How can the construction industry promote DX? Introducing seminars, case studies, and benefits of promotion!

I think that some people want to know the benefits and points of DX in the construction industry because they want to steadily promote DX in the construction industry.

The construction industry is facing a serious labor shortage, and we must improve operational efficiency by promoting DX. Therefore, DX is being promoted in the construction industry.

In this article, we will explain the benefits and points from the current situation of DX promotion in the construction industry, and also introduce case studies and seminars.

What are the benefits of promoting DX in the construction industry?

There are three benefits to promoting DX in the construction industry.

1. Improve operational efficiency
2. performance improvement
3. competitive advantage

I will explain each.

Improve operational efficiency

The current construction industry is facing a labor shortage. The number of workers in the construction industry has been on a downward trend since peaking at 6.85 million in 1997, reaching 4.92 million in 2020.

The cause of the labor shortage is the fact that it is difficult to attract new personnel due to concerns about long working hours, and the need for personnel despite the fact that the work is analog and there is a shortage of personnel.

Looking at the total annual actual working hours of regular workers in 2014, all industries had 1,746 hours, the manufacturing industry had 1,961 hours, and the construction industry had 2,066 hours. I understand.

As you can see, the construction industry has long working hours. However, the promotion of DX makes operations more efficient and shortens the time, leading to the elimination of labor shortages.

For example, if work that used to exchange construction details and information on paper is done electronically, work efficiency will be greatly improved. In this way, DX in the construction industry is expected to improve operational efficiency.

performance improvement

The construction industry is known for long hours and low wages. As a result, the youth turnover rate and job turnover rate are extremely high.

However, promoting DX in the construction industry will lead to improved performance and improve the current construction industry.

As mentioned above, the promotion of DX in the construction industry will lead to a reduction in working hours. This allows you to work more efficiently and save labor costs.

And the extra labor costs can be used for other tasks. This is expected to improve performance.

competitive advantage

Currently, about 10% of the construction industry is working on DX. From here, you can see that most companies have not adopted DX.

Companies that do not incorporate DX may be eliminated from the 2025 cliff. The 2025 cliff is a term that refers to the expected delay in international competition and the stagnation of the Japanese economy if the existing system, which has become complicated, outdated, and has become a black box, remains.

Under such circumstances, companies that are one step ahead of DX will be able to differentiate themselves from other companies and will be recognized at a glance.

With the 2025 cliff approaching, more and more companies will adopt DX. The key to survival is how quickly you can advance DX.

Providing new services that can be provided in the construction industry by promoting DX

The aging workforce is a serious problem. The construction industry is in a difficult situation due to the aging of craftsmen and the declining number of young people.

However, the construction industry must grow in search of better services. Below are examples of Toda Corporation’s hospitals and public infrastructure that made this possible.

Toda Corporation’s hospitals can acquire data such as location information and patient status through hospital facilities.

Along with data-based value proposals (facility planning, etc.), we have created a new patient experience and realized the services expected of future hospitals.

In addition, public infrastructure by Toda Corporation can connect data on public infrastructure with local governments, local residents, and local construction companies.

This has made it possible to retain real-time data, improve the efficiency of maintenance work, and provide high-quality administrative services.

How to further promote DX in the construction industry

Due to the corona disaster from 2020, Japan is now required to change. The coronavirus has had a tremendous impact on business.

The construction industry needs to respond flexibly in times of dramatic economic change. From here, we will take up how to promote DX, which has not yet penetrated in the construction industry.

Actual state of i-Construction advocated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

Regarding the promotion of DX in the construction industry, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has clarified a clear initiative called i-Construction.

i-Construction is an initiative that aims to improve productivity at construction sites by 20% by 2025 by utilizing ICT and 3D data in all construction production processes.

“Information and Communication Technology” means “information and communication technology”. Let’s understand the transmission of information through the Internet.

DX promotion method

First of all, let’s clarify the current issues. If labor shortage is a corporate issue, look for areas where labor is lacking and areas that can be supplemented by DX.

If the succession of know-how is a corporate issue, look for what kind of know-how you want to pass on and what IT tools you want to use to pass on the know-how.

Once you have identified the current issues, let’s plan the budget and personnel for DX promotion next. Recruiting external personnel is also a means.

Tools that can be used for DX in the construction industry

From here, there are five types of tools that can be used for DX in the construction industry.

1. PM
2. Cost management
3. matching
4. Process control
5. Document creation and management

1.PM

It is a system that can efficiently manage schedules and check progress when managing projects.

Since it is possible to visualize and grasp the people involved in the project and the tasks of each person, it is possible to identify problems in the progress and take measures.

2. Cost control

Costs such as construction raw materials, manufacturing costs, and project labor costs can be centrally managed.

In addition, extra costs can be suppressed because it becomes easy to understand where the budget is spent.

3. Matching

It is a service that connects companies with people and craftsmen who want to work in the construction industry.

4. Process control

This system manages the processes involved in construction activities. Recently, services that can manage photos have become mainstream.

5. Document creation and management

This system creates and manages the blueprints and plans necessary for construction. Sharing is easy when managed by a system instead of paper.

DX promotion issues and points

In the construction industry, there are many small and medium-sized companies, and in such companies, there is still a lot of analog work by telephone and paper, and the current situation is that the work is not efficient. Therefore, the introduction of IT tools is not easy.

If your budget is limited, introduce an IT tool that offers plans that vary in price depending on the number of people.

