The digital construction skills podcast.

In our latest podcast episode, we discuss Fire Safety, the Golden Thread, the Building Safety Bill, and how a digital fire safety compliance platform can help transform how Clients, Facilities Managers, and Owner/Operators manage buildings in relation to Fire Safety.   

We also examine what impact this might have for wider society, how building projects of the future may be funded and insured based on fire safety data as well as the empowering impact such a platform can have in terms of fire safety participation to drive better compliance and decision making at all levels of an organisation.  

John Noone is a Chartered Fire Safety Engineer and has been advising clients on Fire Safety all his career in Ireland, the UK, and the Middle East. In 2017 he co-founded the Joule Group, an independent company of Fire Safety designers, engineers, consultants, and technology solution specialists who strive to ensure all aspects of fire safety are balanced and fully coordinated in design, construction, and operation.  

00:30 John’s background as a Fire Safety Engineer and the co-founding of the Joule Group.

2:00 The Dame Judith Hackitt review, the building safety bill and what this might mean for the construction and facilities management sector. 

5:45 The Golden Thread in relation to Fire Safety through the Project and Asset/Building Lifecycles. 

09:00 The TFS Fire Safety Compliance Solution- what problems does this digital tool solve?  

10:50 The key features of the TFS Platform- how it works and how it supports clients and building operators  

14:30 The key benefits for clients and building operators who adopt this digital solution. 

18:20 The process of adopting the solution- how long it takes to set up, the training/upskilling required, and the support available to implement the solution. 

20:00 The wider benefits of the solution and its potential impact on how buildings and building safety is managed, the assurance for building owners and regulators, and what it might mean for how projects are funded and insured in the future. 

24:00 How the TFS compliance platform can empower organisations for people at all levels to play their part more effectively in Fire Safety compliance and management  

27:00 How digital information from the Fire Safety Compliance Platform can be a catalyst for significant behavioural and cultural change within the construction industry.  

28:00 What others can learn from John’s experience and advice for anyone looking to adopt a digital solution into their business.  

29:00 Joule Group future plans and John’s personal aspirations- how he sees the role of the Fire Safety Engineer evolving and being integral to the construction and design process. 

More info about the Joule Group here  

https://joule-group.com/ 

Joule Group LinkedIn page  https://www.linkedin.com/company/joule-group 

#Firesafety #Buildingsafetybill #goldenthread #Hackittreview

A must-listen episode if you are an SME looking to grow your business and want to understand what is involved with gaining ISO9001 accreditation and how digital tools can be used to transform quality performance on site.

In this podcast episode, we talk to Lorna Hagan, Director of Construct Tuition all about the key foundational standards we use in construction to help us get it right on site- ISO9001and 14001. Lorna talks about how she helps construction SMEs through this process and what is involved. Lorna also tells us about how she can support SMEs and site teams to get the quality right on site. We also have an interesting conversation about how digital tools can transform how organisations and site teams can dramatically reduce wastage improve quality, efficiency, and profitability.

You can connect with Lorna on LinkedIn using the following link https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorna-hagan-7457483a?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAhL8iUBy1_z92LdvCSyz1wI5ALYuD5i-qY&lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_search_srp_all%3Bb2ha7mVDQ%2FuWWo5tRMpv0Q%3D%3D

Lorna's website is https://constructtuition.co.uk/

In case you can't watch it all you can scroll to the main sections below.

3:00 What are the IS09001 and 14001 standards and why are they important? 07:00 Document management and digital solutions

09:40 The first steps a company should take when considering ISO9001 accreditation and why it is an important step for a construction SME to take if they are serious about growing their business.

14:00 The process of ISO9001 accreditation- how long would you expect this to take?

17:30 Getting it right on site- the key focus areas.

20:20 The key benefits of quality training- financial, confidence, and competence of teams and how it adds value to a business.

25:00 Digital tools, Inspection &Test plans, data analytics, and the Quality Frequency Rate.

26:30 The potential for SMEs to gain competitive advantage through quality management and implementation of digital tools.

30:30 The link between digital tools and business improvement.

33:00 The time saved by organisations using digital tools and why this is beneficial both for the board and site teams.

