Field Observation-How to Track in OPMIS

 The following is a good example of how A/E Field Observations that include deficiencies can be tracked by the OPMIS.  In this case, the structural engineer uploaded their report to the OPMIS QC Folder and then attached it to a Project Issue form to track resolution of the deficiencies.  If the Field Observations do not have any deficiencies that require any action to be taken, they will upload to the folder and send directly to a preselected group of individuals that would like to receive Field Observations.  I am planning to add this to our OPMIS Manual as standard procedure for future projects.  I am also planning to share our updated OPMIS Manual via this blog by the end of Novemeber.

 Owner's Proactive BIM Approach

Last week,Sam Neider and I presented at the e-Builder conference on how important it is for the Owners to be proactive in the BIM process to maximize the BIM benefits on their projects.  The following are the top three points of the presentation.

1. Oner must take the lead in the BIM process if he or she wants to maximize the benefits of BIM during construction and facilities management.
2. BIM Execution Plan is critical to organizing the BIM process early during the design process.
3. Owner should require their PMIS to be used for updating and sharing the models is developed by the A/E and contractor.. 

e-Builder did a fantastic job with the conference and they continue to improve the Owner's PMIS by pushing for new enhancements that help the Owners with managing their construction projects.  The link to the folder is provided below if you would like a copy of the presentation.

BIM Presentation at e-Builder Conference 2011

OPMIS Examples at UTSW & Other Documents

I have reorganized the OPMIS reference files and added a couple of more UTSW OPMIS examples which include:

• OPMIS Forms
• OPMIS project requirements specifications
• OPMIS Publication
• Use of OPMIS for BIM files presentation
• OPMIS at UTSW presentation
• and a couple of more documents.

To see the documents, please click on the link below.

Owner's PMIS Reference Library 

My goal is to use this public folder to share UTSW's PMIS examples and hope that other Owners will e-mail me their examples so that I can post in the folder and share with others via the blog.    To send me your examples or best practices to share with other Owners, please e-mail them to the following e-mail address.  Being able to share with each other our best practices and examples should benefit all of us.  

Owners_PMIS_Examples@docs.e-builder.net

Charles Thomsen-Most Important Aspect of a Good PMIS

"The most important aspect of a good PMIS is that it improves people. It makes better managers. There's so much going on in a design and construction program that someone can always find examples of events to win political arguments or support individual bias rather than search for truth. But a PMIS tells true stories and reports facts agains goals. The grade cards are objective. The report is a window into project experience. The team gets smarter."

Charles Thomsen FAIA FCMAA

Program Management 2.0: Concepts and Strategies for Managing Capital Building Programs-Revised

OPMIS Blog Library

The following link provides access to the OPMIS Blog Library which includes two COAA presentation on how UTSW CIP is using our PMIS for BIM and managing projects.  I will use this link to continue to upload related documents and examples that other Owner's CIP departments may find useful.  I also included this link on the right under list of links for easy access.  I will continue to add documents in the future that I believe could be helpful to other Owner's CIP departments.

OCIP-PMIS Blog Reference Library

Welcome to Owner's PMIS Blog

As per the statement above, I am trying to reach out to my peers that oversee CIP for their institutions or company through the use of this blog.  In the past three years, we implemented a PMIS (e-Builder) at UTSW which we host and mandate to be used on all our capital projects.  The PMIS has made a huge difference in our ability to track all the issues, centralize all the information, reduce risk and improve collaboration.  I am hoping this blog can be used as a means for sharing how we are using our PMIS to manage our projects and  learn from each other.  Also, I hope we can make Owner's PMIS a standard practice in with all Owners that oversee construction projects. 

One of the challenges/frustration I had when we implemented our own PMIS, is not being able to reach out to other owners that have already implemented their own PMIS for guidance and felt like I was starting from scratch.  I would like my peers not to feel the same frustration and hopefully we can collaborate and learn from each other as our ability to manage projects improves with the ongoing improvements with our use of PMIS.  In the next couple of days as I learn how to use all the blog features, I will upload documents and share this blog with a network of CIP department who I know.  I hope to connect with all the current e-Builder users and anyone that is looking to pursue their own PMIS.  Not sure how to get it done yet since I am new at blogging but would hope we can share examples and share improvements that we have made to the PMIS that could help everyone improve their own PMIS.