"We wished we had it sooner!". MIIDEL Clarifies Changes Amazingly.

The Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd. is a pioneer in industrialized construction and has achieved various innovations in the housing and construction industry. These include residential projects, retail stores, and environmental energy businesses while evolving advanced technologies. This time, we visited a team in charge of Construction Cost Estimation at a large facility development site handled by a joint venture within the group to hear from them.

*Construction Cost Estimating： The process of comprehensively calculating the total costs involved in construction work, which includes labor, material, etc., based on design plans and specifications.

MIIDEL（M）： We heard that Ms. Tomoi has been using MIIDEL the most within the team. How did you first come across MIIDEL?

Ms. Tomoi： I was looking for such a tool to compare drawings in a project I am in charge of and it was recommended to me by someone from a group company that was using it. When I tried comparing some of the drawings on hand, I was amazed by how clearly the changes were displayed; blue for deletions, red for additions, and unchanged in gray. I thought "This is revolutionary!" and it helped me discover small details I hadn't noticed before. I felt much more certain and relaxed after checking the drawings which used to leave me with lingering concerns. I once missed a numerical change that made me wish I had noticed it sooner.

M： Even as professionals, it is difficult to spot all the changes isn't it?

Mr. Mikuni： We receive the processed drawings and use them to perform the necessary calculations (such as counting materials and estimating costs) as the next step of the process. However, the process of marking and handing over this drawing between each step differs from site to site or office to office. Additionally,  the person in charge of the design can also be from within the company or from external organizations, so the conditions vary. Confirming details like status updates or verifying changes with the previous teams can be difficult, so it was very important for us to streamline this process as much as possible.

　　Ms. Tomoi (Right) who uses MIIDEL the most and Mr. Mikuni (Left), the department head.

M： With issues like the '2024 problem'*, it seems like more focus has been placed on how DX (Digital Transformation) will be implemented in the construction industry.

Tomoi： In each project, the drawings undergo at least 5 rounds of review and revisions, and with 400 sheets this time around, it is quite a lot. Even if something critical suddenly comes up, we can't afford any delays since the deadlines were already set in the contract. That's why I found MIIDEL very appealing, I even considered purchasing it for myself. 

M： I see, it's clear how big of a workload is in Construction Cost Estimation.

Mikuni：From the perspective of a supervisor, my goal is to reduce both physical and mental stress whilst also increasing workers' engagement. Reviewing and finding differences between documents is a common yet repetitive task. Being able to automate it would free up the workers' time, improve job satisfaction, and help with advancing their careers. This also lets them focus on more important things. That's why, for me, MIIDEL is a tool that will make everything easier moving forward.
Tomoi： Actually, I also came up with new ways of using it, like overlapping floor plans of different levels to see if it would be possible to reduce cost any further. As part of the Cost Estimation team, we don't often use CAD so being able to do this 3-dimensional verification with PDFs is great.

M： It seems like you are also finding new ways to use it effectively. For Cost Estimation work, is construction site experience necessary?

Tomoi： I transferred here from a different housing manufacturer. Since the materials used in residential and general construction are different, I would sometimes visit the sites to learn how things are done. As a cost estimator, I need to take the initiative to do so since we don't have many opportunities to visit the sites.

　　Verifying a project on-site

M： Indeed, with so many stakeholders and stages, imagination seems important to be able to envision what the next phase will be.

Mikuni： In Cost Estimating, the same person reviewing the same plans might get different results on different days. There are so many factors to consider but a single mistake could lead to corrections in many other areas. The contract structure in this project is especially complicated and intricate, so I thought it would be too risky without someone consistently taking charge of the tasks. We decided to assign a dedicated team for it and we are expecting MIIDEL to make an impact here moving forward.
Tomoi： The other day, I shared a comparison result from MIIDEL directly with an external partner who was handing the takeoff* request, and they were able to finish the task in three weeks. Without MIIDEL, it would have taken much longer. Collaboration has improved significantly in situations where accuracy is paramount for either party.

M： What a great story! We will continue to improve the software's accuracy and usability and contribute to better working conditions for those in the construction industry. Thank you for your time today.

*2024 Problem： refers to the new labor law reforms which would significantly reduce overtime working hours, compounding the problem of an already aging workforce.

*Takeoff： refers to the process of extracting elements and quantities such as materials, labor, and machinery, which form the basis for cost calculation.