onsite, Catching Errors Early & Cutting Travel Time

Thanks to photos and videos captured onsite by OpenSpace technology, U.S. Engineering fixed an error during construction that would have required expensive rework if it had not been caught early. With OpenSpace, U.S. Engineering managers are keeping tabs on projects remotely, saving hours of travel time and costs.

True As-Built View Improves Quality

As quality control manager for U.S. Engineering, Chad Lucks routinely travels across the Rocky Mountain region to oversee projects. He wanted a better way to document the many jobsites he was tasked with monitoring than notes jotted down by colleagues and cell phone pictures, which could be unreliable and inconsistent. He also hoped to reduce his commuting time with technology that would help him stay on top of more than a dozen projects at any given time, even remotely.

“Through the detailed documentation OpenSpace provides, we have a true as-built.”

—Chad Lucks, Quality Control Manager, U.S. Engineering

Lucks started using OpenSpace to capture his projects, including hospitals in North Dakota and Arizona, a Target in Boulder, CO, and a public school system in Denver, CO, with the main objective of reducing risk. He soon began relying on the BIM Compare feature (which shows a side-by-side view of actual site conditions with the model) for day-to-day work. “I switched to OpenSpace because I can be anywhere and reference the drawings and model we’re using in Arizona, for example, alongside what’s really happening onsite,” Lucks explained.

OpenSpace has proved easy to learn, and project engineers can capture sites by simply strapping a 360° camera to their hard hats and walking. OpenSpace automatically generates a Google Street View-style video of the project. Lucks typically plays the video at half-speed to look carefully for discrepancies and issues from his office.

Having a single source of truth helps everyone get on the same page. For example, Lucks recently noticed in BIM Compare that a section of piping and valves present in the model was missing in a ceiling. He created a Field Note in OpenSpace, assigned it to the virtual design construction technician, and linked it to Procore. From there, the team confirmed there was an error in the as-builts, which was corrected. Because Lucks caught the discrepancy before the ceiling was closed up, U.S. Engineering avoided potential rework costs if the mistake had only been noticed months later.

“Paper as-builts are old-school and going away,” said Lucks. “Through the detailed documentation OpenSpace provides, we have a true as-built, which is better for maintenance and the owner at the end.”

“I switched to OpenSpace because I can be anywhere and reference the drawings and model we’re using in Arizona, for example, alongside what’s really happening onsite.”

—Chad Lucks, Quality Control Manager, U.S. Engineering

Streamlining Processes

U.S. Engineering is also using OpenSpace Track to automatically generate completion percentages for sheet metal installation, which facilitates monthly pay applications and saves time. Lucks also thinks it benefits superintendents by helping them understand whether teams are falling behind on a project. U.S. Engineering Project Manager Aaron Denning is using OpenSpace Track to track sheet metal installation and forecast how much sheet metal should be brought to the project, so materials are not sitting onsite for weeks before they are needed.

Lucks is using OpenSpace’s 3D Scan feature to scan electrical and ductwork near ceilings to measure them later—without having to climb a ladder or use a tape measure, saving him time. “Our goal is to have [OpenSpace] on every project where we’re allowed to take photos,” Lucks said.

Learn how to use OpenSpace to create time-lapse videos of your project by clicking here.

Enhancing Communication, Increasing Productivity

Thanks to OpenSpace, Lucks does not need to visit jobsites in person as often, saving him as much as 10 hours of driving per week. Recently, OpenSpace eliminated the need for designers to fly in to visit a project, because U.S. Engineering’s Senior Project Manager Patrick Barnett pulled up OpenSpace captures during an owner, architect, and contractor meeting to address their questions virtually.

OpenSpace helps keep Lucks up to speed on progress at out-of-state sites he does not visit as often, so he can contribute more effectively. “Before OpenSpace, people would be calling me without me having any context,” he said. “It was definitely a lot harder.”

Reliable documentation from OpenSpace has also helped U.S. Engineering manage potential conflicts. When a general contractor recently provided a hard deadline for work completion, U.S. Engineering was able to demonstrate that another contractor had not completed their work, blocking U.S. Engineering from proceeding.

For more information, visit www.openspace.ai.

John W. Danforth Relies on Raken to Capture Detailed Productivity Data

Tracking Unplanned Costs Daily Ensures Contractor Gets Paid

John W. Danforth—a founding member of MCAA—is using Raken’s digital time cards and daily reporting to keep a record of all the impacts the pandemic has had on their productivity—so they can demonstrate what they have done and get paid for it. Construction companies have been forced to change the way they operate to ensure safety and compliance, and jobsite data are critical for contractors to maintain a record of productivity and streamline their workflows.

Digitally Tracking Overtime

From social distancing to health verification paperwork, all the extra minutes and materials spent following new protocols can add up to substantial costs over the duration of a project, negatively affecting both your completion deadline and budgets. When faced with these impacts on planned labor and productivity, you have two choices: pay overtime to get the work done on time or delay the project. Most companies will choose overtime, but who exactly will pay for these extra hours?

Danforth uses digital time cards to track and report unplanned labor and to demonstrate loss of productivity through measured mile analysis. By importing their estimated labor codes and budgets into Raken software, they are able to measure all their labor against the estimate to see what is affected. “Everything with COVID-19 has been an unplanned cost, but we’re able to show the impacts to labor and material, and we’re able to report that on a daily basis to the GCs and the CMs,” said Todd Follis, Danforth’s vice president of Pre-Construction Planning.