35:00 The advantages of employing an external consultant (and getting the right one for your business)

We are joined on this podcast by David Emery from the Supply Chain Sustainability School,  a pioneer and leading expert on BIM, Modern Methods of Construction and digital construction.  This 45-minute interview is full of insights and wisdom from a leading light in the industry and is very worthy of your time and attention. 

In case you don't have time to watch in full you can scroll to the most relevant section  (see below)

1:00 What we mean by the Golden Thread of Information relating to Building Information Modelling (BIM) and the vital role that the SME sector and the supply chain must play.

3:00 How Dave put the Golden Thread and BIM concept into practise with a Tier 1 Client and Contractor on the £300 Million West Midlands Hospital to engage with the SME sector on the project.

5:30 What mean exactly by BIM and the importance of having standards.

7:40 Why BIM is not just for large infrastructure projects.

12:10 What an excellent BIM project looks like and what is required. Where BIM can also go wrong.

15:40 Demystifying the SME digital information requirements for BIM and why it really isn’t that complicated.

18:40 Is there a risk (for the SME sector) of giving your IP away by collaborating on a 3D model?

25:00 The digital tools that the SME sector can use to engage with the BIM process, (and why it is highly unlikely to be a BIM authoring tool that you need!) How the supply chain got the knowledge and skills needed to engage with the West Midlands Hospital Project.

26:25 The potential benefits and spin-offs for the SME sector by adopting BIM

28:27 BIM in the housing sector- BIM4Housing

31:13 Why the housing sector is slow to adopt BIM and what are key drivers that might accelerate a change.

34:30 How we are not quite there yet with BIM in terms of clients and facilities managers realising the benefits in the operating phase and how “digital twins” might accelerate this.

38:25 Modern Methods of Construction- what is it and how MMC and BIM have huge potential for solving some of the most challenging issues in construction. Why it is also a huge opportunity for the SME sector.

42:00 The training, learning and support available from the Supply Chain Sustainability School.

You can follow Dave Emery on LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/in/virtechs?... 

And here is a link to the Supply Chain Sustainability School  https://www.supplychainschool.co.uk/

In our latest podcast we interviewed Phil Thompson, Procurement Data Manager for major building services contractor, NG Bailey. We talk about their journey from lean construction to developing a bespoke procurement solution that has transformed their business, how NG Bailey can now manage the “Golden Thread” of information right through the procurement process and what lessons can be learned from this that can be shared with the wider industry.

The podcast is 43 minutes long so if you want to scroll to the relevant sections here is what we talked about

1:00 Phil’s background, his involvement with lean construction initiatives, and how this eventually shaped the digital procurement platform solution.

10:00 Overview of the digital procurement solution-who was involved, what was required and the behavioural and cultural changes that were needed to develop the solution.

13:25 How the solution was Project Managed- scope, duration, and costs. Why addressing root cause and not the symptoms was key to the project's success.

16:38 How the solution was rolled out within the wider business. The initial barriers faced with the quality of product information from suppliers.

20:20 How NG Bailey engaged with over 200 manufacturers in the supply chain what challenges were overcome to get the right information from them.

21:40 The “Golden Thread” in the context of procurement- what is meant by this and what this looks like through the procurement process

24:00 Why inconsistency of procurement data is still a major challenge for the industry.

25:30 What we mean by GS1 standards, why they are important, and how this integrates with the procurement platform. The potential for GS1 standards to transform procurement practices within the wider industry.

29:30 The key benefits of implementing the Procurement Platform (and some of the frustrations felt along the way!) Why technology does not solve your problems by itself and the fundamental importance of focusing on process and culture as the key to project success.

33:42 Traceability of procurement data- the wider business benefits of having access to accurate, granular procurement information. How this has a huge positive impact on commercial performance and buying strategy.

36:54 The evolution of the procurement tool and giving access to the wider supply chain- what benefits this is bringing.

38:50 Lessons learned from implementing this solution and some advice for others looking to adopt a similar solution or a specific digital tool for their business.

