e-Builder work with the agcXML initiative

The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) in January will release agcXML, a set of eXtensible Markup Language (XML) schemas designed to automate and streamline the exchange of transactional information during the building design and construction process. This buildingSMART initiative, led and funded by AGC and managed by NIBS, will enable the efficient and reliable exchange of electronic construction project information among all building design and construction professionals. Most of this information is still exchanged in paper documents such as owner/contractor agreements, schedules of values, requests for information (RFIs), requests for proposals (RFPs), architect/engineer supplemental instructions, change orders, change directives, submittals, applications for payment, and addenda, to name a few.

On December 10, AGC and NIBS will demonstrate the capabilities of agcXML at the buildingSMART alliance National Conference to be held in conjunction with Ecobuild /AEC-ST Fall at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. The 60-minute presentation, which will explain the purpose and value of agcXML to industry professionals, will also feature a live demonstration of information exchange between Penta Project Management Workbench and e-Builder Enterprise by agcXML Review and Validation Committee members Kurt Koenig and Ron Antevy.

Avoiding Unpleasant Surprises with Capital Project Management Best Practices

Register for this 1-hour webinar November 13th (audio via conference call)

Effectively managing a capital program to ensure schedules are met and projects stay within budget is easier said than done, especially if you are managing a large portfolio of projects. If you are involved in planning, design, and construction of capital projects ranging from million-dollar renovations to billions in new construction, you won’t want to miss this 1-hour session on project management best practices, as Mr. Kip Edwards, System VP of Design and Construction at Banner Health, will delve into specific practices of effective project schedule and cost management.

The session will help participants gain a deeper understanding of how to effectively develop and manage the owner’s schedule, as well as how to efficiently manage and forecast capital project costs to avoid unpleasant surprises at the end of the project. Key takeaways include:

Project Cost Forecast

1. What is a project cost forecast (what it’s not),
2. What variables are key to maintaining an updated, accurate budget forecast – dealing with change order logs, RFI logs; issues logs, pending changes, IT, FF&E
3. How do you create and maintain a comprehensive project cost forecast – total project budget and forecast sheet
4. Tracking detail line items
5. Tools for efficient and effective project forecasts

Owner Project Schedule

1. What is it, and how do I manage it?
2. What to schedule – overall milestone schedule
3. Emphasis on owner management – not dealing with all entities o Schedule maintenance best practices – what are the major tasks to focus on?
4. Enabling schedule ‘visibility’

About the Speaker Kip Edwards, System Vice President, Design and Construction with Banner Health, has over 29 years of experience in the planning, design, construction, management, and operation/maintenance of healthcare facilities, with direct responsibility for over 17 million SF of new construction and renovations, totaling $7 billion in project expenditures.

FMI/CMAA Ninth Annual Survey of Owners

For those of you who have not seen this year's report, please feel free to download from the following http://www.fminet.com/market-sectors/owners which Mr. Mark Bridgers, co-author of the study, was kind enough to share.

You can see Mark's presentation at next month's CURT Conference in Palm Springs, CA.

Knowledge Sharing and Knowledge Management

I recently received this great article from AECBytes - A Case for Knowledge Management in the A/E Industry - which does a great job of articulating what knowledge management is (and is not), along with the many benefits.

I especially liked the way she phrases the "Elements of Knowledge Management -
The key elements of KM are to identify, connect, share, promote, capture, standardize, and measure" which project management software does a great job at enabling, specifically the 'connect-share-promote-capture-standardize, and measure'.

Please feel free to register for this webinar on e-Builder's Knowledge Management Capabilities
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/989454110

I'd appreciate any similar articles you'd care to share - please email them directly to me - jantevy@e-builder.net

Habitat For Humanity

A few weeks ago I was asked by my wife Melanie to join her in a great cause to help out Habitat for Humanity. The firm she works for, Stiles Construction, has been a sponsor for many years in the county we live in.

Although it was a rainy day we were able to help nail in furring strips for 2 homes. Having grown up on the jobsite with my Uncle Joe I felt right at home with hammer in hand. Melanie would tell you the same thing as her dad is a general contractor in Rochester, NY.

All in all it was very fulfilling and I enjoyed volunteering my time.