This type of documentation gives Danforth reliable standardized data to know exactly how their jobs have been affected. The more accurate the information, the more powerful it is for proving the added costs and pinpointing who is responsible.

Solid Defense

Having labor productivity data and daily reports digitally stored means you have credible evidence to address the inevitable disputes over loss in productivity and improves your chances of getting compensated. No one wants to go into litigation, especially if you do not have incredibly complete documentation. By using Raken, Danforth has a reliable and repeatable method to support claims successfully and avoid litigation in most cases.

Danforth has used Raken to successfully defend contracts on both private and public projects, most recently on a major federal project. Using digital documentation, they have successfully demonstrated and won claims with indisputable proof of what happened and why.

Follis explained, “We’ll continue to win because we’ve standardized our labor metrics and are able to produce reliable data that correlates to our estimates and credible, proven industry databases such as WebLEM. By having reliable, credible data, it’s just a matter of ensuring we maintain accurate schedule data … so when delays and productivity impacts occur, it’s just a matter of providing proper notification and organizing the data to present the costs that are owed.”

Improving Communication

One of the biggest values Danforth sees in Raken is the ability to communicate and catch any issues early on. “If we have a bad week on a labor code, we’ll see the projected productivity start to drift away from the budget,” said Follis. “Most people who don’t have this level of insight will just keep on doing the same thing again and again until someone sees it on a financial statement … and by then it’s too late.”

Strong communication is essential to overcoming challenges. The earlier you can communicate with stakeholders about added hours and potential costs, the less likely a project will come to litigation.

Good internal communication comes from empowering the crews on the job. As Follis stated, “The most important thing we have is communication with our people—they’re the ones doing the work onsite. If we’re not listening to them and can’t react to what their needs are, we’ve really missed the boat. Our project managers and foremen operate as partners, and Raken allows us to respond to daily changes/issues immediately even when the project manager is not onsite.”

Finding software your team will actually use is key. When Danforth implemented Raken, they were able to get all their foremen up and running in just three weeks. Follis said, “They picked it up no problem. Whether they were inexperienced, young, old, it didn’t matter. It was easy for our field staff to grasp since the app was so intuitive.” Giving your team a tool that is easy to use and saves time will improve the quality of data and communication from the field to the office.

For more information, visit www.rakenapp.com.

MCAA welcomes Raken as a new member.

Johansen & Anderson Perseveres Through the COVID-19 Pandemic with Jonas Construction Software

While some businesses struggled to produce the information needed to apply for a federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan when the pandemic spread, Rick Cronholm, owner of Johansen & Anderson, was able to pull all the necessary reports in less than 30 minutes, thanks to Jonas Construction Software.

Having already done payroll, time entry, and union reporting in the Jonas software, Cronholm could run reports for any pay period within minutes. The guidelines for comparison for the PPP were not clearly outlined, so the ability to be flexible and run multiple scenarios for the application was a huge win for Cronholm—and one less challenge for him to worry about.

“Since Jonas tracks all visit schedules associated with the maintenance agreements, this allowed us to optimize routes and keep our technicians busy, while rescheduling visits when needed.”

— Rick Cronholm, Owner, Johansen & Anderson

“It’s so easy to pull all the reports for any scenario and to filter them by specific date and different periods,” said Cronholm. “When it comes to job costing or union reports, I could pull any scenario for the PPP loan just by putting the dates in.”

For many businesses, the COVID- 19 pandemic revealed technology and communication gaps across the company as a whole. With construction deemed an essential service, businesses had to react quickly to continue operations safely within government guidelines. Those that did not have the right technologies in place ultimately struggled or failed, while others, like Johansen & Anderson, successfully resumed business with minimal disruptions.

Johansen & Anderson has been using Jonas for over 10 years, and it has made life a little easier for them during the pandemic. The software provided a level of comfort that helped them continue doing business as usual from a technology standpoint.

“A big help to us was having the maintenance agreements in Jonas so we were able to manage visits efficiently,” said Cronholm. “Since Jonas tracks all visit schedules associated with the maintenance agreements, this allowed us to optimize routes and keep our technicians busy, while rescheduling visits when needed.”

Johansen & Anderson has been using Jonas Construction Software for 10 years; Owner Rick Cronholm appreciates that the software provides “a great snapshot of the company financials in order to keep an eye on how well the business [is] doing.”

Even before COVID-19, reporting was important to Cronholm. “The Executive Dashboard within Jonas always gave me a great snapshot of the company financials in order to keep an eye on how well the business [is] doing,” he noted. So when COVID-19 hit, Cronholm already had full insight into Johansen & Anderson’s business and financials.

As the pandemic rapidly spread across the country, states shut down businesses. Cronholm stated, “My first concern was definitely whether we were going to be declared essential or not. When it was decided that we were essential, my concern went straight to the safety of my employees and what we will have to do differently to keep our employees and customers safe.”

Everyone was stocking up on personal protective equipment, including masks and gloves. While Johansen & Anderson had gloves stocked up, it was a problem finding masks. From a technology standpoint, Cronholm was not sure about how the phone forwarding would work or how to keep the communication lines open between departments with everyone working from home. Limited staff could come into the office, but he wanted to make sure all bases were being covered.

