Treating the Redline Blues

This Architexts comic is funny because it’s true:

If you would prefer to get your laughs from sources other than frustrating rework, Newforma has a solution, and a Newforma customer has published the step-by-step instructions.

In “Managing Revit Drawing Revisions in Newforma Project Center” at AECbytes Issue #62, Matt Tosto describes how Affiliated Engineering, Inc., a multi-discipline technical consulting firm, is managing the steady stream of drawing revisions generated from Revit.

The process Matt shows in his “Tips and Tricks” article eliminates the possibility of people accessing dated drawings.

You’re not restricted to Revit alone to employ the Newforma Document Control activity center. It can be used to manage revisions of any file types, including AutoCAD DWG and Microstation DGN files.

For a short video overview, visit this page at newforma.com.

Electrons vs. atoms: Guess which is winning.

Although global paper consumption has increased by half since 1980, the architecture, engineering and construction industry has an increasingly reduced role for paper.

Newforma Vice President of Construction Services Dan Conery can tell you the reasons why.

“Clash detection can’t be done with paper,” Dan says. “You have to share models to find clashes between them.

“Also, submittals are on the rise,” Dan says. “The industry is evolving integrated ways to manage submittals, RFIs and other contract documents that don’t involve paper.”

For more on the twin trends of paperlessness and information integration, read Dan’s guest post at constructiondive.com. It offers two thoughts about trends in construction project information management.

One direction it’s not going is that of tracking paper.

“Systems built 15 and 20 years ago were built to track paper,” Dan says. “Now the shift to 3D modeling, higher-speed networks and Adobe allows us to manage information electronically, in real time.

“Incumbent technologies have not made the shift,” Dan says.

“But the key to productivity moving forward is not just paperless operations. The key is to integrate electronic processes.

“For example, sharing files with a dropbox-style utility is electronic, but it lacks a project context and lacks integration.

“It doesn’t make sense to manage electrons if you’re going to separate them in silos, just as you did with paper,” Dan says.

For a fuller explanation, read Dan’s post, “Two Gretzky-Inspired Process Trends for Builders,” at Construction Dive.

Complex projects require team-wide project coordination

A recently published project case study, General Contractor Strengthens Ability to Win, Manage and Deliver Projects, showcases how Nibbi Brothers General Contractors successfully uses Newforma enterprise software to manage their project information and improve project team collaboration.

Even though projects continue to get more and more complex, contractors are expected to complete their work faster than ever and with fewer mistakes. For many general contractors this a problem but not for Nibbi Construction.

“Our most successful projects have resulted from highly collaborative approaches to complex technical challenges,” Nibbi President Bob Nibbi said. “As the construction marketplace moves in this direction, we become more competitive.”

Nibbi recognized that a complete construction solution would improve coordination resulting in reduced cost and fewer mistakes. They have seen improvements in managing their email, processing submittals, RFIs and other project documents, as well as improving coordination and collaboration with project partners and Nibbi professionals working in the field.

The Exploratorium @ Pier 15 project is just such an example. As Assistant Project Manager Jill Brown explains, "On the Exploratorium project, supervisors, superintendents, partner architects and subcontractors are submitting and responding to RFIs an submittals using Newforma software. We've eliminated potential errors and tremendous amount of data reentry." In fact, Nibbi has had so much success coordinating with the partner architect, EHDD Architecture, EHDD just purchased Newforma software themselves.

As Bob points out, “All of our communications – email, transmittals, RFIs, submittals, changer orders and more – presents a consistent professional image that promotes clarity and confidence."

Read firsthand how Nibbi Construciton has used Newforma to improve team coordination allowing them to win more work, accelerate turnaround, avoid disputes, manager their risk and stay on schedule.

Click here to learn more about the Newforma Construction Suite.

Fear the punch list no more...Newforma to the rescue

Oh the punch list process...it's a mixed bag of emotions! On one hand you're ecstatic, the job is a reality (wood, steel, glass, paint) and there you stand in all its glory.

But, on the other hand, is angst... the punch list walkthrough can be a tedious process, one fraught with miscommunication, data entry and reentry, and the fumbling of plans and notebooks.

Fear the punch list no more...Newforma to the rescue and Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects (ZGF) can attest to it.

In fact, according to ZGF Associate Partner Alan Gerencer, "I really love it! Using the app on our tablets gave us a way to take Newforma Project Center into the field and to bring field data back to the office. It's saving time and mitigating the risk of mishandled items that may jeopardize quality."

The app automatically transfers field info to records back in the office so you can get right to work organizing and assigning items to the responsible parties. And for contractors not using tablets they can receive their punch lists on a spreadsheet or PDF.

