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Mechanical, electrical, plumbing and sheet metal (MEP/SM) contractors are normally at the forefront of Building Information Modeling (BIM) activities on a construction project. Substantial BIM cost and time overruns have occurred on many projects due to the fluid boundaries between coordination and design. MCAA’s new Identifying, Quantifying and Preventing BIM Related Cost and Time Impacts Management Methods Bulletin explores the factors that contribute to these overruns, allowing contractors to better plan for them. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

The bulletin explores the types of contracts that are employed in the construction industry that can directly affect BIM estimates and BIM execution and how these forms of contracts can affect BIM management, time and costs. Key terms used in the BIM environment are explained in terms of contract scope, cost and time management such as the all-important term “normal and expected coordination”.

Recognizing the Level of Development (LOD) to be provided to the contractor in the BIM process is a key element in estimating BIM costs and schedule times. Additionally, defining and scheduling the BIM process can be a key element in successful BIM execution. All of these key elements are discussed in detail in this Management Methods Bulletin.

The bulletin includes:

• A brief introduction to BIM
• Discussion about the various forms of construction contracts
• How design-bid-build forms of contract can affect the BIM process
• Differentiating between BIM “coordination” and design
• How the BIM Execution Plan (BEP) can affect BIM implementation – time and costs
• Determining the LOD to be provided by the design professionals to the contractor
• The importance of the LOD
• Discussion of design-assist forms of construction contracts
• The importance of including detailed BIM activities in the prime contractors’ CPM schedule
• Tracking BIM scope change work using time records and schedule impact estimates
• Defining “normal and expected coordination” by the MEP/SM subcontractor
• Ten priorities to consider before entering into contracts requiring BIM coordination

A polling process is being undertaken to address more specific estimating suggestions. Those suggestions will be incorporated into the bulletin content and released as a new chapter in an upcoming edition of MCAA’s Change Orders, Productivity, Overtime—A Primer for the Construction Industry. Watch for an announcement on mcaa.org and in the National Update when that becomes available.

For a full list of available Management Methods Bulletins, visit the Management Methods Bulletins page.

Find all of MCAA’s educational resources in the Resource Center.

Have Questions or Need Personal Assistance?

Contact MCAA’s Frank Wall.

After two decades of devoted service to MCAA members, Tim Moormeier, President of U.S. Engineering Company Holdings and Co-Chair of the WebLEM committee, decided to step down from his role at the committee’s fall meeting on October 15. During Tim’s tenure, the WebLEM underwent significant transformations. The initial pivotal change occurred in 2008 when the WebLEM transitioned from a paper-based format to a digital one, accessible solely via the web, hence its name, WebLEM. This marked the end of the 4-inch thick, 10-pound yellow binder era.

Tim was unwavering in his commitment to enhancing the WebLEM, focusing not only on improving the user experience but also streamlining the administrative aspect for committee members. In this pursuit, Tim pioneered the next generation of the WebLEM, known as WebLEM+Plus, which is exclusively available to MCAA members as a valuable membership benefit.

In addition to Tim’s pioneering leadership in the transition of the Labor Estimating Manual from paper, to digital, to software, Tim has provided countless hours of value to MCAA members, manufacturers, and staff over the years. Tim has been a crucial member of the committee in the expansion of the LEM through additional labor values, in providing clarifications and updates, in bringing on new committee members and training those committee members in a devoted effort to keep the LEM reflective of new technologies, markets, and processes.  

Tim’s dedication to excellence and his selfless contributions have played a pivotal role in shaping WebLEM into what it is today. MCAA is profoundly appreciative of Tim’s unwavering hard work, visionary leadership, and the countless hours he devoted to both MCAA and its members. Tim’s wisdom and guidance will be sincerely missed.

MCAA’s Field Leaders Conference is proving to make a lasting impression on those who attend based on the overwhelming amount of positive feedback. Four Field Leaders Conferences were held this year, bringing a total of 650 field personnel through the program in Scottsdale, AZ (April 3-5), Chicago, IL (May 17-19), San Francisco, CA (August 2-4) and Des Moines, IA (October 11-13). Read on to hear from those attendees and find out where and when our 2024 conferences are planned, then watch mcaa.org for registration information in 2024.

For those who may not be familiar with the event, MCAA’s Field Leaders Conference gives field leaders at all levels the skills, understanding, and inspiration to positively impact a company’s bottom line. This is an investment that will pay off throughout their careers.

People Are Talking About the Conference Content

“Thank you all for the moments of clarity and for opening my eyes. I am leaving here a 26-year pipefitter working for a company and can’t wait to use these tools and try to mentor the next like-minded individuals within a company. Thanks again.”

– Scottsdale, AZ, 2023

“Thanks so much, for not only giving me work advice but also opening my eyes to things that I need to work on at home with my own family as a husband/father.”

– Scottsdale, AZ, 2023

“Excellent conference that contained very real topics that can be realized and used immediately. These topics also were able to be received by a broad base of experience levels. Great work and thank you to all involved.”

– San Francisco, CA, 2023

“I honestly will never forget the first three speakers. The best part was they were fellow tradesmen. The way they presented the information was honestly like someone on a jobsite was talking to us. No sugar coating anything, just facts. It made so much of the information easier to relate to and pay attention to. That’s important being a fitter and on the job all the time my attention span for long classes isn’t the best, but this was no problem. Kevin’s presentation is something I will remember for a long time.”

– Chicago, IL, 2023

“Overall, this was a great conference! It will be massively useful on the job site, and in my personal life. This conference has helped me realize how to implement being a better communicator, and person. I can now begin to hold myself and other people accountable.”

– Chicago, IL, 2023

“I’m grateful for this experience. This conference will forever change my life. To be a better leader, community member, UA member, spouse and father.”

– Des Moines, IA, 2023

“Fantastic information, would highly recommend to all people in leadership positions. This is the type of thing that can change the culture at a company and a union.”

– Des Moines, IA, 2023

Thank You to Everyone Who Made Our 2023 Programs a Success

Thank you to all our conference speakers for your passionate participation in our 2023 programs.

Thank you to Chip Martin and the Arizona MCA, John Rayburn and the MCA of Chicago, Alex Hall and Mike Stirling at the Northern California MCA, and Scot Stoltenberg and the MCA/MSCA of Iowa, Inc. for supporting these conferences in your local areas.

Thank you to our exhibitors for sharing your latest offerings:

• Autodesk Construction Solutions
• ASC Engineered Solutions  
• DEWALT Industrial Tool Company
• GTP Software, Inc.
• MILWAUKEE TOOL
• Morris Group International
• NIBCO INC.
• Procore Technologies, Inc.
• Trimble
• Victaulic
• Viega
• Zurn Elkay Water Solutions

And, of course, thank you to everyone who attended.

Plan Now to Send Your Team to MCAA’s 2024 Field Leaders Conference

MCAA will be holding two Field Leaders Conferences in 2024:

• June 17-19 – Philadelphia, PA
• November 11-13 – Atlanta, GA

Registration will open in 2024. Watch mcaa.org and the National Update for registration information.

From time to time, a subcontractor’s ability to perform their work may be hampered by interference from a prime contractor. MCAA’s Liability of a Prime Contractor for Interference with a Subcontractor explores this serious problem and provides case studies of various outcomes that a subcontractor may encounter. It’s just one of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.

For a full list of available Management Methods Bulletins, visit the Management Methods Bulletins page.

Have Questions or Need Personal Assistance?

Contact MCAA’s Frank Wall.