Johansen & Anderson relies on Jonas Construction Software to stay on top of the company’s financial status.

Cronholm went on to say that it was overwhelming at first to have to reschedule commercial site service visits. The residential side of business was even more of a challenge, because approximately 30 to 40 percent of clients did not want anyone coming into their homes. “Luckily, we have all of our data in one system [with Jonas], so we could easily see and contact clients with visits coming up,” Cronholm observed.

After surviving the initial impact of the pandemic, Cronholm realized that there were technological improvements Johansen & Anderson could make to better prepare for the future. The first was to review their firewall and network restrictions and possibly move towards using the cloud, as many Jonas clients have already done. The second was to start using the Jonas mobile solution to set up their technicians with tablets to complete work orders from the field. “I think that COVID-19 really showed a lot of companies any holes, room for improvement, and how they can be better streamlined overall,” Cronholm concluded.

For more information, visit try. jonasconstruction.com/mcaa.

Raken Outlines Three Ways to Maximize Efficiency During COVID-19

COVID-19 has changed the way we work—in construction and beyond. From implementing new safety protocols to navigating delays, contractors have more processes to learn and more variables to consider. Here are three ways you can use digital technology to maximize your efficiency during the pandemic.

1. Invest in Real-Time Production Tracking

Safety guidelines that require social distancing and extra cleaning are affecting jobsite productivity everywhere. Tracking software makes it easier to know exactly when and how productivity is affected.

Invest in software that lets your teams quickly record materials, equipment, and time cards. By digitally documenting how much time and manpower a job takes, you will have real-time data that can help you make better, more profitable decisions for your projects. You will also have powerful evidence and protection in case of a dispute, all without manual entry and cross-checking.

2. Digitize Daily Reports

Comprehensive daily reports ensure that any delays or liabilities do not slip through the cracks. The more detailed your reports are, the faster you can spot any potential issues and address them.

Software lets you store all completed daily reports in one place on the cloud. That way, you can easily access your data whenever you need it. Plus, you can minimize physical contact by keeping everyone in the loop without having to be onsite.

Don’t forget: The best software is easy to use in the field. After all, your crews will be the ones sending you the information you need. Give them a tool they can use as they walk the jobsite—so their focus is on the work, not on figuring out the new tech you provided.

3. Streamline Your Safety Training and Processes

Safety has always been a priority in construction, but now more so than ever. Now is the time to take all your safety training and documentation online. With online talks and safety checklists only a few taps away, your crews can stay informed of the latest safety protocols and the resources they need to stay compliant.

For even more visibility, consider options like digital sign-in sheets and bulk scheduling talks. Because everything is stored in one central place, you will not have to go digging for proof that you followed all safety requirements.

Keep your employees (and your business) safe. Proper, complete documentation is key during the pandemic. Maintain everyone’s safety, health, and efficiency by developing your tech stack.

For more information, visit www.rakenapp.com.

Renick Brothers Accelerates Project Delivery Using Trimble’s SysQue Software

Dominick Florentine, director of virtual design and construction at Renick Brothers, was skeptical that Trimble SysQue MEP software would improve productivity, but since trying it out, he admitted, “I’m working smarter because of the features and functionality of the software.” Trimble is a sponsor of MCAA’s 2021 Virtual Education Conference.

Florentine explained, “I’ve been drawing in CAD for almost 20 years. A few years ago, the owner wanted to switch to Revit because he saw it as the future. I was not on board because I thought I could draw much faster in AutoCAD.” With the transition to Revit pending, a Trimble SysQue representative encouraged Florentine to give it a try.Today, Florentine is a believer. He noted, “While you can’t draw superfast in Revit, the content it provides down the road saves so much time. Essentially, Revit powered by SysQue shapes a streamlined and automated workflow that isn’t possible in AutoCAD. No matter the complexity, SysQue kicks in and turns simple data into intelligent content.

”Because most of the models Renick creates are designed by the engineers in Revit, they have a lot of object intelligence at their fingertips. These are great starting points, and SysQue does the laborious tasks, such as breaking joints and adding connections.

“The goal is to work smarter, not necessarily faster,” said Florentine. “Revit combined with SysQue empowers our detailers to create constructible models that are ready for fabrication—AutoCAD can’t do that.”

Florentine said his favorite thing about Revit is the scheduling tools. “It’s beautiful,” he said. “Everything I draw is 100-percent extractable, so I always have an accurate count within the schedule direct from the model. That’s the way to accelerate project delivery with intelligence.”

For more information and to request a personalized demo, visit mep.trimble.com.

MCAA thanks Trimble for being a sponsor of MCAA’s 2021 Virtual Education Conference.

Warner Mechanical Increases Efficiency With Trimble Scanner and Software

Warner Mechanical of Northwest Ohio is saving time and labor resources in many ways since they invested in a Trimble X7 3D laser scanner powered by Trimble FieldLink software. What previously took two to three days onsite using a tape measure and paper is now easily done in one day. The combination of Trimble hardware and software also extends BIM workflows and helps Warner Mechanical precisely capture accurate as-built conditions to facilitate prefabrication, layout, safety, real-time viewing, communication, and collaboration. Trimble is a sponsor of MCAA’s 2021 Virtual Education Conference.

