We have all probably wondered how large construction projects came together so smoothly. Construction shop drawings are a major contributing factor. These drawings act as a bridge connecting the design concepts to the building process. Simply, we can say they are tracks that navigate to a successful project. Check out this blog to learn about construction shop drawings, why they are important, and how the approval process works in construction management software.
What are construction shop drawings?
Construction shop drawings are planned blueprints created by contractors and fabricators to illustrate the construction and assembly process of a project accurately.
Why are construction shop drawings prominent?
- Clarity and accuracy: Shop drawings go beyond standard design plans to include exact measurements, materials, and fabrication methods that ensure every detail is clear and accurate.
- Coordination: They enable teams to coordinate without conflicts, eliminating costly problems on-site.
- Quality Control: The shop drawings provide a benchmark for the project, ensuring that the final product delivers the originally intended design.
- Compliance: Shop drawings avoid legal or safety issues that may arise during construction and later in compliance with the building codes and standards.
How does the approval process for construction shop drawings work?
To get construction drawings approved smoothly, follow these steps:
Step 1: Shop drawings of a project are drawn by the contractor or fabricator based on its specifications and design plan.
Step 2: The contractor examines them to see if they can be used to address specific needs or practical applications required by the project.
Step 3: The sketches are submitted to the architect and engineer for their review to ensure such drawings are not contrary to the design.
Step 4: The architect or engineer studies the drawings and gives his comments on them to perform all changes that need to be implemented.
Step 5: The contractors refer to the drawings as needed and submit them for final approval.
Step 6: On approval, the construction drawings are finally submitted to the contractor for implementation on-site.
How to manage shop drawings easier?
There are a few ways to do this:
1. Centralized drawing hub:
Keeping all drawings in one central location streamlines access and updates and ensures all team members can quickly find the latest versions without delays. Inncircles allows you to manage all your drawings from one platform in its software, giving your team instant access to the latest versions and revisions.
2. Annotations and markup tools:
Adding comments and annotations directly on drawings clarifies feedback and makes updates and feedback easy to implement with clear, direct communication. InnPMIS allows a contractor to add comments, descriptions, and markups directly to drawings, keeping feedback and updates easy to implement.
3. Character recognition:
Optical Character Recognition (OCR) is a text extracted from a drawing that helps you quickly search, organize, and retrieve critical information. OCR is a feature of InnPMIS that automatically extracts text from construction drawings, making it easy to search, sort, and retrieve information quickly.
4. Automated approval workflows:
Review and approve your drawings on time to avoid bottlenecks and keep projects on track. InnPMIS offers automated approval workflows to help you do this. With Inncircles, you can set up workflows for reviewing and approving drawings, keeping your project on track.
By leveraging these features provided by Inncircles, you can manage the construction shop drawings, ensuring a clear picture of their importance and approval.
Ready to improve the drawing process with Inncircles? Click below to book a demo. Discover more about our innovative solutions, and start your journey toward seamless construction management today!