ABM tekla structures: Advanced bill of material

In the realm of steel structure construction, efficiency and precision are key to success. The Advance Bill of Materials (ABM) plays a pivotal role in ensuring smooth project execution and cost management. Let's explore what an Advance BOM is, its significance, and how it benefits the construction industry.

Understanding Advance Bill of Materials (ABM)

Over the years, I've seen how much time fabricators lose waiting on a complete BOM before they can even place a steel order. By then, prices go up, mills delay shipments, or the wrong material shows up on site.

Common pain points fabricators face:

• Late BOMs pushing procurement to the last minute
• Higher costs due to rushed ordering
• BOMs not fully aligned with fabrication requirements
• Lost production days when stock arrives late or mismatched
• Big trouble when CVN-tested materials are missed at the start

This is where an Advance Bill of Materials (ABM) changes the game. Unlike a regular BOM that's mainly for procurement, an ABM is created for fabrication planning and shop use as well.

A typical BOM lists: Qty, Material, Length, Total Weight, Sequence, Steel Grade, Member Type. But the ABM adds more value, for example, beams with camber are flagged with camber dimensions, so fabricators know right from the material preparation stage which members need special handling.

Every member carries an ABM mark generated from the model. The same ABM mark is reflected in the BOM on the shop drawings, giving fabricators a direct reference back to the ABM list. This makes identifying each piece faster and reduces errors in procurement and fabrication.

The Advance Bill of Materials (ABM) is a simply “Listing of total steel required” to finish the whole steel structure in advance. Generally, after “initial member addition, we need to submit “ABM report” to client. By generating the ABM report in SDS/2 or Tekla structures.

Key Components of Advance Bill of Material

1. Materials and Specifications: The BOM specifies the types of materials needed (e.g., steel sections, plates, bolts) and their exact specifications (e.g., grade, size, thickness).
2. Quantities: It includes precise quantities of each item required for the entire project or specific phases, ensuring accurate procurement and cost estimation.
3. Assembly Details: For complex structures, the BOM may include assembly instructions or sequences.

You might also read: What is AESS full form? And categories of AESS

Importance of Advance ABM in Steel Structures

From fabricator feedback, here's what really makes an ABM useful:

• Issued early, as soon as the model is complete, not after approvals or fabrication release
• Covers all main members (beams, columns, braces), including uncommon sizes, over-length, or heavy pieces, but not shop stock items.
• Delivered in .kss format, so it imports directly into Tekla EPM
• If a job is phased, one ABM with all phases incorporated, plus weight breakouts by phase
• Rolled or cambered material noted clearly in remarks for special handling
• Correct grades listed per contract specs and project requirements
• A clear revision protocol, revised ABM only if material hasn't been purchased yet; otherwise, changes handled at fabrication release

From a detailer's perspective, issuing an accurate ABM means:

• Fabricators can place orders on time
• CVN-tested items are identified early
• Shops can plan production in advance
• Cambered or rolled members aren't missed in cutting and prep
• Projects avoid last-minute surprises

An ABM may look like just another table of numbers, but in reality, it's a head start for the fabricator. And every head start saves time, cost, and rework on the shop floor.

ABM Tekla Structure 

Every member gets “Page-Line” no. & after ABM generation client can procure the required material. Generally, client always ask ABM report for “Main steel only” i.e., for Beam, column, braces etc. But if your structures consist of miscellaneous members of WF, channel, HSS etc. then in that case client ask for ABM for Misc. member also.

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Which profiles are considered in ABM?

Following profiles are considered while preparation of the ABM in steel detailing.

• W profiles
• HSS profiles
• Channel profile
• Angle
• And plates (per customer requirement; 1 1/2" and above thickness plate not available in market)

No project can take off successfully without proper planning. Most times, Patron's struggle to get the right requirements in place and this delays the whole project. The ABM mark also appears on the Bill of Materials to ensure there is no wastage of ordered material.

Conclusion

The ABM plays a crucial role in the steel detailing process as it serves as a foundation for accurate material take-offs, cost estimation, procurement, fabrication, and construction planning.