Moving Away From Manual

At a Lima, OH, project site, Warner Mechanical used the Trimble X7 Scanner to get precise readings for installing underground sanitary piping, which helps ensure precise prefabrication and layout.

Historically, when Warner Mechanical was working on a prefabrication project, the team would go out to the field with a tape measure and measure the area, take as many notes as possible, and bring the information back to the office. Often, they would then think of other measurements they needed or wanted and would either go back and do more measuring or hope that the prefabrication would work with the existing measurements. If they were not working on a prefabrication project, they would do all of the measuring and fitting in the field.

Doug Riddell, BIM/CAD coordinator at Warner Mechanical, had been doing 3D modeling for two years and was pushing the envelope from a technology perspective. One of the hurdles he faced during prefabrication was that although the 3D model was a great tool, accuracy could vary by about two inches—which is two inches too much when it comes to tight tolerances for prefabricated piping that need to hit a precise point on a coil or boiler connection. Further, the variance can increase by another two inches based on the type of building or where the equipment is installed in the building. So, when all variances are factored in, prefabrication measurements could be up to four inches off on prefabrication.

Warner Mechanical wanted to implement a system that would improve the company’s prefabrication process and get its team up to speed on the latest technology. “The biggest reason we were interested in investing in a scanner was that we wanted to be able to scan the mechanical room on a new construction site once the equipment is installed and set,” said Kevin Phillips, senior project manager of Warner Mechanical. “The goal is to bring that information back into the model to see where the deviations are so we can dial in the accuracy before we prefabricate from the 3D model.” In addition, the company was looking for a way to increase efficiency and save time.

In Bellevue, OH, Warner Mechanical used the Trimble X7 scanner to prepare for underground piping installation. The monitor shows the essential points, and Warner Mechanical can visualize the scan data, model, and field layout points on a tablet controller without leaving the project site.
Ben Little, field technology salesman for Building Point Ohio Valley, surveys a recently completed project using the Trimble X7 3D Scanner, so Warner Mechanical can compare initial job drawings with the as-built drawings for the project, making prefabrication and other processes more accurate.

Optimizing Prefabrication

Working with Building Point Ohio Valley, a Trimble reseller, Warner Mechanical purchased a Trimble X7 3D laser scanner powered by Trimble FieldLink software because of its advanced features and lower price point. By preparing their Revit model with Trimble SysQue and then exporting the data to Trimble FieldLink, Warner Mechanical can use one software application to capture and register scan data, align it with the 3D model of the project, and visualize the scan data, model, and field layout points on a tablet controller without leaving the project site. This workflow enables the team to be efficient with their time while on the job and avoid additional processing time back in the office.

One of Riddell’s favorite features of the X7 scanner is the Trimble Registration Assist for in-field registration that allows for automatic scan orientation and alignment with the last preselected scan. He also likes the ability to customize the scanner to allow for faster scans and the ability to view both scans and 3D models on the tablet controller for onsite viewing.

Once the mechanical equipment is installed in a building or facility, Warner Mechanical can go to a site and use the scanner to capture an area and easily compare the scan data measurements with the 3D model on a tablet controller to see whether there are any deviations between the scan and the model.

“The Trimble X7 scanner allows us to control our working atmosphere for prefabrication while also removing the added variables of a busy construction work area. The scanner also gives us exact information, which greatly diminishes the labor burden,” said Riddell. “It is efficient, user-friendly, and informative.”

Speed, Accuracy, and Labor Savings

Warner Mechanical describes its experience with the scanner as invaluable because of the amount of information gained, which has helped alleviate issues even as they were just getting started with the technology. “The X7 scanner has touched several different areas of our business and improved our operations considerably in just the short time we have had it,” said Riddell.

On a recent project involving the mechanical room for a local elementary school, the Warner Mechanical team used the scanner to visualize the room and see it from different angles to pinpoint the exact systems. After installing the new systems, they were able to go back in and scan everything so they had both the original 3D model and the final installation scan file to overlay. They discovered an issue with the doors of an air handler hitting pipe when opened, and the clearance was accounted for in the modeling. They wanted to find out whether the manufacturer’s model was accurate and also whether their field workers put the pipe in the proper place. Using FieldLink allowed them to see exactly where the equipment was set in the model and compare it with what was actually installed in the field.

The speed and accuracy of the scanner is helping Warner Mechanical save time and labor resources. Further, they are increasing safety for their team by using the scanner to facilitate preconstruction efforts. Because the most dangerous spot on the construction site is the actual field, doing preconstruction in a controlled environment with pinpoint accuracy from the scans eliminates some risk.

Another unexpected benefit was that general contractors now know Warner Mechanical has a 3D scanner, which allows the company to play a major role in creating 3D models for other contractors. This capacity gives them an edge in doing the mechanical portion of projects and enables them to generate additional revenue streams.

The X7 scanner has helped further Warner Mechanical’s mission to embrace technology and facilitate collaboration between the office and the field. “We utilize scans for accurate prefabrication and layout and can also use the real-time viewing feature to quickly show scans to project managers,” said Riddell. “The future looks to be incredibly exciting as we learn more about the scanner, and we are excited to apply this technology on many more jobs to come.”

For more information, visit www.trimble.com.

MCAA thanks Trimble for being a sponsor of MCAA’s 2021 Virtual Education Conference.

