Creating an Effective BIM Execution Plan

Are you struggling with issues such as miscommunication, delays, and budgets overruns in your construction projects? If yes, there are strong chances that you are missing the cornerstone of modern construction management: a well-crafted and well-defined BIM Execution Plan (BEP).

A powerful BEP is not just a document; rather it serves as a foundation for collaboration, efficiency, and precision. By aligning all stakeholders, BEP eliminates guesswork, and ensures everyone—from architects to contractors—is on the same page.

In this article, you are going to learn how a strategic BEP has the potential to transform your project by transforming information chaos into control. Doing so saves you time, slashes your costs and deliver projects outcomes exactly in the manner you have desired. We are also going to cover topics from what a BEP is to why it’s critical to your project. Likewise, our experts will show you how to create a successful BEP and provide helpful templates and resources. So whether you’re just getting started with BIM or looking for ways to improve your current execution planning, this blog post has something for you! By the end of this guide, you’ll be an expert on BIM Execution Planning! So, stay with us till the end.

Why Do We Need Better Planning On “BIM Projects”?

There is no doubt that BIM has revolutionized construction projects. But for it to be successful for you, effective planning is required. Poorly planned BIM projects lead to misaligned workflows, communication breakdowns, and costly reworks. In the absence of a well-defined BEP, you are without a clear roadmap and your team will struggle to harness the full potential of BIM tools, resulting in delays and budget overruns. Better planning ensures that the technology is not just implemented but optimized to meet project goals efficiently.

BIM was born out of the idea to keep streamlined collaboration at the heart of any project. It has been observed that multi-disciplinary projects require all stakeholders including the architects, engineers, and contractors to work in sync. This synchronization helps them to avoid conflicts – conflicts in the construction processes lead to delays and cost overruns and hence reduced profit margins.

This is where BEP steps in by clarifying the roles, responsibilities, and data sharing protocols. It streamlined the construction processes. Likewise, it reduces the confusion and foster smoother coordination. Better planning sets the stage for seamless collaboration as it ensures each stakeholder contributes effectively to the project’s success.

BEP is also needed because it enables proactive problem solving rather than reactive firefighting. BIM’s ability to simulate and analyze designs before construction begins is a game-changer, but only if the project is meticulously planned (a liability that is fulfilled by BEP). By anticipating challenges and aligning expectations early, teams can leverage BIM to its fullest potential, driving smarter decisions and delivering superior outcomes.

Now that you have acquired ample understanding of BEP, let’s explore the next question: what is a BEP?

2. What Is A BIM Execution Plan? 

Jimi Clarke – one of the pioneers in BIM – perceives BEP as a comprehensive document that outlines the roadmap for successful implementation of BIM on any project.

“BEP is an important document which ensures successful collaboration and project delivery in BIM projects. A well-crafted and thorough BEP formulates how project teams will work together, specifying what information will be produced, when, by whom, and how it will be used. The BEP includes defining roles and responsibilities, such as the Information Manager, and addresses coordination, standards, and processes required to meet the client’s objectives and project requirements​​​​.”

Thus, from the aforementioned definition, we can confidently say that BEP is a document that outlines roadmap not for a singe stakeholder, but it serves as a guide to align all stakeholders. It ensures that architects, engineers, contractors, and clients, work cohesively and in streamlined manner to achieve common objectives. By defining each and every role and its responsibilities. Furthermore, by taking care of data exchange protocols, project milestones, and standards, BEP leaves no room for ambiguity.

At its core, a BEP ensures that BIM isn’t just a buzzword but a strategic tool for achieving efficiency, accuracy, and collaboration. BEP provides clarity on how your teams will create information, manage it and share with same throughout the lifecycle of construction project. Furthermore, a BEP entails roadmap for software platforms (Revit and Navisworks to name a few), file formats, and workflows. This level of detailed guidelines enable your teams to ensure seamless collaboration throughout project lifecycle. How important is collaboration? Well, construction projects suffer through reworks and 14% of them are caused by bad information management.

It means that with a well-defined BEP, potential roadblocks such as data conflicts or coordination gaps are identified and addressed and you increase your profits by up to 14% (as reworks are eliminated).

