Based in Gratentour on the outskirts of Toulouse, MF-SI has been using Tekla Structures since its creation four years ago. Guillaume Trabis, one of the firm's project managers, explains how Trimble's software has become indispensable to the day-to-day work of this three-employee SME.
Méthode Façon Structure Ingénierie, better known as MF-SI, is a design office specializing in concrete, working mainly in residential housing around Toulouse. " There are three of us at MF-SI: an engineer and two project managers", explains Guillaume Trabis, who works for the company. Set up four years ago, this design office was born of a split with a previous design office based in Tarn-et-Garonne, where Mr Trabis and engineer Mr Bastide were previously partners. " That's where I started using Tekla Structures in 2019," he explains.
From 2D to 3D with Tekla Structures
Guillaume Trabis remembers well the moment when the transition from 2D to 3D became imperative. "In 2019, we were looking to scale up our services with a major customer, BATI MANFE. That's when the requests for 3D modeling started coming in. Some calls for tender for the public market also required us to work with BIM-compatible software," he recalls.
But which software to choose? Already familiar with 3D, the project manager set out to find the ideal solution for him and his colleagues. For them, the software itself was as important as the support offered by its publisher. " We were a very small company outside Toulouse_, and we needed to be guided in our choices"_
Tekla Structures quickly emerged as an interesting lead. At the time, this software was recognized as the "undisputed leader" for modeling steel structures, but less so for concrete. It was while talking to a contact in an office specializing in metal that Guillaume Trabis discovered an unexpected potential: "Tekla Structures, although initially designed for metal, was beginning to develop a solution dedicated to concrete." The account manager decided to take a closer look.
Easy handling: a key criterion
"Tekla Structures is really a toolbox. You can do what you want with it, but it requires technical expertise," says Guillaume Trabis. He and his colleagues quickly realized two things: solid training and an up-to-date computer system were essential. "We had to replace our hardware. Tekla Structures required more powerful workstations and adapted monitors," he explains.
For his training, Guillaume Trabis visits Trimble's offices in Albi. " The training was one of the key points in our adoption," he stresses. But above all, he greatly appreciated the support afterwards, provided by Trimble trainer Jean Vermand: "When I got back to the office with the basics for launching the software, I was able to get help whenever I needed it. Tekla's technical support is clearly the number one asset that convinced us."
3D: saving time and improving efficiency
Once trained, Guillaume Trabis gave himself six months to configure Tekla Structures to maximize efficiency. "After six months, everyone was on board. We knew it was a necessary step, and my feedback convinced the whole team."
The switch to 3D has radically changed project management at MF-SI. Guillaume Trabis tells a revealing anecdote : "On our last 2D project, we had to model a spiral staircase. The architect hadn't anticipated that a window could interfere with the structure. The result: on the plans, we failed to detect the impact between the lintels and the flight of steps. In 3D, such a structural defect would have been immediately visible
Today, MF-SI generates sections and plans in just a few clicks, saving them precious time. "3D makes our work more efficient and comfortable. With Tekla, any modification is updated in real time. It's very practical and reduces the risk of error," adds Guillaume Trabis. The company's productivity is significantly enhanced, with a much more tangible return on investment.
Smooth collaboration with partners and customers
The integration of models supplied by the design office's partners is another major advantage of Tekla Structures. "All our suppliers send us their models. For example, LG Béton in Brittany sends us directly the IFC of the project, which we easily integrate into our model." This integration capability simplifies coordination with suppliers and enables projects to be validated upstream.
To provide their customers with a clear vision, MF-SI uses Trimble Connect, a solution that facilitates the sharing of 3D models. " Customers ask us to do this," explains Guillaume Trabis. The tool also benefits the project management team: "On site, the teams can check the 2D with the 3D model. If a dimension is missing, they can measure it directly in the model This real-time collaboration improves the quality of exchanges and limits misunderstandings.
A successful transition to 3D
For Guillaume Trabis, the adoption of Tekla Structures marked a turning point in MF-SI's business. Despite a high initial cost, particularly for computer equipment, and an essential learning phase, the advantages of switching to 3D quickly became apparent at every stage of the projects. MF-SI has no plans to go back. " Clearly, we'll never go back to 2D," concludes the project manager. Now that's clear!