Procore Software Boosts Monterey Mechanical’s Productivity, Saving One Day Per Employee Per Week

By installing Procore software, Monterey Mechanical Co. was finally able to offer mobile information access to everyone on its team. The efficiencies gained work out to a savings of one day a week of work per employee. Monterey Mechanical credits Procore with helping them complete projects early, as in the case of a Brentwood, CA, water treatment plant, and under budget, as with a San Francisco wastewater treatment facility. 

Monterey Mechanical had a software solution to manage projects, but it did not offer mobile functionality in the field. “Only the project manager or project engineer had access to the information. The field people didn’t have access,” recalled Division Manager Ed Moore. Moore also noted that the system often crashed. Plus, employees stored documents on their own devices which made collaboration difficult. Moore further explained, “Project managers used their own forms and systems. It was really disjointed. Everybody had their own stuff and it wasn’t shared.” 

A construction manager that Monterey Mechanical worked with recommended Procore, and they implemented it soon after. Procore offered a centralized platform that was accessible to all collaborators—from anywhere. All the project information is now consolidated into one platform. “Procore gave our field team access to information,” said Moore. “Everything that used to be in a file cabinet is now accessible with a couple of clicks.”

Procore helped Monterey Mechanical keep the San Francisco Public Utility Commission’s Southeast Treatment Plant project on schedule and $2.25 million under the city’s revised budget—after tasks were added to the original scope of work.

Not only did field teams have access to important project information, so too did executives, accounting teams, and other project stakeholders—all in one place. They could easily view, update, and share information, regardless of their location. “The president of our company can get access to information, and so can a foreman out in the field. They can both see submittals, RFIs [requests for information], and document photos,” said Moore. 

More importantly, the system was easy for teams to adopt. “The field teams aren’t really used to technology, so we were worried they might struggle with it—but that wasn’t the case at all. When we made it available to them, they latched onto it and ran with it,” Moore noted. That ease of use helps Monterey Mechanical attract and retain top talent. 

“We’re a 77-year-old company, but we like to think we’re on the leading edge of what’s going on. When people hear that we’re using Procore and we’re doing different things with construction technology, they get excited about possibly coming to work for us,” said Moore. “Procore offers their platform to schools, so students are using it now too. It’s great for when we’re recruiting and they hear we use it,” he added. 

Moore said that with a centralized system, Monterey Mechanical is able to maintain consistent processes. “It’s exciting to see how our new talented employees are developing and how Procore helps us with that. With Procore, it’s easy to show them what our standard procedures are.” 

In doing so, Monterey Mechanical not only ensures its success now but also sets itself up to continue its longstanding legacy into the future. “I enjoy seeing these new talented people stepping into important roles in our company,” said Moore. “I can see us being able to turn the reins over to them, hopefully, in the future.” 

See Procore’s ebook, 7 Strategies for Hiring and Keeping Talent During the Labor Shortage: https://www.procore.com/ebooks/7-strategies-for-hiring-and-keeping-talent-during-the-labor-shortage 

Take Procore’s webinar, How Technology Attracts New Talent to the Construction Industry: https://www.procore.com/webinars/how-technology-attracts-new-talent-to-the-construction-industry  

For more information, visit www.procore.com.

Using MSUITE and Prefabrication, Limbach Completes Hospital Project Two Months Ahead of Schedule

With MSUITE’s FabPro software, Limbach successfully streamlined operations in a pop-up fabrication shop with multiple trades working side-by-side, minimizing assembly and installation time. The combination of exceptional teamwork, technology, and advanced planning led to completion of the project two months early and helped the building owner save $5.6 million. 

Headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, Limbach has 1,500 employees nationwide and 10 major branches across the United States. As a leading MEP contractor, Limbach leverages MSUITE to offer integrated building systems solutions with expertise in design, fabrication, installation, management, service, and maintenance of HVAC, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and control systems. The firm includes an in-house MEP+C design-build staff and eight fabrication shops with a total fabrication capacity of about 208,000 square feet.  

Facilitating Fabrication 

Although Limbach already uses MSUITE at its fabrication facilities, multitrade usage was a new opportunity. MSUITE’s FabPro software helps manage productivity for fabrication shops. The cloud-based platform offers production tracking and reporting and documents everything from start to installation for multiple trades.  

Once the project team decided to set up a multitrade fabrication shop for the McLaren Greater Lansing Hospital project, the team acquired the Pine Tree Shop, a 25,000-square-foot warehouse, to convert into the fabrication facility they needed. It was a huge advantage that allowed Limbach to quickly manufacture and transport materials to the jobsite, which was only two miles away. MSUITE’s expertise in fabrication helped Limbach come up with the fabrication shop layout for optimal flow. Limbach used MSUITE’s BIMPro and FabPro to take model information to the shop floor and track real-time status and productivity. 

Limbach’s team set up 220 total racks and six assembly lines to add 4,400 linear feet of racks with a total of 71,500 linear feet of conduit, piping, plumbing, sheet metal, cable tray, and drywall. All of these were tested, inspected, and insulated in place. The total assembly time in the shop for Limbach’s scope of work was 8,000 hours for a four-day turnaround per line. The entire process per floor was approximately a three-week turnaround, which included the shop assembly line, delivery, installation, and finalization. The environmental control and ability to streamline the work increased productivity and quality. 

