Greater Metroplex Interiors<\/h2>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”#e09900″ divider_position=”center” divider_weight=”5px” _builder_version=”3.22.3″ max_width=”50px” locked=”off”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.22.3″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”15px” text_line_height=”1.8em” custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding_tablet=”|40px||40px||true” custom_padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” locked=”off”]\n
In 2010, the company made a significant investment in panelization and pre-fabrication of walls, confident that this was the future direction of the industry. Since then, GMI has become well-versed in the panelization of both interior and exterior walls, assembling cold-formed metal framing load-bearing walls from its 20,000 square-foot facility.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Challenge<\/h3>\n
Originally, GMI converted architectural drawings to shop drawings manually, drawing every single line, which usually took an hour or more per wall panel. In a typical building of 100 or more different wall panels, this conversion represented a considerable investment of time. With a corporate focus on increasing efficiency, GMI wanted to automate some of the process.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe construction industry is moving towards processes that minimize the amount of onsite work,\u201d said Michael Ward, director of business development for GMI. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to be on front of the curve. The more we can build offsite and erect onsite, the more efficient we can be, and the faster the project can be built.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/h3>\nSolutions<\/h3>\n
One of the panel designers for GMI had worked with a software package at a previous employer that might fit the bill\u2014Vertex BD, sold in the United States by Argos Systems, Inc.<\/p>\n
Vertex BD automates the creation of shop drawings needed for the construction of walls, floors, ceilings and roofs. Framing rules and properties, such as stud spacing, profile sizes, and corner details, can be set in advance, and the software will generate wall panel drawings automatically.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur panel designer knew that with software like this, we would be able to manipulate the panels to better suit how we were going to fabricate them\u2014how we would prefer to build them,\u201d said Ward. \u201cWe can also do quality control more efficiently and accurately.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cVertex BD had the features we were looking for, plus some additional \u2018bells and whistles\u2019 that would be useful to us. But its ability to speed up production was the main selling point,\u201d added Ward.<\/p>\n
The implementation was accomplished quickly; it was a simple process to get the software loaded. Argos offers a three-day training session.<\/p>\n
\u201cArgos is a good company. Their technical guys took our panel designer by the hand and walked him through to where he could get drawings produced. If we have a question, they are very helpful. If they don\u2019t have an answer, they go to work on it. It\u2019s been a good relationship,\u201d explained Ward.\u00a0<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/vertexcad.com\/bd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/01\/Vertex_Customers_GMi.jpg” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”3.22.3″ locked=”off”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/vertexcad.com\/bd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/12\/GMi-1.jpg” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”3.22.3″ locked=”off”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/vertexcad.com\/bd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/12\/GMi-3.jpg” _builder_version=”3.22.3″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.22.3″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.22.3″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.22.3″]\n
Results<\/h3>\n
GMI now uses Vertex BD on 30-40% of its projects. \u201cWe use it for anything with load-bearing rules,\u201d said Ward. \u201cOur panel designer was using AutoCAD 4, doing everything by hand. Before it might take three weeks to do the layout and get all the wall panels drawn up. With Vertex BD we can do the same project in roughly a week\u2019s time. This is definitely saving us money and helping us to meet the client\u2019s project needs.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 3D modeling part is particularly impressive,\u201d added Ward. \u201cWe can enter it in 2D, and it converts to 3D. This helps us identify any conflicts we might not have seen before. By eliminating errors on the front end, we don\u2019t find them on the back end, where it can get costly.\u201d<\/p>\n
GMI uses Vertex BD in one way they didn\u2019t anticipate\u2014to help sales. \u201cI can show prospects the shop drawings\u2014the level of detail we will be able to provide, including a materials list and wall panel elevations with dimensions. They appreciate the level of sophistication and level of quality that we provide,\u201d said Ward.<\/p>\n
GMI continues to work with Argos to customize the software, tailoring it even closer to the company\u2019s specific needs.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.22.3″ background_color=”#f4f4f4″ width=”100%” max_width=”2560px” module_alignment=”center” global_module=”3977″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.22.3″][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/vertexcad.com\/bd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/12\/Vertex-BD-free-trial.png” url=”https:\/\/lic.vertex.fi\/vx\/custom\/vx\/trial\/?reg=Trl” align=”center” _builder_version=”3.22.3″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Related Services” _builder_version=”3.22.3″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.22.3″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.9″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.22.3″ text_font=”||||||||” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Rubik|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”42px” header_2_font_size_phone=”36px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_line_height=”1.2em” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|||” custom_padding=”|||” locked=”off”]\n
Related Stories<\/h2>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_blog fullwidth=”off” posts_number=”3″ include_categories=”10″ show_author=”off” show_date=”off” show_categories=”off” show_pagination=”off” _builder_version=”3.22.3″][\/et_pb_blog][et_pb_button button_url=”\/bd\/case-studies\/” button_text=”View All” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”3.22.3″ custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_bg_color=”rgba(12,113,195,0.75)” button_font=”||||||||”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
“Before it might take three weeks to do the layout and get all the wall panels drawn up. Now we can do the same project in roughly a week\u2019s time.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/vertexcad.com\/bd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/01\/Vertex_Customers_GMi.jpg\")
<\/h2>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/vertexcad.com\/bd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/12\/GMi-1.jpg\")
<\/strong><\/p>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/vertexcad.com\/bd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/12\/GMi-3.jpg\")
<\/p>