A practical guide to become a highly qualified BIM Manager
The information deficiency that currently exists in several countries regarding BIM usually leads to made up positions, titles, responsibilities, and profiles
The expression BIM Manager has been growing in popularity within the last few years, especially in countries like Northen Europe and Latin America. BIM tries to become a part of the daily work of thousands of construction professionals worldwide.
The information deficiency that currently exists in several countries regarding BIM usually leads to made up positions, titles, responsibilities, and profiles that do not match with the activities of a "BIM Administrator". Usually, within the recruitment context, the use of an advanced BIM software has been set as a priority, without taking into consideration other important aspects like the area of expertise of every professional.
Returning to the issue of standards and normalization, as these don't exist and the little information available for the recruiters, the result is always the same, the profile and responsibilities of this figure are disregarded. This lack of acknowledgment is exploited by the "pseudo BIM Managers", people expert in the use and management of the software but not familiar with both BIM processes and methodologies. These profiles are growing within the organizations, taking positions where a more experienced profile is required, not only focused on the use of tools. Resulting in projects where BIM is only one more concept within the contracts and does not play a priority role in the development and construction of projects.
What about the term BIM Manager? Maybe we should look for a BIM Integration Manager, rather than a BIM Manager. A person capable of reasoning and solving problems within the world of virtual construction, taking into account the universe of software possibilities, people, specialties, languages, and ways of thinking to solve specific problems in particular projects, which makes every effort to implement BIM projects unique as a challenge.
The figure of the Integration Manager BIM has a very particular profile, not only is a person who has the knowledge about the management of certain software packages. I would dare to say that it is not a necessary particularity, although it is important. First, let's analyze what a person would be for this position.
Qualities needed for becoming a great BIM Manager
A BIM Integration Manager must and has to carry within his credentials unique qualities of leadership, integration, teamwork, motivation, innovation, creativity, communication and organization, are among his main letters of presentation, since this figure will be responsible for taking the reins of the BIM process through an organization, working with multidisciplinary teams, motivating them to achieve the objectives set, looking for new ways to create and innovate in a constantly evolving industry. Without leaving aside the practical experience in the AEC sector, which we will return later.
Those are some of its main qualities, but what are the real duties of a BIM Manager? The duties of this profile are enormous, which we will try to summarize in 8 simple points, which are: software, standards, administration, support, training, project interface, marketing and continuous development.
Software:
- Being able to manage software products including, but not limited to incorporating new versions and personalization of the products.
- Manage the implementation of support software for BIM.
- Evaluate new releases of BIM software and related technologies.
- Keep updated with the best practices for the use of BIM software.
- Stay informed of software related to BIM and how they interact with the ecosystem of programs on the existing platform within the organization.
- Support to users under their charge and other members of the organization in the use of BIM tools.
- Expert management of integration software, and/or those that fulfill the functions necessary for the implementation of the organization's strategy.
Standards:
- Responsible for the development of BIM standards, implementation and monitoring, involving the Operations Managers, Pre-construction and the Technical Services Director of the organization.
- Creation and maintenance of templates in all software to ensure a standard.
- Automate routines in BIM to improve standards and productivity.
- Providing quality control on the adequacy of the files/project and monitoring of the company's standards in all executive levels produced.
- Assist in the development and monitoring of BIM documentation and standards for workflows and information.
- Train and supervise the daily activities of the BIM Coordinators to ensure that the standards are met in the creation and maintenance of models.
- Development and Maintenance of the BIM Execution Plan of the organization.
Administration:
- Create written assessments of technology and budgets for the adoption of new technologies that align with organizational goals.
- Report bi-monthly the current and projected status of the company around the BIM implementation.
- Create improvement strategies for the implementation of BIM.
- Evaluate current information flows, project strategies, budgets, assigned personnel, etc.
- Create a plan for the implementation. Who are the members of the team, what is the project, what are the objectives, etc.
- Execute the plan, support the software installation, create templates, run pieces of training, pilot the project, etc.
- Be able to demonstrate the BIM success of the company by evaluating the established goals.
- Delineate and transmit the strategy, tactics and techniques for BIM implementation within the organization.
- Review of BIM contracts and annexes on organizational specifications.
Support:
- Provide technical support related to the production of BIM.
- Support in the needs of BIM technology in the offices and projects of the organization.
- Problem-solving.
- Interaction with national suppliers.
- Interaction with the technical support team of the corporation.
- Interaction with the support team of software developers and other support channels.
Training:
- Internal training: Provide basic and intermediate BIM software training and other programs to the organization's staff. Advanced training for the BIM team
- Conduct continuous training sessions.
- Provide technical guidance to new hires regarding BIM tools.
- Examine the capabilities of new hires in BIM.
- Maintain a high level of knowledge in software through continuous use and training.
- Go to conferences, seminars, and BIM workshops, communicating knowledge and disseminating information to the appropriate teams.
Project Interface:
- Support the coordination of standards with customers.
- Assist in project work, modeling and detailing.
- Assist project teams in BIM startup.
- Create BIM components as required by the projects.
- Resolve the BIM design themes.
- Manage and distribute coordinated digital documents to the project team.
- Coordinate hardware improvements with the IT Department.
- Communicate with subcontractors to receive, coordinate and update all electronic models.
- Link BIM to the Construction Administration stage for information requests, construction models, execution plans and work programs.
Marketing:
- Network, literature, interviews, and presentations to clients and conferences.
- Initiatives and Plans of Development of the Industry.
- Articles from different publications, showing the work of the company.
- Identify trends and business opportunities related to BIM, and make recommendations.
- Inclusion with Organizations: Colleges, Universities, Associations, Local User Groups, etc.
Continuous development:
- Future planning of potential uses of BIM
- Sustainable design
- Planning
- 3D Renders
- Research on Facilities Management
- Improvement for Cost Estimation processes
- Administration of BIM specifications
- IPD - Integrated Project Delivery
- Digital prototypes and manufacturing.
- Modularization
- CoBie
The authentic profile of a BIM Manager
As we can see, the activities and responsibilities of a BIM Manager are big, encompassing and completely affecting tasks and projects within an organization that is committed to the continuous improvement of its processes. An ideal profile should have a specific development within the construction industry, where over the years had to face the challenges and difficulties of real projects during its construction stage. Dealing with design omissions, counting on the friction of multidisciplinary teams that increase their experience and perspective on how different engineering and systems interact, negotiate and yield to architectural design. All of the above is part of an integral profile, it goes without saying that the experience in project management will provide a managerial point of view of how it is necessary to legally evaluate the contracting of services.
The prospect of having previous experiences in the construction sector will provide the advantage of knowing in real projects what is not possible to acquire in a design office either architectural or engineering and will open the vision of it to understand the requirements of each one of the participants involved in a project. And finally, it is necessary to have the vision to understand and transmit to the new generations the knowledge acquired since it is the only way to perpetuate the common good towards the industry.
Eager to become a fully capable BIM Manager? This program will provide you with all the tools you need to lead a successful BIM implementation within any company.
