Issue link: https://construction.trimble.com/en/resources/i/1522180
The construction industry is facing a skills shortage and subcontractors seem to be on the harsh end, particularly. It's increasingly difficult to recruit the properly trained and experienced staff needed to complete highly skilled work on time and within budget. At the same time, there is a definite training deficit within the industry. Increasingly, subcontractors are required to take on fewer projects due to a lack of highly-skilled labor and the knock on this has to resources. Consequently, there's a reluctance to invest in training while financial and infrastructure targets are in grave danger of not being met. Undoubtedly, successful BIM implementation requires an investment in 'skilling-up' existing manpower or in taking on new staff. As a result, there's a widely held perception that BIM is an inconsiderable financial risk. Alongside this, there exists a resistance to changing long-held working practices in favor of what is often seen as a process driven by technology. However, handled well, BIM offers a great deal to subcontractors, not least the opportunity to win newer and bigger contracts by offering a broader portfolio of skills and expertise. That said, there's still a decision to be made about whether any investment made is going to achieve ROI. Subcontractors can feel like they have little influence in determining project strategy and outcomes. Instead, they often feel at the whim of the Architect, Contractor and/ or Project Manager. There's also a concern among subcontractors about their role within the BIM process, particularly when it comes to design. For example, MEP designers face a number of unique challenges when it comes to BIM adoption. While architects usually work in building models they've created themselves, MEP designers typically need to work on an existing model created by a third party. One of the biggest challenges they face are changes made to the model in response to the requirements of clients. Sometimes it's just a door stop that has changed but sometimes entire installation voids are modified. As a result, whether the MEP The Subcontractor BIM & Design: From Architects to Subcontractors – Who does what?