Why Use EC Fabrication for AutoCAD MEP
User story #3 - Herring – Glover: HVAC & Mechanical Contractor
Name:
Herring – Glover
Type of firm: HVAC & Mechanical Contractor
Industries served: Industrial, commercial, government, residential
Locations: New York
Primary services: Manufacture and Install HVAC Sheet Metal and Mechanical Piping
Work Performed: Air Conditioning, Heating, Indoor Air Quality, Sheet Metal, Ventilation
User: Frank Harris, Local 28 draftsman
Firm Summary:
Herring and Glover is a 200 person large HVAC and Mechanical Contractor based in New York City. They have been fabricating and installing industrial, commercial, government and residential sheet metal and piping systems for the better part of 40 years. They are well regarded in the city and have helped build some of the most significant projects ever to be constructed in New York City.
Description:
For many years, Herring – Glover has received AutoCAD background drawings from its engineering partners. The HVAC firm would import these drawings directly into EC CAD and redraw their piece of the project in 3D. Once the project was redrawn and signed off, the entire project could be downloaded to be fully manufactured. In addition the firm was able to automatically generate project cost estimation across one section or the entire project and compare it to their original bid. The EC CAD designing process was used to collision check and coordinate with the other trades. It was also used to provide a blue print for installing the systems in the field. The process was efficient and worked well for Herring – Glover.
Six months ago Herring – Glover received notice from one of their primary engineering partners that they were moving totally to AutoCAD MEP and would be looking for partners who were trained on and using that platform. The engineering firm also stated that they intended to make the design models available to their subcontractors. Herring – Glover couldn’t have been happier. Their lead draftsman, Frank Harris, Local 28 in their CAD department had already been to a seminar on AutoCAD MEP and was pleased to tell his managers that the same software packages that they had been using for all of their design and fabrication had been incorporated into a single integrated AutoCAD MEP solution.
Herring – Glover contacted their partner to inform them that they were in an excellent position to work with and accept AutoCAD MEP models and designs.
Upon receipt of the first design from their partner, Herring – Glover recognized how intuitive and seamless a process it would be. With AutoCAD MEP, Herring – Glover was able to take an AutoCAD MEP model, with all of its associated intelligent object model data and append to all of the existing HVAC specific elements related to coordination and approval. The entire department was thrilled to see how seamless and easy it was to take their AutoCAD MEP drawing and download it all of the way in to their Eastcoast fabrication tools.
Herring – Glover now starts each new project with a pre-coordinated AutoCAD MEP design model. Once the AutoCAD MEP model is received, Herring – Glover applies the company’s specifications and shop standards (sheet size, connectors, locks, etc…) to the model automatically. At this point Herring – Glover is ready to generate a formal estimate of work. This one benefit alone saves the company incredible amounts of manual take-off and estimation expense.
Herring – Glover still follows its standard business practices, using EC Fabrication for AutoCAD MEP, as they have been doing for many years. The difference now, however, is that there is little or no re-drawing, vastly reducing human error and saving costly resources and money. The process of fabrication and installation is now more streamlined and efficient as a result of this industry leading design to fabrication solution.
Traditionally and prior to EC Fabrication for AutoCAD MEP, Herring – Glover’s estimating and drafting costs equaled approximately 15-20% of the total project cost. Now, as a result of a shared AutoCAD MEP model Herring – Glover has cut this expense in half. Herring – Glover estimates more accurately, wins more jobs and coordinates on-site fabrication better than ever before.
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