Carbon Dynamic designs and manufactures highly energy-efficient timber modular buildings using locally sourced, sustainable materials. The company heard about our services through a number of business networks, including Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), a local business network.
Carbon Dynamic first approached us for assistance in 2015. At this point, they were seeking support to keep their carbon footprint and resource use as low as possible as their business quickly expanded. They were also keen to investigate the viability of implementing Building Information Modelling (BIM) on projects – a process for creating and managing information on a construction project across the project lifecycle. Our team calculated that BIM implementation could offer Carbon Dynamic the opportunity to make potential savings of 10% in one year alone based on the company’s cost projections for 2015. Carbon Dynamic used this recommendation to successfully apply for funding.
After implementing BIM and running the process for a year Carbon Dynamic approached us again for support in maximising its potential, specifically in seeking to increase the ‘BIM maturity level’ with which it is applied on projects and integrated into the company’s internal systems.
As BIM has the potential to integrate all project information from pre-construction through to post construction phases there were potential efficiencies to be made through considering how it could interface with existing internal systems and processes. The second assessment by our team showed significant opportunities for Carbon Dynamic to improve the maturity level of their BIM system. This would enable the creation of a single collaborative, online, project model with construction sequencing, cost and project life cycle information. Integration would help to convert tacit knowledge to explicit knowledge across the company.
Integration with internal systems and processes has now enabled Carbon Dynamic to improve the management of contract specifications, budgets and designs using BIM. It is estimated that using automated scheduling from BIM will save the company 15% on its material costs (compared to the baseline pre-BIM implementation).
Carbon Dynamic highly recommend that businesses adopt BIM for a more circular practice. As the model is able to describe every aspect of a built asset, it is best to start with a clear vision of what needs to be achieved whilst looking at the in-depth life cycle of all construction processes. It’s also important to make sure internal ideas and processes required to achieve this vision are in place before looking to realise aims through funding and support.
“Implementing BIM has enabled us to standardise our processes, enhancing performance whilst creating significant cost savings. We would highly recommend that all businesses adopt it to achieve a more waste efficient practice”. Max Garcia, Design & Engineering Manager, Carbon Dynamic.
Carbon Dynamic has found the funding and support received invaluable in developing their BIM capabilities and making considerable financial and material savings.
Material savings and improved productivity
Our free opportunity assessment identified the potential for Carbon Dynamic to:
- Reduce material costs by 15% through automated scheduling from BIM
- Reduce production times
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