How do you track design progress in your models? Do you use rules of credit/earning rules? If so what are they for the specific deliverables?

------------------------------
Richard Plumery EVP
Operations Executive, SVP
AECOM
Castle Rock CO
(720) 840-3902
------------------------------

Rich, yes, often design progress is measured using rules of credit, especially when integrated with an EVM system.  Of course, this methodology isn't fool proof, especially in the early stages of design, because drawing counts can go up and down during the design phase.  Hopefully, the drawing count variations during project design execution won't be too extreme so what progress is measured doesn't become considered as unreliable or unrealistic by the owner during project execution.  From my experience, working on large design projects, the rules of credit can vary from project team to project team, contract to contract, and A/E to A/E.  Other factors can play a big part in determining those rules of credit, including schedule, design sequencing, project delivery methodology, relationship with the owner, etc.  So, there really isn't a chiseled in stone set of rules.

I hope this helps.

------------------------------
Stephen Warhoe CCP CFCC Hon. Life
SP Warhoe LLC
Maple Valley WA
1 (206) 451-4320
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-13-2022 14:44
From: Richard Plumery
Subject: Design model progressing methods

How do you track design progress in your models? Do you use rules of credit/earning rules? If so what are they for the specific deliverables?

------------------------------
Richard Plumery EVP
Operations Executive, SVP
AECOM
Castle Rock CO
(720) 840-3902
------------------------------

To add to Steve's comments, some organizations elect to assign weight to the major deliverables only (i.e. predefined documents at the end of each stage, which could still be in the thousands on major projects), to work around the nuance of the ever changing number of documents and drawings (as long as it is for the same scope of work). The weightage system is usually based on the estimated level of effort for these documents and drawings in terms of hours. In more simplistic approaches, I have seen a count of documents being used (i.e. each identified major document has a weight of 1.0).

Reporting the design progress on each one of those identified deliverables for each one of the project disciplines  (i.e. Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Instrumentation) can be rolled up to report the design progress of the overall project.

I almost did this exclusively on a major transit project for a couple of years in the past and enjoyed it tremendously. Design progress measurement and control is very dynamic!

------------------------------
Ghaith Al-Hiyari PMP CCP
Associate Director
Turner & Townsend
Toronto ON
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-14-2022 12:03
From: Stephen Warhoe
Subject: Design model progressing methods

Rich, yes, often design progress is measured using rules of credit, especially when integrated with an EVM system.  Of course, this methodology isn't fool proof, especially in the early stages of design, because drawing counts can go up and down during the design phase.  Hopefully, the drawing count variations during project design execution won't be too extreme so what progress is measured doesn't become considered as unreliable or unrealistic by the owner during project execution.  From my experience, working on large design projects, the rules of credit can vary from project team to project team, contract to contract, and A/E to A/E.  Other factors can play a big part in determining those rules of credit, including schedule, design sequencing, project delivery methodology, relationship with the owner, etc.  So, there really isn't a chiseled in stone set of rules.

I hope this helps.

------------------------------
Stephen Warhoe CCP CFCC Hon. Life
SP Warhoe LLC
Maple Valley WA
1 (206) 451-4320

Original Message:
Sent: 09-13-2022 14:44
From: Richard Plumery
Subject: Design model progressing methods

How do you track design progress in your models? Do you use rules of credit/earning rules? If so what are they for the specific deliverables?

------------------------------
Richard Plumery EVP
Operations Executive, SVP
AECOM
Castle Rock CO
(720) 840-3902
------------------------------

If 'design model' is a BIM model, the BIM Forum Level of Development (LOD) Specification provides a nice framework for assessment. The specification is currently specific to buildings. The latest December 2021 version is available on line.

Abhi

------------------------------
Abhimanyu Basu
President
Basu Technology Inc
Cherry Hill NJ
1 (8562161236
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-14-2022 17:11
From: Ghaith Al-Hiyari
Subject: Design model progressing methods

To add to Steve's comments, some organizations elect to assign weight to the major deliverables only (i.e. predefined documents at the end of each stage, which could still be in the thousands on major projects), to work around the nuance of the ever changing number of documents and drawings (as long as it is for the same scope of work). The weightage system is usually based on the estimated level of effort for these documents and drawings in terms of hours. In more simplistic approaches, I have seen a count of documents being used (i.e. each identified major document has a weight of 1.0).

