Software for industrial element builders

BIM is now well established in the construction industry. What we are seeing now is that the phenomenon of industrialization is taking on ever greater proportions in construction. Heavy investments are being made in the factory production of elements that only need to be assembled on site. Speaking is Henk Jan Nieuwenhuis of BIM4Production, a software environment for controlling a production process from 3D BIM models.

BIM4Production is the result of many years of experience in precast concrete, facade and steel construction. The software was developed under the wings of parent company Profity. "With Profity, we give companies in the sector a grip on their projects in terms of time, money and quality," explains Nieuwenhuis. "Think of it as a comprehensive and industry-focused ERP system for suppliers in the construction supply chain. Driven by a tight labor market, the intended sustainability ambitions and obtaining a more efficient flow in the prefabrication process, the construction chain is scaling up heavily in automation and robotization. This is precisely what we are capitalizing on with BIM4Production. Companies can use this software to efficiently manage their planning, production and logistics from 3D BIM models."

3D BIM models

BIM4Production is marketed as stand-alone software. "Even companies not working with Profity ERP can use BIM4Production to manage the entire flow in the factory from the 3D BIM models," says Nieuwenhuis. "In fact, the platform features a universal socket that interfaces with third-party software. In fact, the heart of our solution is formed by the existing 3D BIM models that we import and enrich with production information and status updates. Elements are grabbed graphically, as it were, and unraveled in planning terms for optimal control of the production process. The software thus controls the complete flow in the factory, from engineering to production to assembly and back again in terms of planning. Drawings of parts or elements are thus only finalized and produced when they are needed, not according to an abstract schedule. In fact, the software also supports efficient transport of the elements. This also puts an end to spreadsheet chaos and call-off lists on paper."

Visual production planning

The production and planning of all types of industrially produced elements such as walls and floors, wooden or concrete components, window frames and even complete facades can be controlled via BIM4Production. Nieuwenhuis: "Our software is operational at several customers, including Spaansen, supplier of shell concrete walls and floors. The company works on dozens of projects simultaneously. All those projects consist of hundreds of drawings containing tens of thousands of elements to be produced. Our software uses 3D drawing information from BIM models to create a visual production schedule for all those tens of thousands of elements. From that schedule, the software then controls the machines or robots that make the actual products in the factory. So using the visual planning of multiple locations and production phases, there is always real-time insight into all facets of a project, so what is needed and delivered per project is always produced and delivered when it is needed."

We are currently working hard on a BIM4Production platform. This will be officially released in Q2 of this year. "On that platform, the first components are currently being developed. For example, we are working on an element app for viewing all necessary and detailed production information in the workshop and on construction. With the quality module on this app, we are already anticipating the Quality Assurance Act, to be able to register the quality demand per element," Nieuwenhuis reveals in conclusion.