3X growth with Tekla PowerFab

Founded in 2002, AISC-certified All Things Metal specializes in commercial and industrial construction projects across the Southwest. Over two decades, the company has built a reputation for quality steel fabrication, reliable execution and the ability to support complex structural steel projects, from design and engineering through fabrication and erection. 

As project scope and volume increased, All Things Metal needed to optimize processes, improve visibility across operations and increase productivity. By integrating Trimble® technologies into connected, digital workflows combining Tekla Structures®, Tekla PowerFab® and Trimble Connect®, All Things Metal streamlined operations, automated workflows and gained a competitive edge.

“Other fabricators in the area all used Tekla PowerFab, and they were outperforming us. We completely overhauled our processes. It was a big change, but it made everything better, faster and smarter.” – Pamela Wolf, Technical Systems Manager, All Things Metal

This fragmentation reduced visibility across projects and created inefficiencies as work moved from estimating and purchasing to fabrication and erection. Project managers often had to walk the shop floor or track down updates from multiple sources to understand job status, pulling time away from scheduling, coordination and customer communication. In the shop and field, working from outdated drawings increased the risk of fabrication errors and rework.

“We invested a lot of money in our previous system, but we were missing a critical piece of the puzzle —someone who truly knew the software and could answer our questions. We were spending too much time managing data instead of fabricating steel. We needed a partner who understood fabrication and would invest in our success.” – Pamela Wolf

These challenges became more pronounced as the company’s workforce expanded. Onboarding new project managers and shop personnel was time-consuming, and standardizing processes was difficult. As projects grew in complexity and volume, All Things Metal recognized that disconnected workflows were not only an operational inconvenience but also limited the company's ability to scale.

All Things Metal implemented Tekla PowerFab as the backbone of its connected fabrication operations, replacing disconnected workflows with a single integrated solution. With hands-on training and ongoing support, the company accelerated adoption across the business, from estimating and purchasing to inspections, production, shipping and erection. 

“We completely overhauled our processes. It was a big change, but it made everything better, faster and smarter.” – Pamela Wolf

Bringing these functions into a single system eliminated reliance on spreadsheets, email and paper-based tracking. Information previously scattered across multiple tools was now easily accessible and manageable, ensuring teams worked from the same, up-to-date information.

“Tekla PowerFab completely changed the game for us. We went from doing everything manually to having real-time visibility across the shop and field. We’ve grown our company threefold using PowerFab.” – Pamela Wolf

“We’ve grown tremendously since getting Tekla PowerFab. It’s not just the software, it’s the visibility and efficiency that have allowed us to expand with confidence.” – Pamela Wolf

In the fab shop

In the shop, access to real-time information eliminates errors previously caused by outdated drawings or incomplete data. Inspectors can now identify issues before they turn into costly rework. As a result, jobs move smoothly through fabrication with fewer disruptions and delays.

Furthermore, information that once required manual tracking is now readily available, enabling teams to make informed decisions without delays. Project managers no longer need to walk the shop floor or track down updates from multiple sources to understand job status. Instead, they can quickly see where work stands, giving them more time to focus on scheduling, coordination and customer communication.

With transparency into work orders, cut lists and production status, everyone across the company works faster and coordinates more effectively. Tracking material information and quality assurance inspections in one system has also improved traceability and audit readiness.

“The transparency and access to data improve coordination and save time. From a production standpoint, it’s exciting to see real-time updates. PowerFab also keeps our documentation organized from start to finish, so when an audit comes, everything is already in place.” – Avery Bynaker, QA Manager, All Things Metal

In the field

Improving coordination between the shop and the field has further reduced disruptions during erection. Crews in the field have instant access to critical information. Using Trimble Connect on tablets, foremen view piece marks in the Tekla Structures model, eliminating guesswork and improving installation accuracy. 

Access to material status and delivery information reduces phone calls and email delays between the field and the office. To close the loop, crews use Tekla PowerFab Go to mark work as complete after installation, allowing project managers to visualize progress in near real time and maintain an accurate view of job status. 

“For foremen, being able to see where each piece goes is essential for installation. Also, if someone in the field has a question about when a material will arrive, they can look up the information without making a phone call or sending an email and waiting for a response.” – Pamela Wolf

In the back office

All Things Metal also uses the Tekla Structures model during estimating. Quantifying materials in the model has led to more accurate estimates, eliminated purchasing errors and helped customers visualize the project scope and design. It’s also helped the company win more work.

"Generating the estimate from the model has been a game-changing sales tool for our business. During the bid phase, we export and share the model with the project owner. It sets us apart from other fabricators and helps us win competitive bids.” – Pamela Wolf

Collectively, these improvements have enabled All Things Metal to scale with confidence. With repeatable processes in place, onboarding new employees is streamlined, project workflows are standardized across teams and the company is able to take on larger, more complex projects without adding unnecessary administrative overhead. 

“We love it [Tekla PowerFab]. We've only had it for a couple of years, but the amount of information and the way data flows has completely changed everything for our business.” – Pamela Wolf