Reporting the design progress on each one of those identified deliverables for each one of the project disciplines  (i.e. Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Instrumentation) can be rolled up to report the design progress of the overall project.

I almost did this exclusively on a major transit project for a couple of years in the past and enjoyed it tremendously. Design progress measurement and control is very dynamic!

------------------------------
Ghaith Al-Hiyari PMP CCP
Associate Director
Turner & Townsend
Toronto ON

Original Message:
Sent: 09-14-2022 12:03
From: Stephen Warhoe
Subject: Design model progressing methods

Rich, yes, often design progress is measured using rules of credit, especially when integrated with an EVM system.  Of course, this methodology isn't fool proof, especially in the early stages of design, because drawing counts can go up and down during the design phase.  Hopefully, the drawing count variations during project design execution won't be too extreme so what progress is measured doesn't become considered as unreliable or unrealistic by the owner during project execution.  From my experience, working on large design projects, the rules of credit can vary from project team to project team, contract to contract, and A/E to A/E.  Other factors can play a big part in determining those rules of credit, including schedule, design sequencing, project delivery methodology, relationship with the owner, etc.  So, there really isn't a chiseled in stone set of rules.

I hope this helps.

------------------------------
Stephen Warhoe CCP CFCC Hon. Life
SP Warhoe LLC
Maple Valley WA
1 (206) 451-4320

Original Message:
Sent: 09-13-2022 14:44
From: Richard Plumery
Subject: Design model progressing methods

How do you track design progress in your models? Do you use rules of credit/earning rules? If so what are they for the specific deliverables?

------------------------------
Richard Plumery EVP
Operations Executive, SVP
AECOM
Castle Rock CO
(720) 840-3902
------------------------------

Richard:

My preference is to get a count of hours and total costs for each discipline, subtotaled at each stage-gate milestone deliverable (concept design, detailed design, construction docs).  Then we can use EVMS to monitor - but we have to get both hours and costs so we can overcome the consumed hours inaccuracy.  I've found that to work well, but it is very difficult to get the design PM to provide that level of detail.

My fallback position is to do something similar using a drawing sheet count for each discipline.  I've found that the A/E seems to use an estimated sheet count when they estimate their own hours, so that's a common unit.  Then the chase is to get them to define the planned number of sheets in each discipline at the phase-gate milestones.  When I can get that information, it also seems to track well with profitable performance.  Sheet counts might vary slightly but I haven't found them to be too far off from the estimate.

Once in a while, I've had to provide durations per discipline to get submit milestone deliverables.  When I have to do this, I use the AACE Estimate Input Checklist and Maturity Matrix from the Cost Estimate Classification System RP for the relevant industry.

------------------------------
Christopher (Chris) "Chris" Carson CEP DRMP PSP FAACE
Director of Program & Project Controls, Vice President
ARCADIS, U.S., Inc.
Virginia Beach VA
(757) 342-5524 Chris.Carson@Arcadis.com
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-14-2022 12:03
From: Stephen Warhoe
Subject: Design model progressing methods

Rich, yes, often design progress is measured using rules of credit, especially when integrated with an EVM system.  Of course, this methodology isn't fool proof, especially in the early stages of design, because drawing counts can go up and down during the design phase.  Hopefully, the drawing count variations during project design execution won't be too extreme so what progress is measured doesn't become considered as unreliable or unrealistic by the owner during project execution.  From my experience, working on large design projects, the rules of credit can vary from project team to project team, contract to contract, and A/E to A/E.  Other factors can play a big part in determining those rules of credit, including schedule, design sequencing, project delivery methodology, relationship with the owner, etc.  So, there really isn't a chiseled in stone set of rules.

I hope this helps.

------------------------------
Stephen Warhoe CCP CFCC Hon. Life
SP Warhoe LLC
Maple Valley WA
1 (206) 451-4320

Original Message:
Sent: 09-13-2022 14:44
From: Richard Plumery
Subject: Design model progressing methods

How do you track design progress in your models? Do you use rules of credit/earning rules? If so what are they for the specific deliverables?

------------------------------
Richard Plumery EVP
Operations Executive, SVP
AECOM
Castle Rock CO
(720) 840-3902
------------------------------