How to efficiently train your staff in Building Information Modeling

How to efficiently train your staff in Building Information Modeling
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There are several factors that need to be considered before planning a System training. It is essential to teach the right skills to the right set of people at the right time so that there is a minimal disruption of work. The same holds true for Building Information Modeling (BIM) training. Some of the factors that need to be factored in while preparing a BIM training plan are the size of a firm, existing expertise, BIM rollout strategy within the organization, etc.

Here are 3 major takeaways that should be considered which will make the training plan more efficient:

#1 Preparing for Change

BIM implies change”. Implementation of BIM leads to change in the work process, changes in staffing needs, and changes in how a firm uses the information that is available within the model. Additionally, implementing BIM is potentially disruptive to the on-going work process.

There is an inherent resistance to change in any organization (more specifically for large firms here the organizational structure and the spread over several locations make communication complicated) that needs to be overcome. Education and awareness about BIM are the key tools in tackling it. Organizations should preface the launch of BIM with presentations that are tailored for different levels of staff, explaining in detail the reasons to consider the transition to BIM, its potential benefits and the changes it may bring about.

#2 Conducting formal training program

At the point when an application appears to be genuinely simple to learn, as Revit, it might entice employees to simply skip training program altogether. Stay away from that trap. BIM is altogether different from CAD, and without some kind of training, employees will attempt to work on BIM on the lines of CAD framework – leading to poor outcomes.

The loss of billable hours during the training program is a cause for concern that tempts the firms to skip conducting training programs. In any case, remember that profitability paybacks will rapidly counterbalance that loss.

An online survey of Revit customers showed that in spite of the fact that there was a normal efficiency loss of 25-50% during the training period, it took most new clients just three to four months to cover that up using Revit when compared to the previous design tool. If this data is extrapolated, it shows that the estimated long-term productivity increase ranges from 10% to more than 100% as a result of the shift to Revit. More than half of the users surveyed experienced an increase in productivity of that wasgreater than 50%.

#3 JIT (Just In Time) Training

Time limitations frequently drive firms and staff to continue working on existing systems while learning the new system. In this scenario, it makes sense to conduct an on-job training as it offers a great learning environment.

For small firms, this is very simple. The users will spend a day or so going through the self-help tutorials or e-classes that the software vendors provide with the software. The training is then completed by working on an existing project that the staff already knows so that there is only one dimension of learning i.e. the software.

For larger firms, it may be wise to combine self-training with a classroom training imparted by an instructor for some of the users and then let these users complete the training by working on an existing project. Another approach is conducting role-based training wherein the users receive training specific to their project role. Thus, the initial training should be directed to the main functionality that is relevant to your projects and then roll out the rest on an ad hoc basis.

  • Bhagwati Pathak

    Bhagwati Pathak is an Executive Director at Tesla Outsourcing Services. Technical Project Management, BIM, Client Management, and Leadership are her forte. With an expertise in BIM and a flair for writing, her articles provide a direction to contractors, sub-contractors, engineers, and architects in employing the right methodology for an Architectural, Structural, or MEP CAD / BIM project.


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How to efficiently train your staff in Building Information Modeling
Written By:
Bhagwati Pathak
Bhagwati Pathak is an Executive Director at Tesla Outsourcing Services. Technical Project Management, BIM, Client Management, and Leadership are her forte. With an expertise in BIM and a flair for writing, her articles provide a direction to contractors, sub-contractors, engineers, and architects in employing the right methodology for an Architectural, Structural, or MEP CAD / BIM project.