40:25 The broader conversations going on in the industry that Phil is involved with regarding procurement and Phil’s aspirations for the future of construction

You can follow Phil on Linkedin here

NG Bailey Website

NG Bailey

If you have a digital tool that is solving a practical problem the industry should hear about then get in touch with me by contacting [email protected]

This podcast has been created thanks to funding from the CITB. If you would like to find out more about how our free training, support, and learning resource can help your team or business then visit our website www.digitalconstructionskills.com or get in touch with [email protected]

In our latest podcast, we talk with Padraic Geraghty from Skillko to find out what a Digital Training Management Software Solution can do for a construction business.

 We find out how it drives compliance, reduces the cumbersome administrative burden, and significantly saves time and money for a business.  We also talk about the key features of the platform that make up this innovative solution that is already being used by companies such as Roadbridge, PJ Hegarty, and Keltbray among many others. 

 In the interview, we mention briefly that we are running a 1-day CITB funded Getting started with digital construction interactive workshop in collaboration with Skillko on the 19th of October 2021 so if you would like to try it out and see for yourself the solution capabilities as well as finding out more about what other digital tools are available to improve business performance then you can register for the event at the link below:

 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/167043731297 

The podcast is about 29 minutes long, so if you don't have time to listen or watch it all, here is a summary of the discussion points you can scroll to. 

 1:00 Brief overview of the Skillko Training Management Platform- what it does and who are some of the contractors already using this solution.  2:30 How the platform help to solve specific problems and why it is a great tool for ensuring Health and Safety compliance, collating pre-construction information as well as significantly reducing the admin time and costs.  

5:15 The key features of the platform- staff profiles, contractor portal, bulk downloads for tenders, automated training matrix, onboarding, and learning management system.  

9:22 Onboarding and the flexibility it offers to deliver a more engaging induction and less burdensome induction management process.  

10:50 A summary of the main benefits that companies realise after adopting the solution. 

15:00 How the solution can be used by the supply chain and subcontractors.  

18:00 Help, support, and training available to ensure you get the most out of the solution  

19:30 The typical barriers a company might face when adopting this solution and why digital champions in an organisation are important.  

23:30 Interoperability and the ease and speed of exporting data to other platforms or key functions within an organisation.  

25:50 Advice for digital champions and senior decision-makers looking to invest in the solution. 

 For more info on Skillko visit their website  www.skillko.com  

You can also find out more about our work and the CITB fully-funded support and strategy support by visiting   www.digitalconstructionskills.com

In part 2 of our interview with Reality Capture expert, Fil Ntagadakis we explore how laser scanning can be utilised in building services, fit-out and interiors sectors.  

1:00 What a laser scan does and what different types are available.  

4:00 Cost of laser scanning equipment  

6:50 The simple process of getting upskilled in using a laser scanner properly.  

10:50 Processing of laser scanning data- how to do it what it can do for you.  

13:40 Investment in second-hand laser scanning equipment. Will older scanners become obsolete? 

15:15 The newly developed training standards and training courses for laser scanning and who is it for (not just for site engineers and surveyors!)

You can follow Fil on LinkedIn here 

Filippos Ntagadakis | LinkedIn

Everything you need to know about getting started with reality capture tools. 

 Fil Ntagadakis is a reality capture specialist and director of Scotia Survey and Safety. Fil is highly regarded in the UK Construction Industry for his encyclopedic knowledge of survey equipment and reality capture tools. 

 In this podcast, we focus on reality capture from a viewpoint of someone from the trades, building services or finishes, and interior fit-out perspective and why there is a great opportunity to increase business productivity and efficiency, reduce risk, add value and new skills and capabilities. 

 2:00 What we mean by reality capture- why it is not just for site engineers and surveyors and why it can be useful for the trades, buildings and fit-out sector 

 5:00 Overview of reality capture- from cameras and mobile phones to drones and laser scanning 

 9:11 Practical applications of reality capture for trades, building, and fit-out sector.  

13:15 What we can do with data captured and how it can be repurposed for other things that could benefit your business. 

 19:00 Drones: how they can be operated on-site. 

 22:20 How to get started with drones- how much do they costs and practical advice on taking the next small step.  

Part 2 of this interview will focus on laser scanning and the training and support available to get the skills to operate a laser scanner and how to manage drones within a construction context.

Smart, Lean BIM for SMEs

Getting ahead of the competition and driving greater efficiencies. 

