Smart Assemblies

A quick overview of Timberline Smart Assemblies

By David NicholsonNicholsondb@comporium.net

A configurable Bill of Materials (BOM)

An Assembly

An Assembly Consist of

• Items– Fixed quantity per As (Mobilization) – A Custom Calculation (Demolition)– A stored Formula (Item Tables)

• Item Tables– One Dimension– Two Dimension

• Select at Takeoff

Assembly Elements

Items

Item Tables

Fixed quantity

Custom Calculatio

n

Stored Formulas

Select at Takeoff

Other Options

• An Assembly Unit of Measure (UOM)– SF– EA– Etc

• An Assembly Calculation Formula– A variable– A formula

One Dimensional Item Table

A Variable, Formula, or Formula Table

Numeric Values Only

Any formula in this field

overrides the Assembly Formula

Item or Phase

Description

Two Dimensional Item Table

A Formula, Variable, or

Formula Table

Numeric Values Only

A Formula Table, Formula, or

Variable

Item

Phase

Item Table Constraints

• All values must be numeric• Values must be sequential• Limited Maximum Combination of Rows &

Columns• An Assembly Cannot Call another Assembly

Formula Options

• Variables

• Functions

• Formulas

• Formula Tables

A formula can use any combination of these functions

Formula Creation

Enter Formula Here – If you can create an Excel Formula, you can create a Timberline Formula!

Be Consistent with Naming

Structure

VariablesNumeric Values Only

Creativity In

Simplicity

A Sample Formula with all Functions

Variables in Blue

Formulas in Green

Formula Tables in

Purple

Names are Case Sensitive

Functions in Black

Formula Tables

• Are Similar to Item Tables– One Dimensional– Two Dimensional– Can Use Formulas, Variables, or other

Formula Tables

• Returns Numeric Values Only– Creativity Required– Very Powerful tool

Formula Table

Variable, Formula, or Formula Table

Variable, Formula, or Formula Table

Returns a Numeric Value, Variable,

Formula, or Formula Table

Formula Table in Action

Returns the minimum stud size allowed in a 14’ high wall with double studs at 24” o/c in an exterior wall

Why the effort

• Reduced Errors

• Miscellaneous accessories/connectors selected based on previous selection

• Increased Accuracy

• Decreased Takeoff Time

• Easily Changed

• More Details

Reduced Errors

• Prompts– Select Items Tables base on Construction

Parameters– Include an item that can be calculated on

this pass– Select from brand or style options

• Warnings– Invalid entry or selection provides

warnings

Reduced Errors

This Prompt varies based on previous

Selection

Your Choice to Include or Exclude

This also drive the Anchor Bolt required

for the Selected Hold-Down

Hold-down Anchor Bolts

Selection Based on the Hold-down device required

How is this Accomplished

This Formula Table Calls other Formula Tables Based

on the Series Selected

Assembly Calculations

Assembly Calculations

Assembly Formula must be included in

all assembly quantity

Calculations

Wall Assembly Calculation Formula

Assembly Formula must be included in all assembly quantity Calculations

Prompts are the first in the Assembly

Takeoff

Included Assembly Calculation

The Assembly Calculation

The Assembly Takeoff

Variable Help

Variable Prompts

Change an Estimate with Replace PassMultiple

Passes

Include items that can be

calculated from the dimensions

entered

Accuracy

• Calculate variable dimensions– Window Header Length based on

• Window Materials– Wood– Vinyl– Aluminum

• Mull Type– Single– Double– Triple

• # of Jack Studs

Jack Stud Requirements

• Most Structural Plans have the # of Jack Studs by width by floor

• Create a formula table that reflects those requirements

• Modify as need for each project

• No need to constantly refer to the table

• Creates a basis for conceptual estimates

Jack Studs By Width & Floor

5’ will fined the next Value in the table

3 required

Header Length

Header CalculationRough Opening +( (# Jack Studs * 2 Sides)* Stud Width)

(36+ 2+ ( 3 * 2) * .125) / 12

Material Length Required

Thus a 3’ door would require a 5’ Header

Item Description

Item Calculation

Override Formula

Divide the

quantity by the yield

Use the most cost effective

item16’ cost less per

lf than 12’ etc

The Conclusion

• In the Downtime is a great time to improve existing processes

• The economy will be back– Will you be ready?– Are your people ready?

• Contact me– I can evaluate your processes– I can get you more efficient than your

competitors