MT - Using BIM as a PM Tool: 4.2.2 – BIM influence on Time/Schedule

The second KPI with higher positive effect results of using BIM is “Time reduction or Control”. The effect of using BIM showed a positive effect on 34% of the projects (12 out of 35).
This KPI was mentioned with positive connotations 17 times. The following are some examples of these positive effects: “project was two months ahead of schedule” and “significant time savings once the construction model took shape” (Research 2 – McGraw-Hill, 2009) or “without [BIM], it would have taken two months to design this scheme, and we were able to do it in a couple of weeks” (Aylesbury Crown Court – McGraw-Hill, 2010a).
The negative effects on time from the case studies are again much less than the positive ones. They were only mentioned 4 times and only 3 projects mentioned more negative effects on time than positive ones. These negative effects were generally related to extra time needed for “creating the initial model” (Festival Place - BSI, 2010) or “restructuring the drawings” (Palace Exchange – BSI, 2010). All 4 mentions to negative effects of BIM on time, were actually related to extra time needed to model the project or rework that needed to be done due to converting the project from traditional CAD standards to a BIM platform.

While the time savings influenced the overall project duration and had positive effects on the schedule’s critical path, time increases were often related to extra modelling time or converting drawings into a model. This is a clear sign that the positive effects on time are much more important than the negative ones. It also means that adopting BIM tools from the beginning of projects and by all stakeholders has the potential to minimize the negative effects on time. Overall, the effects on time were beneficial.
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