In recent years, steel structure enterprises have expressed that it is becoming increasingly difficult to make money. The main reason is that the prices of steel structure materials are very transparent, and the homogenization of various steel structure enterprises is becoming more and more serious. Therefore, everyone can only compete at low prices, resulting in meager profits.

If a company wants to survive, cutting corners is not a legitimate means of competition. How can we make money? Actually, optimizing steel structures is a good approach.

1. What is steel structure optimization

Steel structure optimization is the process of redesigning the design drawings provided by the owner based on a predetermined goal. The general goal is to reduce the amount of steel used in the structure and save costs. In addition to optimizing costs, other beneficial effects can also be achieved, such as:

1) Optimize the cross-sectional dimensions and specifications of the structure to enhance the building effect, such as reducing the thickness of the structure;

2) Optimize the installation method of the structure to save construction time;

3) Optimize the cross-sectional form of components to reduce processing costs.

4) Optimize structural design and enhance structural safety.

Can all projects be optimized?

According to the experience of Taida Innovation, most projects can be optimized. This is not to say that the drawings designed by the design institute are not qualified, but that there is no best design, only better. The following reasons have led to room for optimization in most drawings:

1) Structural design is a very complex task, and designers have different levels of expertise. Sometimes, using clever design ideas can save a lot of steel usage.

2) Designers have limited time when working on projects, and within that limited time, a project cannot be done very finely.

3) Designers do not have the motivation to do an optimized design because saving on steel usage is not beneficial to them.

4) There are some patent schemes that can only be used by those who hold the patent rights, and there are relatively few patent schemes from design institutes. For example, we (Taida Innovation) have dozens of patented solutions, and using these patented solutions can save a lot of engineering costs.

So, generally speaking, there is room for optimization in steel structure design drawings.

How to operate steel structure optimization?

Generally speaking, steel structure engineering contracting will adopt a lump sum or unit price lump sum contracting method. Regardless of the type, optimization work can be carried out.

Total price included

For the total price package, the owner does not have the motivation to optimize. In this case, it is necessary to negotiate with the owner and suggest that the owner optimize. The optimization results should be shared between the owner and the contractor (of course, professional optimization units will also share some of the benefits). Owners are always willing to lower the total cost.

Unit price lump sum

For the case of unit price lump sum, optimizing the quantity of work is actually not cost-effective for contractors because the quantity of work is reduced. However, steel structure optimization can still be used for the project, as long as the optimization results are shared with the owner, they will have motivation. Although the reduction in project quantity will lower the total price for the contractor, the total profit will actually be more substantial. Especially when the winning bidder has not yet been determined, informing the owner that cost can be reduced through optimization can greatly increase the probability of winning the bid.

Of course, the above measures can be applied not only to homeowners but also to general contractors.

What is the optimization process for steel structures?

1) After receiving the drawings, the optimization company will make a preliminary judgment and inform the owner of the approximate optimization amount.

2) Both parties sign an optimization contract, with a general optimization fee of about 15% of the project cost saved, and no fees will be charged without optimization quantity.

3) Optimize the company's work and submit optimization reports.

4) Negotiate with the design institute to adjust the construction drawings and produce new ones.

How does optimization affect the construction schedule?

In general, if reasonable coordination is carried out, structural optimization will not affect the construction period. Because the time for issuing the structural optimization plan is usually within two weeks, or even one week, and then communicating with the design institute. If communication goes smoothly, the entire structural optimization work can be completed within two to three weeks. However, if the coordination of the design institute is limited or the level of optimization is limited, it may result in a longer time.

The best time for optimization is when the construction drawings have been completed but not yet reviewed. Otherwise, after optimizing the pending drawings, the drawings need to be resubmitted for review, which is more complicated and will also affect the longer construction period.

What kind of project is suitable for optimization

Generally speaking, the more unconventional the project (such as spatial structure, three-dimensional irregular structure), the larger the optimization space, because the design institute for such projects may lack experience, and the design itself also requires superb design skills.

But this does not mean that simple projects have no room for optimization. Because for non professionals, a project may be very regular and lack skills, while for professionals, there may be different approaches and processing methods, which can still result in considerable optimization work.

7. Summary

The competition in steel structure construction is becoming increasingly fierce, and the profits of construction units are becoming thinner, which is not conducive to the high-quality completion of the project. In order to gain a competitive advantage, design optimization is a powerful means to enhance competitiveness and increase project profits in engineering contracting, EPC, and other situations. Taida Innovation has gone through multiple projects with optimized engineering volumes exceeding 50%, resulting in astonishing cost savings.