Murphy Company was responsible for all of the process and HVAC piping, plumbing, and sheet metal for the new 450,000-square-foot body shop addition for General Motor’s new 2014 Colorado Truck production line in Wentzville, MO.
Murphy’s BIM models played a significant role in the project’s success. Specifications for all the process and HVAC piping, plumbing, and sheet metal were taken directly from the BIM model and fed into the Fab Shop where Murphy fabricated more than 25,000 feet of process and HVAC pipe, and more than 35,000 lbs of sheet metal. It also pre-fabricated more than 200 pipe racks.
A truly collaborative design install took place to create the new truck line, with Murphy’s design engineers working directly with GM’s process engineers to help set the new equipment and avoid interferences on the shop floor or within the production line. GM’s process engineers utilized Murphy’s BIM models to help them coordinate and design conveyor systems and other process and body shop equipment. By using BIM, Murphy is able to install more efficiently and avoid interferences and rework.
Open lines of communication and sharing of design information helped build a highly efficient design-build process. Because of the streamlined process, Phase I and 2 were turned over to the owner early.
