How to better manage requirements, models, calculations, changes, technical reviews, site data and project profitability
The greatest result is delivered not by yet another model repository, but by a process in which every technical solution has a clear requirement, assumptions, version, responsible specialist and approval history.
The business area encompasses services of different nature, but they are linked by needs analysis, design, technical calculations, coordination, change management, technical review and project supervision. Value is created through competence, reliable data, consistent delivery, quality control and a clear outcome delivered to the client.
The same drawing or calculation may be valid only for a specific version of requirements, loads and other input data.
A single technical change can affect other models, disciplines, quantities, procurement, schedules and facility operation.
Automation can check rules and assist in analysis, but the final decision must be made by a competent specialist.
Facts established during construction or operation do not always flow back into models, calculations and organisational knowledge.
In engineering services, digitalisation of models and documents is already advanced, but the competitive advantage is shifting towards traceability of technical solutions, rapid change assessment, cross-disciplinary coordination and the ability to reliably utilise object data at the next stage.
Project scope, initial data, applicable standards, responsibilities and risks are established.
Disciplines, specialists, structure of models and documents, review and coordination points are allocated.
Models, drawings, calculations, specifications and justification of solutions are created.
Conflicts, client comments, impact of other disciplines and consequences of change are checked.
Compliance with requirements, methodologies, standards and professional control actions is verified.
Actual condition, non-conformances, changes made and information for reuse are recorded.
Requirements, models, calculations and comments are stored in separate files, and the history of decisions depends on individual specialists.
Design and document tools are in use, but versions, approvals and client comments are transferred manually.
Design, review or site comment stages are digitalised, but the impact and economics of changes are not yet linked.
A single project change scenario is managed from requirement and model object through to review, approval and new version.
Projects are managed according to unified requirements, versions, changes, quality, capacity and margin data.
The system predicts conflicts, validates rules and assists in generating options, but the solution is approved by a competent specialist.
The digitalisation potential for engineering services is very high, yet value is created not merely by storing models or documents. The critical element is the link between requirement, technical object, calculation, solution, change and professional approval.
Typically, CAD, BIM, calculation, project and document systems are already in use, yet client comments, decision rationale, impact of changes and actual site observations remain fragmented.
It is worth implementing the 'Single project change management' scenario first. Only after confirming real usage, quality control and economic benefit is it worth extending the solution to other services, clients or more advanced BIM scenarios.