Aligning BIM and Lean Methodologies within the Capital Works Management Framework in Ireland

In 2007, following continued dissatisfaction with the lack of cost certainty on publicly funded projects, the Irish government introduced the Capital Works Management Framework (CWMF). This framework had stated strategic objectives of: (1) achieving greater cost certainty at contract award stage; (2) better value for money at all stages during project delivery; and,(3) more efficient end-user delivery. The framework, in particular, sought to rebalance risk so that there was an optimal transfer of risk to the contracting authority and the contractor through the implementation of fixed price contracts. Coinciding with the introduction of the CWMF, there was significant debate around the introduction of Building Information Modelling (BIM) internationally, in assisting with the delivery of greater efficiency and, cost certainty of Public Works Contacts (PWCs). In this paper, the authors' aim was to investigate how best to align the virtues of BIM methodologies with the stated aims of the CWMF. In particular, this paper will focus on the experiences of PWC teams working on two recent pilot projects where lean and BIM technologies were deployed.