How To Reduce The "Tostines Effect" Of BIM In Brazil?

Despite Brazil being recognized for McGraw Hill Construction as the country with the highest growth in the implementation and use of BIM – Building Information Modeling In recent years, the implementation process of Brazilian AEC (Architecture, Engineering and Construction) companies has suffered an effect informally called "Tostines" (!!!), the famous TV commercial with the slogan: "Tostines is..." Fresh because it sells more, or does it sell more because it's fresh??” – Watch the commercial here 

I'm not mistaken about the joke; rather, I'm drawing an analogy between many problems hindering the greater advancement of BIM culture in Brazil and the delay in decision-making regarding the implementation of the BIM workflow in AEC companies, due to the following situation:

“"Many AEC companies don't implement BIM because clients/owners don't request projects delivered with BIM, and we don't have projects developed in BIM because clients/owners don't request them."”

But the problems caused by the so-called "Tostines Effect" trigger other worrying consequences within the supply chain of BIM projects:

1. National material manufacturers, who should develop the electronic collection of their catalogs in BIM (families or BEM – Bim ElementsThey do not invest in developing this collection of catalogs because the market does not demand projects using the BIM methodology;
2. Many professionals (students, draftsmen, designers, engineers, and architects) do not seek technical qualification in BIM – whether through training courses to work as BIM Managers, Administrators, Consultants, or qualified professionals in the various existing software programs (Autodesk Revit, Archicad, Solibri, Bentley, etc.) – because the AEC market does not hire based on this minimum qualification requirement – after all, their companies do not execute internal projects with the obligation of BIM processes and software.;
3. The vast majority of AEC companies lack a full understanding of "What is BIM?", with many still holding the (incorrect) view and preconception that BIM is software, instead of the correct term, such as... BIM is a multidisciplinary work process for the use/distribution of unique and distributed information throughout EPCM (Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management);
4. The vast majority of OwnersClients contracting projects/construction works often request BIM in service contracts (Engineering, Procurement, Construction Management) without a proper understanding of the need for a BIM-based project development and delivery framework. BIM Mandateand that it stipulates all the technical, institutional and managerial premises where its service providers must follow the same development and delivery standard, allowing even the full exchange of information during the development of the contract and thus guaranteeing the quality of the project developed and delivered in the “BIM standard”;
5. Due to the low dissemination and interest of companies in the benefits and return on investment of using BIM, independent consultants, consulting firms, and BIM software resellers tend to carry out few implementation projects. Consequently, the professional development of these teams is hampered by poor implementations with low return on investment, leading to the stagnation of the BIM process because the benefits of BIM in EPCM are not evident.

But with all these problems caused directly or indirectly by the "Tostines Effect," how can we overcome and reduce this negative cycle that slows the evolution of BIM in Brazil? The answer is based on some guidelines and actions carried out with clients by my company in recent years:

• View the BIM as a "project"“ Companies need to designate experienced professionals (planning, supervision, etc.) who can monitor and develop schedules, responsibilities, and goals for this BIM implementation. Viewing BIM not as simply installing 3D software is already a huge step forward.;
• Hire a specialized company in BIM Consulting and with a professional background in Architecture, Engineering and Construction (such as, for example, CADBIMso that they can develop and assist in raising the workflow By overseeing your company's processes, always accompanied by an experienced professional with a systemic view of information exchange across disciplines, you will prevent problems that paralyze or prevent the use of BIM in projects.;
• Request and use the BIM family collection. From consulting firms! This use of existing resources must result in a technical verification of the catalogs, standards, and dimensions of the BIM families by engineers and materials technicians from the consulting firm or their own team;
• Involve your team Technical and managerial expertise is key in BIM meetings and presentations! When your team (or key managers) fully understands the process, the BIM workflow will be better executed, leading to greater project involvement and implementation using BIM.;
• Deciding on the corporate implementation of BIM in reason for the gains obtained in pilot projects, ...and not just because of contractual market requirements. BIM needs to bring gains in quality, productivity, and profitability to your company, because if these gains are not achieved through the use of the BIM methodology, its implementation is not justified.;
• Supporting your own customers/Owners In understanding the challenges and importance of detailed BIM planning and the need for a technical standard (BIM Mandate) before bidding on/contracting your BIM projects;
• To hold lectures and meetings. Presenting to their clients the gains and benefits of implementing BIM. When material manufacturers, design firms, architects, managers, and builders verify the return on investment (ROI) of BIM, it will trigger interest throughout the entire lifecycle of these companies involved in EPCM.

Last but not least: To disseminate content created by professionals who work in and are experts in BIM. Don't forget to tag your team members or professional colleagues in the texts, videos, and projects published online. That's precisely why I expect my text to be read by hundreds of professionals and have a positive impact on generating searches for other topics about BIM methodology, its software, and success stories in Brazil and around the world.

I am absolutely certain that as long as we take the aforementioned actions and use BIM correctly and beneficially, the Brazilian market will use our success as a benchmark, and gradually we will be able to reduce (or eliminate) the harmful "Tostines Effect" that hinders greater advancement of the BIM methodology in Brazilian companies.

Rodrigo Mioni Executive Director at CADBIM Consulting and Integrated Projects

rodrigo.mioni@cadbim.com.br | (11) 3853-6090