BIM is complex as it entails the generation and management of digital information, both physical and functional characteristics, and buildings and other physical assets. And when it comes to large projects, tons of tons of information are exchanged between different teams and stakeholders. So, communication becomes key, and it becomes a necessity to ensure what information will be produced, when it will be produced, by whom it will be produced, and how the same will be used. So, AEC firms dealing in large projects need BEP for

• Improved Coordination and Collaboration
• Risk Reduction
• Enhanced Project Outcomes

Why Do We Need A BIM Execution Plan?

The crux of the above discussion is that BEP is an essential tool. The crux of the above discussion is also that BEP answers critical questions such as

What BIM software will be used on the project?

Who is responsible for what tasks?

Likewise, BEP also ensures that everyone involved with the project knows what BIM goals and objectives are to be achieved. And if you start working on project in a streamlined manner from the very beginning, it means your project will face few roadblocks as clash detection will be top-notch.

If you are concerned to get the best BEP templates, stop searching the internet multiverse. If you require some assistance, our experts will show you precisely what should go into your BIM Execution Plan and where to get some of the best BIM Execution Planning templates.

Now that we know why we need one, let’s talk about what is included in one!

4. What Is Included In A BEP? (15 Point Checklist)

A brief introduction to the project
First thing first: a BEP provides a brief introduction and overview of the project. This brief introduction includes the scop, objectives, and significance of the project. Likewise, this brief introduction sets the context for BEP, highlighting how you and every other stakeholders will contribute to the project’s success.

The BIM/model uses – what the BIM/modeling will be utilized for
The second part defines the intended purposes of the BIM. It includes design visualization, quantity take-offs and clash detection. It also includes the facility management. By doing so, BEP makes you and all stakeholders understand the value that you will bring to the project.

The roles and responsibilities of those involved
The title itself is self-explanatory or isn’t it? This part illustrates who is responsible for what (roles and responsibilities to be precise). This includes specifying the roles of BIM managers, coordinators, and other team members to completely get rid of risks of confusion and overlap.

What success for BIM looks like on the project
In this section of the checklist, you are going to establish a criterion for success. This criterion can be in form of improved collaboration, reduced errors, and meeting sustainability goals. This part is essential because defining success helps measure progress and keeps everyone aligned on objectives.

Any Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that will be used
In this section of the checklist, you will identify the measurable metrics like model accuracy, clash resolution time, and adherence to timelines. These key performance indicators (KPIs) allow all stakeholders involved in your project to track their performance. Furthermore, these KPIs empower design, architectural, and engineering teams to improvements based on data.

Important project milestones
No matter how cliché it sounds but establishing important milestones is an integral part of BEP. In this section of checklist, you will highlight critical deadlines including but not limited to design approvals, model submissions, or different construction phases. By keeping your project on schedule and through pro active clash detection, you keep delays at bay and costs in check.

The deliverables that must be produced
This is the section of the checklist where you specify the models, drawings, schedules, or reports that need to be created. This ensures clarity on what each team must deliver and when, preventing last-minute surprises. Again, there’s no need to explain how it will keep delays at bay.

The software and hardware that will be required
In this section of the checklist, you are required to list the platforms, tools, and software that you need to use. The tools range from software such as Revit and Naviswork to cloud-based collaboration tools. To avoid technicality issues, you must and should ensure compatibility across teams.

The technology budget/plans for the project
You must have heard this famous proverb that with great power comes great responsibility. Well, in BIM multiverse, with setting up IT eco-system in form of hardware and software solutions comes the need to allocate necessary resources. Therefore, you should set up clear budget estimates to avoid delays caused by unexpected tech expenses.

Setting up IT ecosystem and then training staff requires significant investment. However, if you hire the services of BIM consultants, you can get both at fraction of the cost. Plus, as the learning curve will be eliminated, your project will always remain on schedule and in safe hands.

Standards to be followed (for example, the BIM Forum LOD Spec or ISO 19650 Level of Information Need)
BIM is all about compliance and the same should reflect in your BEP. Therefore, you must define guidelines and specifications. It will ensure consistency. The standards include naming conventions, file formats, and levels of detail required at different stages to set your project to be success in terms of time and cost.

Process maps to help describe workflows

The training requirements for teams to get the best out of BIM

The timeline for the project

The BIM quality management processes to be used

Contract terms

Now that we are done with the BEP checklist, it’s time to move on to step-by-step guide to creating a well-defined execution plan.

