Contractors like Helm Mechanical have strengthened digital workflows in the shop—but the field has remained the last analog holdout. Thanks to Field Orderz from Stratus, the hand-drawn sketches, PDF markups, and rushed calls that used to cause delays are no longer a problem for Helm.
“Before Field Orderz, small jobs without a model could waste a full day of drawings and VDC [virtual design and construction] rework,” said Joe Melody, fabrication technologist at Helm Mechanical. “Now, foremen in the field can model and publish directly into Stratus in minutes, using the same fabrication database as our VDC team.”
Field Orderz allows workers to create accurate pipe and duct takeoffs directly from the field using the contractor’s own fabrication database. That means no rework, no transcription errors, and less time spent cleaning up field sketches. Helm Mechanical is seeing substantial results. Melody explained, “What once took a day now takes five minutes—and it doesn’t pull senior VDC staff away from critical projects.”
Simplifying Field Modeling
Field Orderz uses an interface that mimics iso-style sketches that field teams already understand and relies on the contractor’s actual fabrication database to drive part selection, fittings, and spec compliance, so field modeling is simpler and more precise. Every tap builds an accurate bill of materials and cut list in real time, eliminating manual takeoffs and guesswork. Sketches published from the field arrive in Stratus as complete, validated packages, ready for fabrication. The software handles complex fittings, welds, O-lets, and custom connections that traditionally required Revit rework. Field Orderz is already part of every Stratus subscription, so no extra licensing is required.
Real-World Results
Contractors have reported a 75% decrease in field paperwork after switching to Field Orderz. One user has reported that they are on track to complete more than 1,000 field-generated packages this year, including complex piping and specialty work. As Helm Mechanical can attest, by eliminating redundant modeling and manual input, projects move faster, scheduling improves, and fabrication starts sooner.
For more information, visit www.stratus.build or go to https://hubs.li/Q03Wz0-H0 to request a demo.