From the beginning, the joint venture Barton Malow-Christman and its stakeholders were on board with Limbach delivering the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection aspects of the project. The group (which included the owner, engineer, general contractor, and subcontractors) invested heavily in design-for-manufacturing (DfMA) principles to engineer the building for prefabrication. 

Connecting Design, Fabrication, and Field 

MSUITE’s management software includes design automation capabilities in Autodesk Revit with seamless integration to fabrication tracking software in FabPro and field tracking software in the field. The entire methodology allows continuous feedback into the process for improvement to facilitate better communication, collaboration, and workflow efficiency.

Using a combination of physical and virtual information that incorporated BIM modeling from MSUITE helped Limbach target the best candidates for prefabrication, improving communication and collaboration among designers and fabricators.

Mark Lamberson, CPD, Limbach’s national virtual design and construction (VDC) manager, said, “MSUITE’s workflows helped Limbach track production and provided to the owner real-time reporting of fab shop inventory, including documentation to support monthly billings.” The data captured also provides easy access to the detailed tracking information required by insurers. 

The DfMA process helped the team visualize racks and corridors to reassure the owner that the strategy would meet the building’s lifecycle needs and aggressive schedule. Using “mixed reality,” a combination of physical and virtual information, the owner’s representatives were able to explore the racked systems to simulate the ease of installation and future maintenance. Mixed reality was also used for quality assurance and quality control of modules and allowed the owner to “walk through” virtual racks alongside the fabricated racks. 

The DfMA approach incorporated Lean manufacturing concepts such as identifying high-value fabrication targets—for example, headwalls, wet walls, and bathroom pods. The team employed the “choosing by advantages” technique to select the right modules for the project. Key decision-making factors included the availability and costs of shop space, jobsite congestion, material handling, and delivery. 

Collaboration Saves Time, Labor 

The McLaren Greater Lansing Hospital project benefited from considerable collaboration across all trade partners on the jobsite. The shop workforce included just 14 people for all trades, resulting in a 30-percent reduction in trade labor onsite for installation of the racked systems. Installing the racked systems in the building took about an hour per rack, totaling 220 hours. 

The assembly on the jobsite was extraordinarily efficient compared with stick-building, and eliminating the extra time onsite produced significant savings. MSUITE helped onsite and fabrication teams alike track the real-time status and productivity metrics. 

Lamberson noted, “The two-months schedule savings resulted in a $5.6 million-dollar direct return to the owner. Two months of unexpected operational time for the health care facility can mean an indirect revenue impact of $60 million.” 

The prefabrication approach yielded other benefits for the project team. Workers were able to test, insulate, and tag all the products in the fabrication shop before delivering them onsite. Having products ready to install as soon as they were delivered helped mitigate the effects of the harsh Michigan winter onsite. The risk of exposure to COVID-19 infection was decreased because fewer workers had to be on the jobsite and those in the prefabrication shop were separated into workstations. 

Limbach offered the following lessons learned from the McLaren Greater Lansing Hospital Project: 

  • Early involvement: Early team involvement is critical to success. 
  • Building the team: All stakeholders must be present (carpenters, etc.). 
  • Fabrication support: Prefabrication must be supported from the top down. 
  • Mindset shift: The team must adopt the attitude of  “What can’t we fabricate?” 
  • Fabrication shop proximity to jobsite: Consider over-the-road requirements, permits, etc. 
  • Team decisions: Use the entire team for decisions; different stakeholders will perceive different benefits and drawbacks.

Barton Malow-Christman team members—VDC Manager Alan Todd, Project Director Colin Martin, Project Manager Keith Berry, and Project Manager Bob Gallagher—joined McLaren Health Care Vice President Dan Medrano, Limbach Assistant Vice President Kevin Dettling, and Harley Ellis Devereaux Project Manager Eric Wingelaar to present the successful McLaren Greater Lansing Hospital project at the Advancing Prefabrication conference earlier this year.

Watch a time-lapse video of the construction of the new McLaren Greater Lansing hospital from groundbreaking to current day: http://webcams.christmanco.com/McLaren-Greater-Lansing-Replacement-Hospital 

For more information, visit www.msuite.com.

MSUITE–TigerStop Integration Helps Gallo Mechanical Automate Fab Shop Operation, Cutting Costs and Increasing Productivity

Gallo Mechanical, the Gulf Coast’s leading mechanical and plumbing contractor, saw an opportunity to eliminate paper and automate its fabrication shop with advanced technology. After a competitive bid, Gallo selected MSUITE’s FabPro for its ability to integrate with TigerStop and track time and production in the fab shop. “From the start, the integration between MSUITE and TigerStop saved our firm $4,000,” said Ray McDonald, Gallo’s general manager and fabrication coordinator.

Gallo Mechanical uses MSUITE’s BIMPro design automation solution to increase design quality, eliminate the bore of dimensioning and tagging, and improve productivity by automating spooling and sheet creation 10 times faster than traditional methods. FabPro automates real-time production and material tracking for Gallo’s fab shop. The productivity software increases visibility, productivity, and accuracy in the facility, so Gallo Mechanical can better manage production and materials logistics. “FabPro helps us automate production tracking, mitigate schedule risks by predicting whether due dates are realistic the moment our work is loaded and if materials are available,” said McDonald. 

