Implementing a Purpose-Built Solution
W.D. Manor is a full-service Mechanical Contractor serving Arizona since 1945. Specializing in HVAC, Plumbing, Medical Gas, and Process Piping systems, Manor’s expertise extends to those tasks requiring the most advanced technical skills in specialized industries. Their commitment to uncompromised quality and service, as well as industry leadership and community involvement, creates a team of professionals recognized for excellence. Their dedication, professionalism, teamwork, and customer service make them a top mechanical contractor in the Southwest.
"We’re a young team—not traditional BIM detailers, but tradesmen who work directly in the model. Initially, we had only a few seasoned members with BIM experience. As we began integrating more field personnel into modeling, especially given our fabrication-heavy approach, we quickly realized that relying solely on old-school BIM methods wasn’t the right path forward.
Our challenge was clear: tradesmen were entering the modeling environment without deep familiarity with the tools. Implementing a more streamlined process to mass populate Pipe and duct “Hanger” placement became a key driver in our search for a better solution. The lack of “detailing” experience and limited knowledge of design software created a significant hurdle. Training team members who weren’t computer-savvy could be time-consuming, if not delivered efficiently. That was our pain point.”
- Adrian Guerrero, Vice President/Production Operations
The Project Goals
WD Manor established a set of strategic goals aimed at enhancing design efficiency, data integration, and project quality across its operations:
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Standardization and Acceleration of 3D Modeling:
The company aimed to standardize 3D model creation processes to improve design quality, accelerate model development, and reduce rework, while minimizing the number of views that needed to be open during the drawing process.
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An ISO drawing must be a standard feature
At WD Manor, referencing ISO standards is not optional, it is a foundational requirement. Every product begins with an ISO-compliant drawing, ensuring consistency, quality, and alignment with industry best practices from the very start of the build process.
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Enhanced Project Verification Documentation:
A key objective was to improve the quality and inclusiveness of customer-facing project verification documentation, ensuring greater clarity and alignment with client expectations.
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Database and Revit Integration:
WD Manor focused on enhancing both the content and functionality of its internal databases, while establishing a seamless connection with the Revit design tool to streamline workflows and data consistency.
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Lifecycle Connectivity Across Project Components:
The initiative emphasized creating seamless integration between above-ground and below-ground components to support more effective lifecycle management of construction projects.
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Improved QAQC Access and Insight:
Enable the QAQC team to access Revit models, “fabrication” drawings, and “as-built” documentation to support more accurate and timely assessments of project status.
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Customized Revit Training and Design Accelerators:
Develop tailored training programs for Revit users and create ten “key design accelerators” within the Revit workspace to enhance productivity and ensure design consistency.
The Proposed Solution
The development of a tailored solution began with a comprehensive needs assessment, which helped identify the optimal path forward. Given WD Manor’s transition from AutoCAD to Autodesk Revit, the team recognized the importance of aligning their database requirements with a more industry-specific solution.
It was determined that their legacy database system would require excessive effort and investment to function as needed. As a result, WD Manor chose to implement Naviate Fabrication Database as the foundation of the proposed solution.
Confident that Naviate Fabrication could meet both their design and database needs, the team viewed it as a key enabler in achieving their goals for enhanced workflows, improved data integration, and long-term scalability.
The Business Outcomes
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Standardization and Acceleration of 3D Modeling:
WD Manor successfully standardized and accelerated its 3D modeling processes, leading to improved design quality, faster development timelines, and a notable reduction in rework. This initiative laid the groundwork for more consistent and efficient design and detailing practices across the organization.
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ISO drawing must be a standard feature
In alignment with industry best practices, ISO-compliant drawings became a non-negotiable standard at WD Manor. Every product now begins with an ISO-referenced drawing, ensuring consistency, quality, and adherence to foundational engineering principles from the very start of the build process.
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Enhanced Project Verification Documentation:
The company also made significant strides in enhancing its customer-facing project verification documentation. These improvements resulted in clearer, more inclusive materials that better reflect client expectations and project scope, strengthening communication and trust with stakeholders.
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Lifecycle Connectivity Across Project Components:
Internally, WD Manor upgraded the content and functionality of its databases and achieved seamless integration with the Revit design tool. This connection streamlined workflows, improved data consistency, and enabled more efficient collaboration between design and engineering teams.
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Lifecycle Connectivity Across Project Components:
Lifecycle connectivity between above-ground and below-ground components was successfully established, supporting more effective lifecycle management throughout construction projects. This integration ensures that all project elements are aligned and traceable from design through completion.
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Improved QAQC Access and Insight:
The QAQC team now benefits from improved access to Revit models, fabrication drawings, and as-built documentation. This advancement has enabled more accurate and timely assessments of project status, enhancing quality assurance and control across all phases of construction.
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Customized Revit Training and Design Accelerators:
Finally, WD Manor developed customized Revit training programs tailored to user needs and introduced ten “key design accelerators” within the Revit workspace. These tools and training have significantly boosted productivity and reinforced design consistency throughout the organization.
Conclusion & Customer Testimony
Navigating a New Era of BIM and Field Integration
As W.D. Manor evolved, it faced a unique challenge: integrating a younger field-experienced team into the Building Information Modeling (BIM) environment. Unlike traditional BIM detailers, these tradesmen worked directly in the model but lacked deep familiarity with design software. The transition revealed a major challenge: the need for a more efficient and accurate process to mass-populate pipe and duct hangers—especially since many team members had not yet developed the necessary skills. Training non-computer-savvy personnel proved inefficient, highlighting the need for a more intuitive and scalable solution that could bridge the gap between field expertise and digital modeling.
Strategic Goals for Transformation
To address these challenges and elevate its operations, W.D. Manor defined a set of strategic goals. These included standardizing and accelerating 3D modeling to improve design quality and reduce rework, making ISO-compliant drawings a foundational requirement for every product, and enhancing customer-facing project verification documentation for greater clarity and alignment. "The company also focused on integrating its database with Autodesk Revit to enhance workflow efficiency, established lifecycle connectivity between above-ground and below-ground components, and improved QAQC access to Revit models and documentation. Additionally, tailored Revit training programs and ten key design accelerators were developed to boost productivity and ensure design consistency across teams.
Implementing a Purpose-Built Solution
Recognizing the limitations of its legacy systems, W.D. Manor conducted a thorough needs assessment and determined that transitioning from AutoCAD to Autodesk Revit required a more industry-specific database solution. Rather than investing heavily in retrofitting outdated tools, the company adopted Naviate Fabrication Database as the foundation of its new approach. Confident in the capabilities of Symetri Naviate Fabrication, W.D. Manor embraced it as a key enabler for achieving enhanced workflows, robust data integration, and long-term scalability.
Delivering Measurable Business Outcomes
The implementation of these initiatives yielded transformative results. W.D. Manor successfully standardized and accelerated its 3D modeling processes, improving design quality and reducing development time. ISO-compliant drawings became a core standard, reinforcing consistency and engineering rigor. Customer-facing documentation was significantly improved, fostering better communication and alignment with customers. Internally, database upgrades and Revit integration streamlined operations and enhanced collaboration. Lifecycle connectivity across project components enabled more effective management from design through construction. QAQC teams gained timely access to critical documentation, improving project assessments and quality control. Finally, customized training and design accelerators empowered users, driving productivity and reinforcing design standards throughout the organization.
