A Typical Project Timeline
Pre-Construction
For EFI, the first phase many projects go through is pre-construction. During this initial process, our meticulous team familiarizes themselves with the project details. They then use this information to define the scope of work, prepare preliminary cost estimates based on the overall budget, identify materials for procurement and suggest alternatives where necessary, and determine a schedule for communication, design, manufacturing, and installation. This phase assembles the project team on the EFI-side and gives them a clear, actionable outline to follow through the project lifecycle before construction even begins. When working with the pre-construction team, many elements of the project benefit.
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Budget and Scheduling
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The development and maintenance of a preliminary project budget serves to achieve the overarching goals of adding solutions of value and incorporating economic efficiencies where possible.
Procurement
The depth of our vendor network is unique among our peers. This allows us to leverage worldwide product sourcing opportunities that provide the best design, value, and lead time options available.
Design and Engineering
By involving the design team early, constructability issues within the design can be identified and corrected promptly, leading to reduced RFIs and change orders and preventing costly and lengthy delays in the construction process.
Design and Modelling
Engineering
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Our engineering team is intricately involved in many phases of the design and modelling process. When the project contract specifies a design assist scope, our engineers help hone in on details like the slab edge, system depth, and building reactions to ensure a stable design that interfaces seamlessly with other construction elements. The team participates in internal design meetings to ensure designs are consistent with engineering requirements before implementing changes in the shop drawings. Additionally, the engineering team regularly participates in the review of shop drawings to ensure all connections and framing members meet deflection and stress requirements set by local building codes and standards.
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QA
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After the engineering phase, our quality assurance team reviews shop drawings to detect any early clashes and elements of design that are incongruent with current construction capabilities.
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Design (Client Model)
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Our design team creates a collaborative, 3D model of the project based on the shop drawings. This centralized model is accessible by all project stakeholders.
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VDC (Fabrication Model)
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Once verified, the client model is translated into a fabrication model. This model guides the manufacturing and installation process by providing teams with a visual and data-driven framework for fabrication and installation. Teams can see what goes where and what goes when.
Manufacturing
Pre-Fabrication (Machine Programming)
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Our manufacturing team uses the information from the fabrication model to program the machines for cutting and machining.
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Sub-Assembly (Sequencing, Part Fabrication)
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Individual frame components are fabricated and sequenced.
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Assembly
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Using the fabrication model and sequenced components, our assembly team produces finished frames, panels and other elements of the project and prepares them for shipment to the project site.
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QA
Our QA team reviews assembled elements to ensure quality.
Installation
Field Work
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The fabrication model guides the manufacturing process to ensure fidelity in assembled components. It then leads field installation efforts for our installation partners, allowing site superintendents and field teams to see exactly where a frame or panel should be installed and how.
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Engineering
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The engineering team frequently inspects the work site to assist with developing in-field solutions for elements that unexpectedly do not match shop drawings or the fabrication model. This prevents delays and cost increases from needing to re-fabricate project components.
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Health and Safety
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Our health and safety team helps our installation partners create dedicated safety plans tailored to each job site to keep every worker as safe as possible.
