In 2002, we began developing a project management application called INDIGO which enables us to manage production and project coordination. It distributes the workload automatically across our employee network and monitors the production process in real time. This app makes it simple for us to handle multiple engineers and projects at the same time, without having to compromise on efficiency and superior quality of our service.

INDIGO automatically updates any changes proposed by clients. As a result, we are able generate high quality product very fast and help our clients avoid delays.

It allows for uninterrupted and timely flow of information and eases the detailing process by segmenting it, so that the work can be checked after each stage.

It uses a common language and gives very clear job instructions. In that way, our detailers are not overburdened, they can work as a team even without talking to each other, and we never have to worry about multiple interpretations of detailing parameters.

What makes us different is our game-changing detailing software that can be easily customized. It allows us to quickly adjust to any consultant requirements and generate high quality shop drawings that will get approved. It indeed represents a quantum leap in rebar detailing.

All detailing companies use detailing software, but in most cases updates according to special requirements of clients are not possible, or it takes a lot of time to incorporate them and reach satisfactory output.

Having in-house developed software enables us to adapt our system to any design details and requirements, unlike ready-made software solutions, which cannot be modified by detailers to meet the needs of contractors and consultants.

These apps are RESIST and INSIST.

INSIST is used by our automated rebar detailing system, which enables us to produce completely detailed shop drawings in a single process along with bar bending schedules. It takes existing drawings in electronic format and reproduces them into complete shop drawings with detailing and bar bending schedules. Engineers electronically feed contract drawings to INSIST and it automatically generates drawings and BBS.

Over the years, and as a natural extension of our automated platform INDIGO, we have developed an internal document management system that includes WIP, SAMPLE and Project management documents.

WIP stands for Work Input Parameters and these are its features.

It contains all parameters for each reinforced concrete element of a project.

It is comprised of and complements all IFC drawings related to general notes and typical details.

It provides very clear guidelines that ensure uniform detailing and avoidance of multiple interpretations of detailing parameters among our operators.

All jobs to be performed by our detailers have a specific WIP automatically attached to them, and the detailers are obliged to use it, otherwise their work will be rejected.

It is contractor approved. Each WIP is sent to our clients for confirmation and feedback

It is updated automatically and replaced with the latest revision in all related jobs, upon receiving any comment or new information from contractors and consultants.

All of this helps unify the production and checking parameters between AABCO and our clients and ensures flawless execution. The work we perform is in exact accordance with client approved WIPs.

Its format is standardized. All projects that we work on have the same WIP language with reference to “Standard WIP”.

This means that our detailers don’t have to learn a new language or format when going from activity to activity within the same or a different project, which greatly simplifies starting of a new job, as there is no familiarization required. Thus, the production time and time allocated for checking is significantly reduced and repeats and errors are completely eradicated.

See a sample of WIP

In addition to WIP, we have Samples that ensure that all shop drawings produced by our company have a uniform presentation, and basically look very neat and readable and when printed on paper.

In our rebar detailing system, each element in each project has its own sample for presentation, which is also sent to contractors for confirmation and feedback. And similarly to WIP, this uniform presentation method that we use, lets us avoid multiple interpretations of presentation and errors among our detailers. Samples will also be updated automatically and replaced with the latest revisions all in accordance with feedback from contractors or consultants.

Project management documents encompass the following items.

The weekly progress report is a weekly summary of all the work. It includes RFI summary, all received comments, any new received IFC, the percentage of AABCO errors (if any) and it alerts us if error percentage at any week is >5% so we can do the necessary to avoid errors and maintain quality. Also, at any time, it gives contractors insight about the quality and status of all shop drawings related to their projects and it alerts them about any expected future problems, so they can take the necessary steps to avoid such problems.

The shop drawings progress chart allows us to track the progress of shop drawings in accordance with on-site progress and to see any delayed IFC or GA, packages on hold, urgent packages, etc. In this way we can easily avoid any unclear situations. Also, it allows us to know at any time which package of shop drawings is next needed on site.

The shop drawings log sheet is updated weekly and sent to contractors. At all times, it gives insight about the status of shop drawings, the percentage of approved and rejected drawings so that we can perform corrective measures and improve the quality of our work.

The IFC - packages relation sheet is updated automatically upon receipt of any new IFC, with respect to the impact of any new IFC on any package. In this way we can eliminate any errors that might occur due to not taking into consideration any newly received revisions of any IFC drawings. This sheet allows us to know at any time about how IFC relates to any package of shop drawings, even for drawings that haven’t been produced yet, as the sheet is prepared at the start of a project and it is continuously updated.

Indigo, in-house detailing software and our document management system all facilitate AABCO’s work process that is unlike any other in the world of rebar detailing. This process lets us maintain and improve the quality of our work at all times.

It divides all packages into small tasks, or small jobs called Produce shop drawing, where each job can be done in 1 to 2 hours max. By having such a small scope of work, which is at the same time simple and clearly defined by WIP, Sample and Job instruction, the possibility for our detailers to make errors is significantly reduced.

Any job in the process has a Job instruction that specifies the scope of work, the expected input, the expected output and strict rules that our detailers have to follow.

Each Produce job is followed by a Checking job of small scope, defined in reference to WIP, Sample and Job instruction. All errors found by our checkers have a reference code in AABCO language.

This system of work unifies the checking parameters between our checkers, and also between us and our clients.

Each Checking job is followed by a Quality Control job which is performed in order to pinpoint any error that might have occurred in the previous stages. If an error is found all necessary action is taken in order to correct it.

See AABCO’s quality control chart