Read firsthand about ZGF's use of Newforma Punch list and how it has shortened the time to project closeout, eliminated fumbling with notebooks and paper plans, allows for the seamless exchange of information and much more.

Who knows, with Newforma Punch List you might just look forward to the punch list process now.

What’s yours is yours, what’s mine is mine, and what we need to share, we share seamlessly, securely and easily

A project info case study just published showcases two Newforma customers using a game-changing technology to streamline project delivery.

“Newforma to Newforma Revolutionizes Project Delivery” is the title of a new case study featuring Cannon Design and GSBS Architects. They’re joining forces on a new student life center at Utah Valley University.

Collaboration will be easier than ever thanks to a new technology that’s part of the most recent edition of Newforma enterprise software for project information management.

Newforma-to-Newforma technology creates a direct link between Newforma servers. Once the connection is established for a project, team members are not required to do anything different in their use of the Newforma PIM solution.

Minimal impact on existing work processes

When you wish to share project information or include someone in a supported work process, just specify the team members you’re sharing with. Newforma software routes the request and associated notifications via Newforma Info Exchange or Newforma to Newforma, depending on the team member’s connection status.

If the recipient is part of a Newforma to Newforma connection, they’re notified and the shared information just shows up, either in the designated project folder on their network or in the appropriate Newforma Project Center log, such as those for submittals or action items, for instance.

If the recipient is an external project team member who is NOT part of a Newforma to Newforma connection, recipients receive an email with a link they click to connect them to the sender’s Newforma Info Exchange server, where the information awaits retrieval.

Retained control of project records

Regardless of how team members connect, the system captures complete and accurate audit trails for every piece of information being shared.

Reduced latency in design/review coordination cycle time

GSBS Architects Principal Garth Shaw, AIA, LEED® AP BD+C, says Newforma to Newforma leads directly to improved client service. “Time we save sharing and coordinating models, drawings, RFIs and submittals is time we can spend on design
and construction,” Garth said.

Read the new case study here!

Newforma User Conference - Early Registration Ends March 31

Newforma's User Conference, Nugget 2012, is really coming together and the excitement is building! Join us September 17-19, 2012 in Fort Worth, TX for two and a half days of tips, training and valuable networking opportunities.

Register by March 31, 2012 to take advantage of the Early Bird rate and save $300!

The agenda is jam-packed with valuable sessions so whether your role is IT, administration, training, implementation, support or project management we've got you covered. The tracks are also focused for Architects, Engineers, Construction, Design/Build and Owners. And, there’s even a hands-on computer lab for real-time learning.

Check out the agenda and see for yourself.

It won't be all work and no play, though! Fort Worth Texas is known as the 'City of Cowboys and Culture' so grab your cowboy hat and boots and come enjoy this very fun city.

Remember, register for Nugget 2012 by March 31, 2012 and save $300.

Logic behind the Newforma Construction Suite

We have been building Newforma over the past 7 years by following the project life cycle of the AEC/O industry. We initially started working with architects back in 2007 because they were most impacted by the challenges that our early solution solved: managing project email, finding project information on their file servers, and exchanging information with the external team members. This logically led to engineers becoming interested in Newforma Project Center (NPC) because they were recipients of the architects’ information published via NPC.

As the initial projects managed in NPC moved into the build phase, constructors started receiving information exchange notifications from our A and E customers—then they became curious about what we have to offer. And now, led by our construction customers, owners are recently taking a strong interest in our product.

Successful construction projects always have one thing in common: effective communication and collaboration throughout the entire team. This underlying demand from all of our customers to improve their communications ultimately led us to create this optimized suite of collaboration-centric solutions optimized for each major project player. It really is just logical!

This year we’ve had many discussions with our construction customers and observed how their employees are already using our software. The creativity that we witnessed directly shaped the three packages that we now offer within the Newforma Construction Suite.

We discovered that each construction company has different groups with distinct areas of responsibility. Some team members focus on front-end activities such as buyout, or coordination of design models with subcontractors. For these customers, we created the Preconstruction package starring our robust file coordination tools, audit trail and notifications. For project managers who oversee the ongoing construction process, we offer the Project Management package containing the full gamut of document control, RFIs, submittals, action items, meeting minutes, and contract functionality. And some team members are focused exclusively on jobsite activities. For this group, we developed the Field Management package for collecting field information and managing punch lists.

As of today we have over 52,000 subscribers and an additional 400,000 participants in our Newforma Project Network. With our Newforma to Newforma technology we provide a way to link all project team members using one of our Suites to connect so they can seamlessly share information while also managing their internal project information privately. Contractors are an integral part of the Newforma Project Network and as such deserve a solution tailored to their needs that also integrates with the rest of the project team.