Architectural Engineering & Construction For any engineering business to remain competitive in a rapidly changing environment, the business must work in a joined up manner and Project Lifecycle Management (PLM), aspects of which are Building Information Management (BIMan) / Building Information Modelling (BIMod) provides everyone within an organisation with the tools and infrastructure to deliver projects and services to its customers.     Project Lifecycle Management (PLM) An infrastructure under which the tools and technology within a business operates. Building Information Management (BIMan) An approach to construction projects which has its roots in manufacturing industries such as Automotive and Aerospace. PLM Benefits Benefits can be seen in areas such as: Digital Manufacture, Data re-use, Communication, Collaboration, Programme Management, Data Management and Workflow. Business Pressures The opportunity for PLM in AEC is enormous and the benefits to those companies that exploit the technology is immense. PLM “Push or Pull” PLM is used as a way of differentiating a business from its competitors, whilst at the same time building owners start to demand the use of a PLM. Can AEC benefit from lessons learnt in Auto and Aero? Lessons can be learnt from manufacturing industries where PLM has taken some years to be formulated into the philosophy that is today delivering benefits.

Just 36 years old, Thomas Heatherwick has already established himself as one of the most exciting and innovative figures in British design. He is perhaps most famous for his sculpture, The B Of The Bang, in Manchester. Heatherwick Studio is pushing the boundaries of architecture, sculpture and product design by combining all three with innovative free thinking and not letting existing construction techniques curb ambition.