The TigerStop machine accurately positions and cuts various materials, including copper, PVC, Aquatherm, and Uponor pipe and other plastics for Gallo Mechanical’s prefabrication division. “With the BIMPro-to- FabPro-to-TigerStop integration, the automation and workflows replaced several manual steps and take a quarter of the time,” said McDonald. 

Before adopting MSUITE solutions, Gallo was facing a number of business challenges:

Gallo Mechanical is
streamlining its fabrication
processes by using
MSUITE FabPro integrated
with TigerStop, creating
efficiencies that save
money on raw material
purchases and reduce
scrap and waste.
  • Manual processes (in the fab shop and across departments) 
  • Substantial paper and material waste 
  • Administrative time involved in using paper timecards 
  • Fab shop staff’s lack of familiarity with new technology

Now, the efficient flow of information is transforming metal fabrication. Before Gallo Mechanical implemented MSUITE and TigerStop, paper ruled the day. Employees would transfer paperwork orders to the programmer, attach physical nest reports, set up the fabrication book, and carry it to the shop floor. Upon finishing a job, the machine operator completed a job report to update inventory. If any stakeholder (for example, a supervisor, customer, or executive) wanted to know where a job was in production, staff needed to walk to the floor, talk with operators, and continue hunting until they found the work. 

Since implementing MSUITE’s BIMPro, along with FabPro’s integration to TigerStop, Gallo’s design team automatically uploads designs and manufacturing data to FabPro for nesting. FabPro creates the nesting layout built on the sheet inventory as directed but analyzes several available sheet sizes to select one for optimal material utilization. FabPro nests material by company, job, package, drawing level, and sequence to cut materials in the most effective manner—virtually eliminating waste.

“We are saving 10 percent on every single job. The integration between [MSUITE] BIMPro to FabPro to TigerStop helps Gallo Mechanical save money, increase productivity and efficiency, and reduce risks in the shop.” 

— Ray McDonald, General Manager and Fabrication Coordinator, Gallo Mechanical 

Scheduling jobs in FabPro offers superior production workflows. If an urgent request comes in at the last minute for the fab shop, slipping priority jobs into the schedule is much easier for Gallo Mechanical. Notifications are automatically sent to operators to keep them in sync with workload changes.

“I was printing and delivering books the entire day and built up a massive library,” said Byron Sharp, fab shop foreman. “The MSUITE  FabPro-to-TigerStop integration helps me focus on more important priorities.” 

Gallo has a family atmosphere and many long-time, committed employees. Those employees are familiar with tackling complex problems, but the fabrication staff never used any software before. McDonald explained, “I was deeply concerned how our team was going to react to implementing the monitors and tablets at each workstation, but it was for naught. MSUITE and TigerStop were straightforward to train on and use. I would be hard-pressed from the team to ever pull them out.”

McDonald and the team mapped out every manual step in the fab shop to be configured in MSUITE’s FabPro. Spreadsheets and paper were eliminated and replaced with automated production management software and monitors set at each station. 

“We worked closely with MSUITE’s exceptional client success team to eliminate unnecessary steps, and how to set up an organized process for optimizing our workflows and tracking  employee time,” said McDonald. “TigerStop took two days to turn on, and we started seeing results, as well.” 

“With the BIMPro-to-FabPro-to-TigerStop integration, the automation and workflows replaced several manual steps and take a quarter of the time.” 

— Ray McDonald, General Manager and Fabrication Coordinator, Gallo Mechanical 

Gallo’s shop-controlled environment enables them to maintain high quality and constant productivity levels regardless of project site conditions. FabPro automates real-time production and material logistics from the shop floor to take their fabrication capabilities to a new level. 

Gallo is at the forefront of using MEP manufacturing technology to gain strategic advantages. The MSUITE– TigerStop integration connects model data to shop floor cut stations to automate the cut list creation and optimization and nesting processes. No longer do staff have to create and manage CSV files. With this integration, MSUITE and TigerStop eliminate multiple tedious steps and maximize efficiencies of the cutting process. 

“Not only is our MSUITE FabPro-to-TigerStop helping us save on scrap, but it has also saved us an incredible amount of money on raw material purchases,” said McDonald. “We are saving 10 percent on every single job. The integration between BIMPro to FabPro to TigerStop helps Gallo Mechanical save money, increase productivity and efficiency, and reduce risks in the shop,” McDonald concluded. 

For more information, visit www.msuite.com. 

 

 

icon Mechanical Gets Ahead of Schedule by Adding Trimble SysQue to Revit

After losing a large project because they did not work in Revit, icon Mechanical made the switch to Revit in 2014, later adding Trimble SysQue. Tim Riedle, vice president of engineering for icon, credits the addition of SysQue with helping icon get ahead of schedule on their projects. (Trimble is a benefactor of MCAA22.)

In an industry more pressed than ever to deliver jobs on time and on budget, up-to-date technology solutions are no longer a “nice-to-have” extra but a requisite for maintaining competitive advantage. Losing a project made clear to icon that while transitions can be challenging, the design/build industry demands them. 

Over the course of several years, Riedle has participated in icon’s evolution from Trimble EC-CAD to Autodesk CADmep to Revit. Although Revit is a powerful tool for engineering design, icon needed the ability to fabricate from their models, which led them to Trimble SysQue for use with Revit. Riedle said the benefits far outweigh any risks. “SysQue [combined with Revit] gives us everything we need and allows us to  leverage the full capacity of Revit and all of its design functionality, with real-world content and constructability,” he noted.

