Engineering Inc. - November/December 2007 - 44

OnE On OnE CAMEE Chairman Weighs In On Coalition Challenges, Innovation Roy C. Wilson is chairman of the Council of American Mechanical & Electrical Engineers (CAMEE) and vice president of George Butler Associates, Inc., in Lenexa, Kan. Q. A. What are the most pressing concerns facing mechanical and electrical engineers? Q. Fewer young people are entering the engineering workforce and even fewer are entering the mechanical/ electrical discipline. Mix this with increased workloads and project deadlines, and we have the recipe for burnout. We are also experiencing commoditization of our services in certain markets: competitive bidding of professional services by clients who have budget shortfalls and do not have the foresight and understanding that our fees are the smallest percentage of their project, while electrical and mechanical components have the greatest impact on the life cycle cost of their project. Q. mechanical, electrical, plumbing and/or specializing in fire protection and life safety, security, controls, acoustics and commissioning. The benefits CAMEE provides its membership are business practice products, programs, seminars, liaison relationships with other organizations, government advocacy and a forum specific to and for mechanical and electrical engineers and plumbers (MEPs) to improve our businesses, manage our risks, promote our role and image in the vertical construction market and increase our profitability. Q. equipment manufacturers and operations and maintenance personnel); and how each entity accesses and adds information to the model. Q. A. What has been the impact of green building design on M/E practice? A. How can CAMEE achieve reduced liability costs for its members? A. How has Building Information Modeling (BIM) specifically impacted mechanical and electrical engineers? A. 44 What benefits does CAMEE provide for its membership? CAMEE is focused on the business issues facing engineering firms practicing EnGInEERInG InC. BIM’s initial development was geared toward the architectural community and, more recently, directed at structural engineers and MEPs. Most MEP firms are not experiencing a significant impact from BIM and are still operating in 2D or 3D computer-aided design. However, it’s clearly where the industry is headed. BIM potentially could create a paradigm shift in the way we do business, specifically the way we conceive, visualize and implement our designs into an integrated model; how we share with the design and construction team (including contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, CAMEE continues to produce practice guidelines and documents to assist our member firms in managing risk and liability. Our projectplanning guide is an excellent tool to help firms negotiate scope of services, duties and responsibilities, compensation and forms of agreement with clients and provides a risk-management assessment. CAMEE has conducted sessions on risk management that analyzed insurance claims data specific to MEPs and presented business practice tips and contract negotiation recommendations that enable member firms to manage risk better and reduce liability. The organization also has focused on emerging market trends, such as high-performance buildings (sustainable design, LEED), commissioning, BIM and electronic evidence to help mechanical engineers (M/E) understand opportunities and potential risks, and how firms can manage or mitigate the elements of risk and liability commonly associated with such projects. The positive impacts of high-performance/green building design are the increased role and involvement of MEPs and increased integration and collaboration in the project delivery process. Having basic commissioning as a prerequisite and promoting extended building systems commissioning creates more opportunities for MEPs. At the same time, green design has risks that we need to recognize and manage. This heavier involvement might walk the line on “means and methods.” Requirements to “certify” anticipated results, for example, and unfulfilled expectations can result in potential claims if not discussed in advance with the client and addressed in the contract. CAMEE has helped its members with sessions on sustainable design and risk management. Given the global economy, the current trends in energy management and our concern for the environment, green design will be a part of our everyday practice. As engineers, we have a responsibility to assist our clients in making good decisions regarding their building systems while being stewards of our environment. n nOvEMBER/dECEMBER 2007

Engineering Inc. - November/December 2007

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