Enhanced GC-MEP collaboration on large, complex construction projects

The construction industry is experiencing unprecedented demand for sophisticated facilities in advanced manufacturing, data centers, healthcare, and life sciences, with construction value in these four markets alone reaching a staggering $1 trillion. It’s approaching. In addition to the explosive growth of such projects, another thing that sets them apart from traditional construction is the mechanical, electrical, plumbing ( MEP) This is a very important point for contractors. We are building these facilities.

To address the complexity, cost, and competition of these large-scale projects, general contractors (GCs) are increasingly leveraging Lean Construction and the Last Planner System® in the field. Ironically, while traditional back-office master planning has gone digital, field lean planning is still too often managed on whiteboards, sticky notes, and spreadsheets, especially for his MEP contractors. There will be poor collaboration and communication when it comes to participation.

The Last Planner System has traditionally been a manual, analog process that can seem complicated and tedious to new teams. As a result, subcontractors often hesitate to make process changes required by lean construction. Fortunately, digital planning solutions are emerging to help GCs understand and implement lean construction and better integrate the critical work of MEPs.

Benefits of digital lean

Two hallmarks of digital lean planning are fewer meetings and increased accountability. Digital Lean helps you set expectations and prepare all team members for meetings. Being able to load tasks and outcomes into a digital plan in advance can reduce the number of project meetings, save time and increase productivity. When it comes to accountability, a digital lean system makes it easy for all team members to update activity status and share responsibility for issues that surface when they arise. This gives GC and MEP contractors a common view of handoffs, issues, and dependencies, allowing teams to course-correct as needed, avoid blame, and get back on track quickly. .

Overcoming MEP resistance

Supply chain uncertainty and skilled labor shortages, which have been heavily discussed in the trade and business media recently, are hitting MEP contractors most heavily in data centers, chip manufacturing, and other large, complex construction projects. It’s heavy on me. They suffer from long lead times and uncertain delivery dates for the specialized materials and complex equipment they have to work with, and difficulty recruiting and maintaining up-to-date trade skills across many disciplines. Given these immediate and pressing challenges, it is understandable that MEP contractors are reluctant to take on the additional challenge of adopting new lean construction methodologies. However, with digital lean planning, MEPs can easily address supply chain and labor challenges.

Digital Lean Planning means that everyone on a project has a common, accessible platform for real-time visibility into project requirements, schedules, constraints, conflicts, status, and performance. Additionally, digital lean planning systems provide rich management analysis, apply best practices, and allow successful project plans to be captured, reproduced, and adapted for easy reuse in new projects. And finally, especially for his MEP contractors, digital lean planning allows them to be more agile and flexible when adjusting worker schedules to the unpredictable deliveries of materials and equipment that need to be installed. You will be able to do it.

Once trade professionals become familiar with a digital last planner system, they can collaborate more extensively and effectively with engineers, designers, and GCs, and take ownership of the plans that are critical to their operations.

Challenge to change

Among a growing number of digital lean planning solutions, MOCA Systems, Inc.’s cloud-based, real-time Touchplan® platform is the leading choice for large, complex construction projects and is used by owners, designers, and contractors around the world. Widely adopted. industry.

apollo mechanical is a leading MEP contractor with a very large team of highly skilled mechanical construction professionals and a passionate supporter of digital lean planning.According to the project manager george schlotz“A planning platform like Touchplan is very easy to implement. Even our field personnel, who are not necessarily technically savvy, can use this tool without much training. It’s a great way to communicate, track changes in real time, and stay on top of each project’s progress.”

The pace of today’s complex construction projects shows no signs of slowing anytime soon, putting owners under more pressure than ever to keep sophisticated facilities up and running on time and on budget. By adopting digital lean construction, GC and MEP contractors alike can easily collaborate to successfully complete projects in a timely manner and enhance their reputations as trusted, forward-thinking construction partners. Masu.

Change is challenging, but the impending new realities of complex construction demand more, and digital lean planning is making these challenges easier than ever for contractors of all types. You will be able to respond.

Michael Sullivan is Vice President of Operations for MOCA Systems, Inc.