Also, in the construction industry, there is a problem of know-how inheritance. Especially in the construction industry, where the birthrate is declining and the population is aging, the challenge is whether the business can be maintained and grown without allocating more personnel.

Therefore, by using BIM/CIM, it is possible to understand what kind of information the expert engineer judged and how.

Even if young people don’t fully understand the project at that time, or if they weren’t directly involved in the project and didn’t see it directly, they can refer to the model later and learn the technology.

In addition, by utilizing AI technology, etc., the quality of work can be maintained at a high level.

Three examples of DX promotion in the construction industry

From here, we will introduce examples of DX promotion in the construction industry. The following three cases are introduced here.

1. Nihon Sekkei | Smooth communication with the introduction of BIM
2. Taisei Rotec Co., Ltd. |
3. NIPPO Co.,Ltd.

I will explain each.

(1) Nihon Sekkei | Smooth communication with the introduction of BIM

Nihon Sekkei, one of Japan’s leading design offices, uses 3D from the initial stage, from basic planning to detailed design, conducts verification to optimize the process, integrates information with BIM, and implements “work style reform.” We are looking at whether we can realize

While using BIM 360, a cloud design management tool, we realized things that were not possible with conventional 3D CAD, such as exchanging BIM data in 3D space with remote workers at the same time.

It is said that such smooth communication cannot be understood unless you experience it.

② Taisei Rotec Co., Ltd. |

Taisei Rotec Co., Ltd. has developed the “Asplanet System”, which enables the ordering and receiving of asphalt mixture materials in the cloud, in order to reduce the burden associated with ordering and receiving orders for asphalt mixture materials.

As a result of this development, work that had been a heavy burden up until now has been improved, and we have succeeded in saving labor on both the order receiving side and the ordering side.

The reason for collaborating with KDDI was that they understood the special operations of a compound factory and received a proposal for a system. The digital technology introduced is “KDDI Cloud Platform Service”.

The Asplanet system can also be used to place orders through a mobile app, which contributes to labor savings for road construction companies.

③ NIPPO Co., Ltd. | A system that allows you to consult with your boss at any time and has a training effect

The problem for NIPPO Co., Ltd. is that the pavement construction sites are far from the branch office and scattered, so it took time to confirm safety, quality control, and troubleshoot the site.

It was necessary to create a system in which young engineers in charge of on-site construction management could consult with superiors at branch offices at any time.

The digital technologies introduced are the cloud-based remote work system “VistaFinder Mx” and “LTE-compatible PCs and tablets.”

VistaFinder Mx is a remote work support system that broadcasts captured images live in high quality. VistaFinder Mx enables on-site verification and support even at remote headquarters or branch offices. This not only ensures the safety and quality control of painting work, but also has the effect of training young engineers.

3 online seminars to learn about DX

In promoting DX, we need personnel who are familiar with DX. Attending a webinar is also recommended when configuring internally.

This time, we will introduce three seminars.

1. DX of paper work in the construction industry ~ Top 5 issues of digitalization that can be solved now ~
2. “Active BIM/CIM and DX using BIM 360 Docs to change the way young people live!”
3. Transformation of Architectural Design Work -Complying with the New Normal and Beating Global Rivals-

I will explain each.

① DX of paper work in the construction industry ~ Top 5 digitalization issues that can be solved now ~

In a situation where the New Normal is required, new work style reforms have been fully implemented in various industries and business categories. This time, we conducted a questionnaire survey on the paper work issues that people engaged in the construction industry actually have.

In this seminar, specific measures are introduced on “how to solve the problem with DX”.

(This is an on-demand version of the seminar live-streamed on January 19, 2021)

(2) “Reforming young people’s way of life with active BIM/CIM and DX using BIM 360 Docs!”

At Asahi Consultants Co., Ltd., a construction consultant headquartered in Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture, we are improving productivity with BIM/CIM, which specializes in management, and developing next-generation human resources by young engineers themselves.

BIM/CIM introduces 3D models from the planning, survey, and design stages, and also links 3D models in construction and maintenance management, facilitating information sharing among stakeholders throughout the entire project,・It is a workflow for the purpose of improving the efficiency and sophistication of the management system.

It is characterized by young employees making full use of BIM/CIM software and using BIM360 Docs to involve managers and cooperating companies while conducting BIM/CIM company-wide.

In this seminar, Mr. Miyauchi of Asahi Consultant Co., Ltd. serves as a lecturer, introducing the active BIM/CIM know-how that “Asahi Consultant” is working on and the creation of a mechanism for corporate DX conversion using BIM360 Docs. increase.

(3) Transformation of architectural design work ~ Beating global rivals in response to the New Normal ~

Even in the field of design design, where digitization has not progressed due to the limitations of the cloud, we can collaborate without being restricted by location or environment, shorten work hours, and use free time to improve the quality of deliverables. There is an urgent need to establish a new normal for architectural visualization.

The digitization of tools in the creative field, such as various devices, the cloud, and the use of AR / VR , is progressing, and the transformation of designer work based on this (DX) is making great progress.

In this online seminar, we will explain the DX of architectural design work from a multifaceted perspective, including the evolution of tools and examples of efforts to respond to the new era.

summary

This time, we introduced the merits and problems of promoting DX in the construction industry, and introduced case studies and seminars.

The construction industry is facing the problem of labor shortage, which is getting worse year by year. If you introduce machines and services that replace people by promoting DX, the labor shortage will be resolved.