Hermanson Automates and Connects Fabrication Process with Autodesk Build

Hermanson Company (Hermanson) is a full-service MEP construction, engineering, and service company delivering projects across the Pacific Northwest. Longtime users of BIM 360 and PlanGrid, Hermanson migrated to Autodesk Build within Autodesk Construction Cloud™ to centralize project data and standardize project management workflows. By further automating the fabrication process and connecting its designers, engineers, fabricators, and contractors across the project lifecycle, Hermanson increased transparency across teams, reducing waste and experiencing time and cost savings.
 

Unifying Teams and Centralizing Project Data

Hermanson specializes in designing, fabricating, and installing mechanical systems — HVAC sheet metal, pipefitting, and plumbing — for projects ranging from large, complex high-rise office and residential towers, to hospital and life sciences facilities. As a company, Hermanson takes a holistic approach to technology adoption, integrating multiple solutions into its technology stack to provide the best service to its customers. 

Teams were toggling between multiple solutions, leading to information loss and miscommunication. When it came time to adopt a new construction management solution, Hermanson went through a comprehensive evaluation process. The goal was to consolidate its software solutions and unify teams in one environment to connect the data flow from design through handover. 

Hermanson’s teams used PlanGrid in the field and BIM 360 in the shop to connect models with STRATUS, its fabrication software. And after evaluating Procore and Box, Hermanson chose to take advantage of the expanded capabilities in Autodesk Build. The integration with STRATUS was the deciding factor in adopting Autodesk Build.

“We support multidisciplinary teams that include designers, engineers, fabricators, and contractors,” says Cordova. “When evaluating solutions, we needed something customizable that integrated with the solutions our teams use for design and fabrication. And that’s what led us to widely adopt Autodesk Build.”
 

“Being cloud-based is no longer an edge in our industry; it is a requirement. And having one central location for our teams to communicate across a project is integral to our success.”

Matthew Cordova
Director of Construction Technologies

Connecting Fabrication and Field Workflows with One Solution

Hermanson took a strategic approach to standardize its teams on Autodesk Build. The first phase was consolidating all project documentation in one environment and integrating STRATUS with Autodesk Build.

For parity between the solutions, Autodesk and STRATUS partnered to connect the software to ensure that updates made by the detailers in Revit appeared instantaneously in STRATUS for assembly via Autodesk Build. Any disconnection between the two solutions could lead to disruption between the shop and field, causing information loss and the risk of teams working off an outdated model, negatively impacting profitability.

 

“STRATUS is how we access the information for fabrication in our shop for direct assembly from live models instead of viewing a PDF. Any time a detailer makes changes, updates are pushed instantaneously to the shop floor to ensure assets are built right the first time. If that connection didn’t work as intended, it would have led to wasted time and money lost.”

Matthew Cordova
Director of Construction Technologies

Driving Consistency and Streamlining Reporting Saves Time

With Autodesk Build, Hermanson can streamline its fabrication process, increasing accuracy and minimizing mistakes as models are updated in real-time. And when you are working with multidisciplinary trades — electricians, plumbers, or sheet metal workers — having access to real-time information such as RFIs, submittals, and issues keeps projects moving.

“We want the field to have access to everything at their fingertips,” says Cordova. “Autodesk Build is easy to use, and it is field focused, allowing our teams to find information quickly and easily. By giving teams assurance in how information is documented, they can work more confidently and consistently across projects.”

And with access to models in the field, teams can come to a resolution around issues or questions around installations much faster. Previously, all RFIs were documented via email, which led to questions being unanswered or lost in someone’s inbox.

“With all RFIs consistently captured in Autodesk Build, we can drive unison in how information is documented and shared,” says Cordova. “This helps us avoid RFIs going unanswered, which can lead to mistakes that end up costing us thousands of dollars.”

Autodesk Build is also helping Hermanson improve reporting with standardized checklists. Hermanson’s teams can complete daily reports onsite with mobile access in the field, linking photos and tagging the respective stakeholder. This new process saves time and ensures accuracy in how information is reported across the project.

 

“We are continuing to further align and partner with Autodesk because of the support that we receive from the team. And while Autodesk has a vision on how tools should work, we are able to tailor the process of RFIs and submittals or create custom fields in reporting to support our company’s needs, which is critical to our growth and development.”

Matthew Cordova
Director of Construction Technologies