Better food businesses through BIM

Building information modelling (BIM) is of great value to food facility operators throughout the life of a facility. From the first idea of a facility through to concept development, design, engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, training, operation, maintenance and futureproofing your facility, BIM can deliver immense value.

Many food facility stakeholders are becoming increasingly engaged with 5D BIM in particular and are extracting great value from it. 5D BIM is an information model that takes the 3D virtual model and adds in a time dimension (4D) and a cost dimension (5D). There are other dimensions to BIM that provide platforms for managing issues like services, data and maintenance that can lead to a complete food facility management solution.

A good BIM approach is an all-encompassing database of all the relevant information relating to a facility. In other words, BIM is an information model that stakeholders can and should use. BIM provides a system on which alternative operating and commercial scenarios can be analysed and business decisions can be more effectively made.

The value that can be extracted for a food facility operator, from the board down, includes the ability to:

• access more information in real time
• make clearer, better informed decisions
• accurately inform strategic recommendations across the business
• test alternative operating and commercial hypotheses and analyse the potential outcomes in a virtual environment without the risk of experimenting in the real world (particularly if that world does not exist).

It is important for all stakeholders to understand how a well-developed BIM model will integrate with emerging technologies such as augmented reality and automation. For example, imagine a scenario where your complex food facility had a technical issue that required the input of a specialist (analysis, repair or training) located on the other side of the world. With a well-developed BIM model, that specialist could provide input in real time just like they’ve teleported there instantly.

Wiley believes in and practises a people-centric design–build approach. The company knows that successful facilities are created using highly collaborative and integrated BIM tools. It offers high levels of collaboration, visualisation and communication between key stakeholders throughout the design, delivery and operational life of the facility. The more complex the facility, the greater the value.

In the end, applied well, BIM provides all stakeholders with a better food facility and a better business.