“[Trimble] SysQue gives us everything we need and allows us to leverage the full capacity of Revit and all of its design functionality, with real-world content and constructability.” 

— Tim Riedle, Vice President of Engineering, icon Mechanical 

The SysQue content in particular has been a game-changer for icon. Built for consistency by a dedicated Trimble team, SysQue includes a catalog of Revit families from over 680 manufacturers, all button-mapped and built to manufacturer’s cut sheets. Riedle estimated that it would take two icon employees working full time to build and manage a similar database. Such an expense makes no sense when content experts are available to help set up systems, train staff, and field requests for additions when something is missing. 

How often has SysQue’s catalog lacked a part that icon needs? “In the year and a half we’ve had Trimble’s catalog, we’ve requested [only] one item,” Riedle said, adding, “It was a very specialized pharmaceutical valve.” 

Transitioning to SysQue and its managed content catalog added a level of efficiency and accuracy that Revit could never offer alone. For icon Mechanical, the evolution beyond Revit has meant an evolution in streamlined workflows and efficient collaboration. As Riedle looked toward icon’s future, he was excited by the additional efficiencies that can be achieved using the newest functionality introduced in SysQue, including model-based estimating and collaboration workflows. 

For more information and to request a personalized demo, visit mep.trimble.com. MCAA thanks Trimble for being a benefactor of MCAA22. 

Auburn Mechanical Overcomes Process Pitfalls With Procore Mobile Solution

Founded in 1975, Auburn Mechanical of Auburn, WA, has decades of experience taking on large, complex projects, but internal processes—communication, documentation, record keeping, and information sharing—can pose the biggest challenges. Justin Pritchett, construction division manager at Auburn Mechanical, points out that the more manual steps involved in such processes, the higher the risk that those steps will not be completed. Procore’s integrated, fully mobile digital construction management solution puts Auburn Mechanical’s voluminous project information literally at the fingertips of craft labor in the field, streamlining processes and reducing the risk of lost, missing, or incomplete data. 

“The amount of information that we need in order to build our projects can be overwhelming at times,” Pritchett said. With Procore’s mobile solution, “you can have it all on a mobile platform that literally fits in your pocket. We definitely believe our adoption of technology is a competitive advantage for our organization.” 

Enhancing Collaboration 

For example, Auburn uses a daily construction report (DCR) to record details of a project’s evolution. A cloud-based DCR produces a much more granular record than its manual paper predecessor. 

Pritchett explained, “Our previous process used Microsoft Office Suite to do our daily construction report—a Word file. We’re a full mechanical firm, so we could have plumbing, sheet metal, refrigeration, and pipe-fitting forepersons on the jobsite, and all of them need to participate in the DCR. When it’s a Word file, it’s either this awkwardly shared document, or it’s, ‘Hey, I did my portion. Now, you all do your portions.’ Everyone drags photos off their phones to a desktop and uses a snippet tool to cut the photo and place it in the DCR. That’s a heavily manual process. The biggest risk is that it doesn’t happen.” 

Procore makes collaboration easier. “Everybody can simultaneously work in the DCR in real time, so when you take that quick photo to document progress and site conditions— that gets into the DCR very quickly and easily, and multiple forepersons can do that concurrently,” Pritchett pointed out. 

Information at Hand 

“Our firm’s operations group has this mission of perfection at the point of connection,” said Pritchett. “This means perfect information in the hands of our craft labor.” Procore’s mobile solution makes all project information available right there in the field. There is no roaming the jobsite in search of an answer. Pritchett stated, “We want our specialized craft labor to focus on production and quality and safety, and not have questions about how the building comes together.” 

In fact, Pritchett continued, “From a field-specific perspective, the usability from a mobile device was hands-down the reason why the field wanted to use it. We pulled up Procore on an iPad, showed it to our field leadership, and they were ready to make the decision right there.” 

Mobile technology has changed the landscape. “On our major projects, our project engineering team is linking the submittal data, the installation manuals, and our spool drawings to the various documents in the shop drawings—all of it accessible on their mobile devices. Today our field can very quickly pull up the shop drawing and look at the submittal—to understand precisely what they’re supposed to install,” Pritchett said. “And then through the Procore Model module, they’re able to look at the 3D model for precise comparison—again, right there in the field.”

“We pulled up Procore on an iPad, showed it to our field leadership, and they were ready to make the decision right there.” 

— Justin Pritchett, Construction Division Manager, Auburn Mechanical 

Partnering for Success 

Pritchett also praised Procore’s certification process for training. “We had all of our major project forepersons, our project managers, and all of our field leadership go through Procore’s certification classes. They were immediately up to speed.” 

Pritchett looked forward to the promise that new technology brings to the field. Recent engineering graduates who are very familiar with new technology are working alongside veterans with decades of experience and institutional knowledge. “When you team those two people together, you’ve got the technology expert learning from the building expert. That’s a natural partnership. At Auburn Mechanical, we’ve been able to pair those project engineers with master builders. This is a digital solution, a people solution, and a process solution. 

“We can leverage technology to build more economical buildings, to produce more affordable housing for those in need. We’re an industry that can leverage technology for the common good,” Pritchett observed. 

For more information, visit www.procore.com.