In our latest Podcast, we caught up with Clive Jordan and Akos Hamar from Plannerly. (www.plannerly.com)    The team at Plannerly are passionate about ‘Smart, Lean BIM’ and their innovative and unique platform can help users manage the BIM process in a clear and transparent way – achieving both greater efficiencies and BIM compliance.  

In this episode, we focus specifically on the SME sector and how Plannerly might help them:  Get ahead of the competition, Make BIM work for them to drive greater efficiencies, and Avoid what Clive describes as ‘evil’ BIM.  

Short on time? If you don’t have time to listen to the whole thing, you can scroll to the relevant sections: 

 1:00 What BIM is and how Plannerly can help manage data and information more efficiently. 

 3:10 Smart, Lean BIM and why it’s relevant to SMEs.  

6:25 BIM Execution Plans using Plannerly templates versus using traditional Word documents.  

10:00 Plannerly SME use-cases – scenarios and examples of where it’s applied. 

12:00 How the different modules on the platform can help SME better manage BIM compliance, project scope and contracts.  

14:30 The factors to consider when making the business case for Plannerly; understanding the workflow and using ISO19650-compliant templates.  

16:00 Why executive/director-level buy-in and company culture can have an impact on successful implementation.  

19:30 How Plannerly and the Smart, Lean BIM online community can help you solve problems and challenges and offer ongoing support post-implementation.  

21:30 What to do next if you like what you hear more.

If we’re to get to grips with the vision set out by construction leaders and governments for the construction industry, we need to make sense of the language commonly used in information management – and urgently, as evidenced by the latest policy paper from the Infrastructure and Projects Authority, Transforming Infrastructure Performance: Roadmap to 2030.

So, where do we start?

In this podcast, I spoke with George Harold, CEO and co-founder of Integrated Facilities Solutions (IFS), to get an overview of some of the basic concepts and language used in the process of information management.

 Listen in to find out:  

About Integrated Facilities Solutions  

IFS is a leading and award-winning company who’ve pioneered digital transformation with their Common Data Environment solution that allows owners and operators to manage their information for the whole asset lifecycle. Their blue-chip client list includes a diverse range of organisations from industry sectors such as transport, financial services, pharmaceuticals, education, sports stadia, health, data centres, commercial and residential.  

Learn about Building Information Modelling (BIM), interoperability and the Common Data Environment (CDE)… .…sign-up for DCS’s free CITB-Assured eLearning module, Taking digital construction to the next level. 

This module is for construction professionals who have a good understanding of the full range of digital solutions available and the benefits they can bring and would like to explore in more detail which solutions will be best for their business. It’s ideal for managers and decision-makers (including financial directors) who are ready to create and implement a robust digital strategy to help them achieve their short- and long-term business goals.

As most people know AutoCAD is one of the most used digital tools in UK construction. AutoCAD was primarily designed as a tool for architects and designers- not site engineers.  One of the biggest limitations to AutoCAD from a site engineering perspective is that it is not a Digital Terrain Modelling software. It can’t work with 3D surfaces so it’s not the best tool for site engineers however AutoCAD is often the only tool they have to work with.  This is why Gail McEwan from our sister company, Setting Out For Construction created a two day CITB Assured “AutoCAD for Site Engineers” course which is designed to help site engineers be able to get the most out of this digital tool.  

We spoke with Gail in this short interview and in it she talks about: 

• Why she created the course and why there is a need for it

. • Why you won’t find any of this information on the AutoCAD “how to” videos on you tube 

• How the course takes you through the very basics such as drawing shapes and lines to more advanced functions such as importing data from Total Stations, GNSS and laser scanning equipment 

• How you will be able to import different file formats including the one file format that many engineers struggle with and many 

 • How the course teaches you to present the information that looks professional and give your AutoCAD drawings the wow factor to make you stand apart! 

• How you can use AutoCAD to geo-reference setting out when you have no co-ordinate system information available on site.

Gail McEwen is lead trainer at Setting Out for Construction and a Civil Engineer with over ten years' experience of the construction phase of civil engineering projects. She is a PhD student at Glasgow Caledonian University with her area of study on the implementation of digital transformation within the construction sector. Her site experience includes a range of hands-on and supervisory site based roles including plant operating, site engineering and project management.