Background
Red Cedar Steel, a trusted steel erector with over 45 years of experience, is committed to becoming the most innovative steel erector in the United States. By partnering with Versatile, Red Cedar aims to integrate cutting-edge technology into its processes, enhancing efficiency and project execution. With a growing geographic footprint and a reputation for excellence, Red Cedar is pushing the boundaries of technology-enabled workflows to optimize every project outcome.
"Versatile helps us streamline the erection process and improve communication between the office and the field, boosting productivity and capturing extra costs. We want to assure our clients that we can handle any challenge and are willing to think outside the box to deliver results."
Shawn Kittle, Senior Project Manager, Red Cedar Steel
The project
The project involved constructing a one-million-square-foot steel structure Amazon distribution center in Otay, CA, just south of San Diego. Red Cedar faced logistical constraints, working within the structure’s footprint on a concrete pad, leaving little space for staging.
Pioneering a safer and more efficient process
Red Cedar used an innovative, more efficient method of erecting bays on this project. Instead of traditional steel erection, Red Cedar employed a "panelization" method, preassembling roof trusses and decking on-site. Once the columns were placed, the preassembled roof panels were positioned and secured, significantly improving safety and reducing time on site.
With Versatile, Senior Project Manager Shawn Kittle managed the process remotely and tracked key metrics such as daily quantities of columns, girders, and roof panels. This helped Red Cedar Steel gauge production levels and update schedule milestone dates. They also tracked time on the hook for the items mentioned above to provide feedback to their estimating department, helping Red Cedar develop and optimize this new method.
The challenges
Every steel project presents unique challenges, and this Amazon warehouse was no exception. The main hurdles included:
- A tight project timeline
- Limited workspace restricted to the building footprint’s concrete slab
- Design changes causing fabrication flaws on multiple columns
The solutions
#1 Saving time and solving problems
"Being able to pull up the model in Versatile and zoom in on exactly where my team is working streamlines the efficiency of creating a solution on the fly. Instead of relying on phone conversations and paging through drawings, I can see exactly what they're talking about. It saves a ton of time and gives me easy access to the precise information I need to solve the problem.”
Shawn Kittle, Senior Project Manager, Red Cedar Steel
Versatile allowed Kittle to monitor operations remotely in real time. Instead of traveling to the site to diagnose issues, which would have delayed work, he could log in from anywhere, track sequence installation progress on the 3D model and Calendar, and quickly resolve problems. The travel time saved allowed Kittle to more easily juggle the many projects on his plate.
#2 Managing space constraints effectively
Red Cedar’s panelization process minimized the need for onsite equipment. With just two lifts and their crews, the team maximized space utilization and accelerated installation by positioning preassembled sections directly onto the columns rather than constructing them piece by piece. By leveraging Versatile, Red Cedar captured the key process metrics to enhance efficiency on this projectand refine future use of the panelization method.
Compared to traditional stick-built construction– where each bay of steel requires completed connections before decking installation–Red Cedar’s panelized approach delivered bays that were 80% complete, including decking, upon erection. This enabled faster turnover of completed steel framing areas. Versatile tracking further streamlined operations, providing actionable insights to drive continuous improvement in panelized construction efficiency.
#3 Quickly discovering flaws
Versatile flagged and automatically documented when the crane remained idle for a set period, alerting the team to potential issues. In this case, the system helped detect a critical fabrication error—incorrect base plates. By providing clear under-hook visibility, Versatile facilitated quicker issue detection and resolution, ultimately capturing an additional $10,000 in lost time and inefficiencies. Additionally, Red Cedar used Versatile’s precise time-tracking data to document delays and rework for billing accountability.
Those delays didn’t stay buried in reports. In Versatile’s 4D Viewer, they showed up directly on the model, tied to the work they affected.
“The 4D Viewer was a breakthrough for us. Ironworkers are visual people. Before, delays lived in journal entries and documents nobody had time to dig through. Now we see them in the model, quantified, and they make sense.”
Cory Cook, Vice President Operations, Red Cedar Steel
#4 User-friendly system with reliable support
Kittle was impressed by Versatile’s intuitive interface—it easily displays the job site on screen—and its ability to track work. Versatile’s support team responded quickly to technical issues, minimizing disruptions and ensuring smooth operations.
The results
Measuring the performance with Versatile’s unbiased, reliable, and structured data allowed Red Cedar to implement an inventive solution in the field. As Red Cedar’s second project using both the panelization method and Versatile technology, installation efficiency significantly improved compared to the previous project. With refined metrics and time saved, Red Cedar fulfilled the accelerated schedule on the Amazon distribution center while innovating and staying within budget.
Red Cedar plans to use the Versatile Steel Production Data to improve future estimates and win more work. With access to objective data-based unit rates, Red Cedar can more confidently project the expected output for projects to bid intelligently.
Red Cedar continues using Versatile to develop new methodologies and improve upon industry practices. Versatile’s precision reporting ensures that Red Cedar remains at the forefront of the steel subcontracting industry, delivering successful projects with cutting-edge technology.
"Red Cedar and Versatile work well together because we're both pushing the envelope to meet customer needs. Versatile is a great fit for us because we're always seeking the next best thing to be faster, better, and more profitable. Versatile has been an excellent support in achieving these goals."
Shawn Kittle, Senior Project Manager, Red Cedar Steel
Why choose Versatile?
Steel erection presents a unique set of complex challenges where teams are juggling multiple priorities at once: constant coordination, communicating progress, negotiating changes, controlling schedules, and managing ever-shifting logistics. Versatile addresses each of these challenges by providing timely data, objective insights, and streamlined workflows, helping steel erectors deliver projects better than before.
#1 Simplify communication and documentation
- Visual Data for All Stakeholders: Translate on-site metrics into clear, actionable reports and 4D visuals for owners, GCs, fabricators, and team members.
- Comprehensive Records: Automatically log crane downtime, picks, and rework details—helping you substantiate T&M tickets, change orders, or claims.
#2 Manage schedules and production better than the competition
- Real-Time Progress Tracking: Stay up to date on the number of columns, girders, beams panels, and elements installed each day.
- Dynamic Scheduling: Adjust resources and timelines and see the impact faster than before.
#3 Control costs and recover lost time
- Identify Inefficiencies: Pinpoint where productivity dips and take immediate corrective action.
- Boost Profitability: Capture hidden costs from rework or disruptions.
#4 Foster continuous improvement
- Benchmark for Future Projects: Use historical data to sharpen estimates and optimize planning.
- Replicate Success: Implement proven strategies—like panelization—on new projects with confidence.
