Using BIM-Based Sheets as a Visual Management Tool for on-Site Instructions: A Case Study

Abstract

In recent decades, design and construction have had to specialize, which has gradually fragmented the industry. This scenario is relevant in hospital projects, where a large number of specialties interact, especially when the operation of the center must be guaranteed. For this reason, it is essential to reduce the communication time between workers and decision-makers to respond quickly to unexpected problems. The purpose of this article is to describe the use of Visual Management using Building Information Modeling (BIM) to deliver task instructions in the field. A case study of a Chilean healthcare center is described, whereby through the active participation of the consulting team, the use of BIM-based sheets as visual instructions was gradually implemented, taking as input the BIM product and process models. The most relevant results were the fulfillment of the initially estimated deadlines without the delays that historically occurred in these types of projects and the reduction of response times for requests for information. It can be concluded that the use of these BIM-based sheets directly addresses the root causes of information management problems in construction and that it is essential to use technology within a Lean collaborative methodology.