ENHANCING COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE VIA APPLICATING BIM

23-07-2020

Mr. Dinh Viet Duy: Architects & Construction Service Corporation (ASCS) was former State-own enterprise, specialized in constructing the construction works nationwide since 1976. In 1994 when the first wave of foreign investment rushed into Vietnam, ACSC penetrated the industrial engineering market as a Design & Building Contractor (D&B). Up to 2014, in addition to the positive business performance, its D&B still struggled with ocean of difficulties in project design and management such as: collision between facilities, interruption and barrier in updating data storage and management, prolong time and cost increase during D&B.

Therefore, since 2014, after the possible benefits to be obtained from BIM application as well as investment costs for machine, software, human resources and system upgrades are analyzed and evaluated, ACSC dedicated to apply BIM for its projects. At the end of 2015, BIM was widely applied in many projects.

Mr. Dinh Viet Duy: BIM application is not merely to apply new software for some design or building divisions in the enterprise but also assign accountability to some divisions in-charge. In my opinion, BIM application requires the consent from the Company’s leaders such as Board of Directors, Board of Management, etc., by fully awareness of comprehensive benefits from BIM application as well as investment costs to be injected into technical infrastructure (hardware and software), procedure development, employee training, transformation of organizational structure, interactions with other partners when BIM is applied.

I shall not repeat it as BIM has been mentioned by many experts. All what I want to emphasize here is that the previous working and coordination manner must be transformed; a series of job titles and contents must be absolutely changed to be well matched with BIM procedure. Thence, truly benefits, work performance and business brand shall be successfully improved. This must be significantly concerned and launched at leadership and senior management level. In order to successfully launch BIM, a really favorable working environment must be created, optimizing 3 Cs:

– Communication

– Collaboration

– Coordination

Right at ACSC, this process is still recorded with a series of difficulties to be overcome.

The model shall not be successfully deployed if it is only considered to change the design software by purchasing plants and equipment, procuring software, recruiting some designers to design 3D instead of 2D as simply construed by some entities. The key to success here is to thoroughly understand BIM’s truly nature and benefits, i.e., focusing on developing core procedures, organizational structure and qualified human resources.

Mr. Dinh Viet Duy: I would like not to receive the title “pioneer”. It is just originated from project D&B to require compliance with the green works standards such as LEED rating system of U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Then, I found that when BIM tools are applied for design solutions, such contents may be well integrated with the green works requirements. Obviously, a series of difficulties have to be overcome as previous simulation software is not compatible with BIM’s 3D models. As far as I concern, such systems are being integrated by software development companies as it is inevitable trend.

Another factor is that ACSC has established the profound and comprehensive cooperation with the professional consultants in the fields of green works such as GreenViet, VEV, etc., to acquire D&B solution-related advice so that the set requirements are still satisfied with reasonable price.

ictory International Project in Long An, LEED Certified V.4 (2020), using COLORBOND®steel and LYSAGHT® BONDEK®II steel decking solution solutions from BlueScope Lysaght.

Mr. Dinh Viet Duy: Since 2015, great efforts have been made to apply BIM to ACSC’s D&B projects as much as possible for the best benefits of contractor. Recently, not many investors are found to require BIM application. It is mainly urged from ACSC to release the solutions and introduce benefits of such model application. Thanks to visible 3D models in combination with video as well as Virtual Reality (VR), the clients may easily understand that the works are going to be built and they may release some comments to designer and supplement a more feasible technical features to be well matched with their use demand.

Video of construction works simulation

Mr. Dinh Viet Duy: According to ACSC, if BIM is regarded as a strategic decision, affecting business model, organizational structure & HR change , etc., clear implementation plan must be worked out to ensure success. Like ACSC, qualified personnel are selected from various departments to gather into a team to train and coach how to apply and coordinate under the procedure. Then, a medium scale project is designated to apply and evaluate. After the acquired benefits, expenditure and lessons are clearly sketched out, a larger scale application is then approved. This is a progressive process as haste makes waste.

According to the opinion of experts and mine, difficulties in technical infrastructure and procedure knowledge only account for 30-40% at most, while obstacles in creating a favorable environment for mastering 3Cs are dominated and required to well address at senior management level.

Mr. Dinh Viet Duy: I think BIM and GREEN application as well as integration with other technology in terms of materials and B&D shall offer the competitive advantages to companies, including ACSC. It helps us to comprehensively approach and solve problem as it is integrated from various professional perspectives. Accordingly, faster construction and higher quality shall be obtained as client demands are thoroughly understand and satisfied.

In order to completely apply BIM, material manufacturers are required to participate and provide ecosystem for their products. That facilitates the designers and contractors to cooperate with manufacturer to prepare the complete shop drawings and as-built draws, contributing to a higher works quality. BlueScope is highly appreciated to actively involve in this BIM ecosystem and provide the designers and contractors with “Lysagh Revit Family Guide”. Hopefully, more active engagement shall be recorded from many manufacturers and contractors. Investors, design consultants, project managers, contractors, manufacturers, suppliers, etc., shall be significantly benefited from that.

Mr. Dinh Viet Duy: Some BIM and LEED certified projects have been successfully completed since 2016, such as:

B1 workshop of Tainan Enterprise Vietnam (Twain) Factory in Long An, LEED GOLD V3 Certificate; 2016~ 2017.
Far Eastern Garment Factory (Twain) in Binh Duong, LEED SILVER V4 Certificate; 2018~2019.
Victory International Leather Shoes Factory (Twain) in Long An, LEED Certifiled V4; 2019.
Greenfield 686 Tower (which ACSC is the Project Owner) in HCMC, LEED SILVER V4 Certificate; 2017~2019.