Articles - C/F DataSystems In the News
STA Subcontractor News June 2009
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STA Tech Fair By: John Rapaport, Component Assembly Systems
The STA held its first ever Technology Fair at the Terrace on the park on April 22. An excitement was in the
air as the vendors busily set up their booths anticipating business opportunities from the attendees coming
to the event. Fifteen national vendors including Autodesk, Trimble, C/F Data Systems, On Center Software,
Allied North America, McGraw-Hill and others exhibited their wares to the mingling crowd prior to the
event. After a period of show and tell, the over 120 attendees filed in to the dining area to have dinner
and hear opening remarks and the three panel presentations. In his opening comments, James Barrett of
Turner Construction, who helped co-sponsor the show, highlighted the promise of collaboration and BIM
in our industry from GC to sub. My comments representing the STA focused on technology initiatives to
improve greater transparency in the industry. A partial result would be prompter pay on pending items or
the lowering of retainages held through a more accurate visual agreement on percent completes in trade
payment breakdowns.
Then it was on to the panel discussions, first of which was on estimating and how estimating programs
are evolving both in a 2-D world and 3-D world. Especially effective was the opening speaker Greg Duyka
of On-Center Software who had an interesting visual takeoff product known as On-Screen Takeoff and
afterward said the conference was so successful he “ran out of business cards”. Industry giant Autodesk
profiled their new program QTO and how estimating may evolve to also build models and get quantities
takeoffs automatically. Next, a Productivity Panel featured STA member Component Assembly Systems and
how the award winning software we call CASim, now a product offering from C/F Data Systems, increased
productivity by tracking labor codes and analyzing risk along the way to avoid unknown miscues which
cause jobs to be less profitable or lose money. Especially interesting were comments from CAS Foreman
Anthony Alvino in how “having access to the information from home of the job site through the system
has enabled me to adjust for missing production goals and get us back on track”. Finally, the panel on
Building Information Modeling or BIM highlighted work by Turner Construction at Yankee Stadium to get
subcontractors in the Big Room of collaboration, where subs could “fight for space in the model” according
to Turner’s Jim Barrett. This effort helped the Stadium avoid unnecessary change orders and RFI’s, leading
to an on time and on budget project. A detailed presentation by STA member Bill Boniface showed how
Bonland Industries, a sheet metal contractor, worked in a BIM environment, hosting information on a
website set up by his company which has led to other business opportunities in technology investments
for his fi rm. The night was capped off by Turner New York’s leader Pat DiFilippo’s closing remarks to
encourage greater technology adoption from subs in the construction process, and how attending a show
like this is a very good first step.
The show was an unqualified success thanks in large part to Ron Berger and Aris Spenjian of the STA, Sarah
Berman and James Melnichok at The Berman Group, and Jim Barrett of Turner, especially in his efforts
to help secure quality vendors. The STA was able to make it a profitable endeavor and looks forward to
next year’s show which is already in the planning stages with the STA’s Technology Committee. We look
forward to another exciting show next Spring!
Click here to read the original article in
STA Subcontractor News.
Engineering News-Records Magazine July 2009
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Specialty Subcontractor Pioneers Integrated Processes
Component Assembly Systems (CAS), is a leading national full-service commercial specialty contractor with expertise in carpentry,
drywall, and acoustics. Company officials say technology is more than a tool to streamline processes - it's a connection that motivates employees, satisfies customers, and generates profit.
In the last 10 years, CAS has created a unique combination of CASim (CAS information manager), a customized Web-based risk-management tool, built on top of C/F Data Systems job-costing accounting solution
that is tightly integrated with On Center Software's cost estimated software to achieve its vision of streamlined processes.
While CAS estimators appreciate the extensive functionality and capabilities,
it is the integration of tools like On Center Software's Quick Bid and On-Screen Takeoff® that provide the foundation for success. John Rapaport, CAS general counsel
and director of operations, explains, "Changes done on the takeoff side are reflected automatically on the pricing side - our data is always current. Now, we can track the entire estimate
from inception through project completion."
More recently, CAS implemented On Center Software's Digital Production Control, a project management tool that updates percent complete on the
company's labor codes.
Rapaport concludes, "The integrated nature of today's advanced technology brings all project data together. From estimators to field crews, we're all connected
in a way that builds confidence, quality, and morale."
Click here to read the original article in ENR Magazine.
High-Profile Monthly August 2009
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Up Front News - Goldstein President of C/F Data
Weymouth, MA - After a six year sabbatical to work at two other technology companies, Eric Goldstein has returned to C/F Data Systems to take on the role of president and help propoel the firm to national status.
From 1985 to 2003, Goldstein had the role of VP of sales at the Weymouth company. Goldstein is active in many local associations including CFMA, and the Mass. Building Congress. He also serves as director of the technology committee for the Associated Subcontractors of Mass.
Click here to read the original article in High-Profile Monthly.
Masonry Magazine, September 2011
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