What are the most effective strategies for managing changes to BIM models?

1 Establish a clear change management protocol

One of the first steps to manage changes to BIM models is to establish a clear and consistent protocol that defines the roles, responsibilities, procedures, and tools for handling changes. This protocol should cover aspects such as who can initiate, approve, and implement changes, how to communicate and document changes, how to track and monitor changes, and how to resolve conflicts and errors. A well-defined protocol can help avoid confusion, duplication, and inconsistency among the project team and stakeholders, and ensure that changes are aligned with the project objectives and requirements.

4 Adopt a lean and agile approach

A fourth strategy to manage changes to BIM models is to adopt a lean and agile approach that enables flexibility, adaptability, and responsiveness to changes. A lean and agile approach involves applying principles such as minimizing waste, maximizing value, delivering incrementally, and responding to feedback. A lean and agile approach can help manage changes to BIM models by reducing the complexity and uncertainty of the project, prioritizing the most important and valuable features, delivering small and frequent updates, and incorporating the feedback and input of the project team and stakeholders. A lean and agile approach can help optimize the performance and efficiency of the BIM process, and improve the satisfaction and engagement of the project team and stakeholders.

5 Provide training and support

A fifth strategy to manage changes to BIM models is to provide training and support to the project team and stakeholders on the use and management of the BIM models. Training and support can help enhance the skills, knowledge, and confidence of the project team and stakeholders, and enable them to use and manage the BIM models effectively and efficiently. Training and support can also help foster a culture of collaboration and coordination, and encourage the project team and stakeholders to share information, communicate feedback, and resolve issues. Training and support can be provided through various methods, such as workshops, webinars, manuals, guides, or online platforms.

6 Evaluate and improve

A sixth strategy to manage changes to BIM models is to evaluate and improve the BIM process and outcomes, and identify the lessons learned and best practices for future projects. Evaluation and improvement can help measure the impact and benefits of the changes made to the BIM models, and assess the performance and quality of the BIM process and outcomes. Evaluation and improvement can also help identify the challenges, gaps, and opportunities for improvement, and implement corrective or preventive actions. Evaluation and improvement can be conducted through various methods, such as surveys, interviews, audits, or analytics.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?