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating BIM Execution Plan

You should keep the following elements in mind when creating a BIM Execution Plan:

Define Project Objectives and Scope through EIR

A detailed BEP will define project objectives and scope through a document called Employer’s Information Requirements (EIR). The said document outlines standards, processes, and deliverables a client expects vis-à-vis their business objectives. So, an EIR forms the foundation on which you’ll build BEP as it will serve as a guide about client’s expectations from the BIM processes.

EIR entails the following:

• Business objectives of the clients
• Data requirements of the clients

Once you have created a strong foundation through EIR, you can easily develop BEP. BEP will outline the standard practices and procedures you will deploy to meet requirements enshrined in EIR. BEP will include the following:

• Project Goals: Clear objectives aligned with the EIR. 
• Roles and Responsibilities: Detailed descriptions of each team member’s role and responsibilities. 
• Workflow Processes: Defined processes for collaboration, data exchange, and project management. 

Set Up Standards and Protocols for Naming Conventions & Geo-coordination

The process of setting up standards and protocols begins with naming conventions. A consistent naming convention system helps you avoid confusion, and costly errors and delays. Likewise, a well-placed naming convention system helps all teams to identify and manage files with utmost ease. To ace the naming convention element of BEP, keep these things in mind:

• Consistent: Follow a predefined format to ensure clarity. 
• Descriptive: Include essential information such as project name, date, and version number.

Likewise, you should put equal emphasis, if not more, on Geo-coordination to ensure all models align perfectly and, above all, correctly within the project’s geographical context. To ensure this, you should determine a fixed point in the model that all other elements reference.

The second phase of geo-coordination is alignment. It’s the practice that ensures models from architecture, engineering, design, and all other disciplines align perfectly. This seamless alignment helps you prevent costly clashes and inaccuracies. Likewise, it helps you avoid delays, ensuring you always stay on timelines.

Establish Responsibilities

Did you remember one of the most important components of a thoughtful and detailed BEP is defining clear BIM roles and responsibilities? Well, this is done through “responsibility matrix”. It outlines who is responsible for each model element and its associated data at different project stages. Likewise, you should appoint a seasoned information manager to oversee the data flow throughout the project lifecycle. A seasoned professional will do stringent data validation to ensure all data meets requirements and standards while overseeing and managing the exchange of information between different teams.

Validation and Quality Control

Another key component of a comprehensive BEP is the checklist for model validation. Such checklists ensure consistency throughout the BIM process and project lifecycle. Just like the BEP, the checklist should be meticulously detailed so that it is able to cover various aspects of model’s

• Geometric Accuracy
• Data Integrity
• Compliance

*Pro-tip: Regularly validate models to ensure they meet the requirements of each project stage.  

To ensure such stringent validation, you must adopt a proactive approach to BIM clash detection to timely identify and resolve conflicts between different models early in the design stage.  

Training and Support

As BIM is relatively new, clients often find themselves in situations where they need quick and comprehensive training for their teams to ensure successful BIM implementation; the same is an integral component of any successful BEP. When crafting a BIM training part of BEP, you need to ensure that it covers software proficiency, enabling the novice team members to efficiently and confidently use different BIM software such as Revit.  

Likewise, the BEP should outline a detailed plan to educate your client’s team members on the project’s processes vis-à-vis their specific roles.  

Just as much as training is essential, so is providing adequate support, both in-house and external. It will help you mitigate any or all issues that will arise during the whole project lifecycle.  

Continuous Improvement

Another key component to any successful BEP is the practice of incorporating feedback from project stages. Doing so will help you further improve the BIM Execution Plan and related processes. So, you should regularly conduct periodic reviews to highlight areas that need improvement. Likewise, you should actively seek feedback from all the team members on what’s working well for them and what can be improved.

Lastly, you should be flexible and prepared to adapt the BEP as the project progresses. New challenges and requirements will emerge adaptability will allow you to optimize your BIM processes and resolve issues proactively.

Here at DDC Solutions, we have created BEP for projects of all sizes. Our UK-based BIM consultants bring decades of expertise to your projects. Likewise, our team is equipped with the latest tools and software, making our BIM consultancy services cost-efficient. We are less focused on BIM acronyms and more on making your projects efficient vis-à-vis cost and time. To learn more, book your free consultation today!