Concrete Products covers the issues that attract producers of ready mixed and manufactured concrete focusing on equipment and material technology, market development and management topics.
Issue link: http://concrete.epubxp.com/i/82325
FEATURE FINFROCK StructureWorks + PieceTracker StructureWorks, LLC programmers developed the PieceTracker software program to yield real time information about a precast building member, from its creation in the building design, to fabrication, storage location, shipping status and ultimately field erection. PieceTracker relies upon each precast component having a unique identification number and pro- vides the sequential order in which it will be erected. PieceTracker information, available on network-accessed desktops, laptops, and mobile computing devices, ensures that transportation and erection personnel are shipping and erecting precast/prestressed mem- bers in the most efficient manner. PieceTracker can virtually eliminate precast structure schedule delays and keep management apprised of up to the minute scheduling. It is programmed to provide different users varying levels of production and scheduling detail, disseminating the right information to the right people. Unveiling PieceTracker at the PCI Convention/FIB Congress in May 2010, StructureWorks noted how the program: • Presents accurate, real-time fabrication, delivery and erection information. • Establishes finished inventory storage according to shipping schedule. • Tracks shipments from plant to jobsite. • Generates automatic email alerts to everyone with a "need to know." • Promotes teamwork behind data analysis and problem solving or prevention. • Logs repairs and adjustments. • Puts everyone "on the same page" to optimize communication. • Supports initiatives for performance measurement as well as more effi- cient and responsible methods. The flagship StructureWorks program, into which PieceTracker inte- grates, nets complete three-dimensional models of a building's precast/prestressed concrete components, and automates the process of providing drawings to production and erection crews. Modeling the building in a 3D environment increases the speed of design, and virtu- ally eliminates design errors. Powered by the SolidWorks platform and standardized SQL database, StructureWorks true parametric 3D modeling software allows for changes on-the-fly both from within a project model and/or the related product piece and production drawings. especially as the delivery method took hold in the mid- 1990s. Nearly all company projects are now provided using the design-build project delivery method. The in- tegration of StructureWorks and PieceTracker technol- ogy, along with the new structural and architectural production capability and DualDeck offering, positions Finfrock to be even more competitive in design-build and to capture a principal multi-story building market that has mostly eluded precast/prestressed producers. "Our forte is providing economical solutions and rapid delivery of various types of buildings using a total precast/prestressed concrete structural system," affirms Robert Finfrock. "As a precast/prestressed pro- ducer, our ability to standardize the building compo- nents and economically integrate other building subsystems is unique to the construction industry. The single source of responsibility inherent in our delivery system provides owners a low risk, cost effective, faster method of procuring buildings." BELIEF IN BIM Increased customer requests to precast producers for BIM over the last decade prompted Finfrock to invest in StructureWorks, LLC to develop 3D modeling software to design parking structures, mixed-use buildings, and multi-unit residential projects. The business was founded in 2003 by precast/prestressed concrete experts to meet the industry's 3D modeling software needs. More re- cently, Finfrock took complete ownership in Structure- Works, LLC, bringing research & development, marketing, accounting, human resources, information technology and administration under one roof. Based at Finfrock corporate headquarters, the StructureWorks team has immediate access to precast design, production and erection colleagues both in the offices and plant. Production managers or crew members on the new architectural and DualDeck lines can access Structure- Works-generated models on rugged tablets or other mobile communications devices. "We have been wait- ing for hardware to catch up with technology to afford quick access to large, detailed product drawing files," says Dan Finfrock, executive vice president and chief manufacturing officer. "A decade ago, our staff would not have had the familiarity of working with mobile devices that it does today. The hardware is much im- proved in function and durability, as well." Augmenting StructureWorks efficiencies, "PieceTracker A Finfrock architectural crew member places an imbed in its exact location with the help of laser-guided form preparation, the beam emanating from a ceiling-mounted unit. The laser technology enables precise placement of materials and reinforcing steel, along with pre-pour quality control checks. organizes correct information and relays it to the right person at the time it's needed on the production floor," notes Don Booker, vice president, Research & Develop- ment, who also has sales and support responsibility for the product-management system. "PieceTracker delivers real time information to those who need each product's status and location. With PieceTracker we have gone from being reactive due to time-consuming disruptions to being proactive on decision-making and project planning." Adds Allen Finfrock, "Both StructureWorks and Piece- Tracker have been directly responsible for marked in- creases in productivity. While some improvements have been difficult to measure, we have seen increases in pro- ductivity in others areas by as much as 200 percent." 28 | SEPTEMBER 2012 WWW.CONCRETEPRODUCTS.COM