Lean Construction: What is it, and why does it matter?

For decades, the construction industry has struggled to break free of conventional work schemas and adopt newer, more innovative work models. In many cases, this slowness to adapt has led to delays in production, wasted materials, reduced profits and inefficient workflows, which can be detrimental to the success of a project. But the tide is rapidly changing.

Driven by the need for increased speed, efficiency and cost-effectiveness, recent years have been marked by a much higher adoption and openness to new, out-of-the-box and innovative approaches. While many of these approaches have been around for a while (e.g. BIM, offsite construction), it is only more recently that technology has really caught up, enabling them to reach their full potential.

Case in point: Lean construction.

Lean construction has been steadily gaining traction in the industry, with a growing number of firms embracing the approach to maximise value for their clients and minimise waste. It’s a team-led philosophy that encourages higher performance by improving how workers solve problems, measure success and tackle different phases of the building cycle.

Let’s take a closer look at what the lean construction philosophy entails, its principles, its history and how it ties in with other innovative approaches like BIM and offsite construction.

What is lean construction?

Lean construction is an end-to-end, collaborative approach that aims to decrease time, effort and waste. Its goal is to maximise the value and productivity of a project while minimising the costs normally incurred during planning, design, building and maintenance. As defined by the Lean Construction Institute:

“Lean Construction is a comprehensive system of processes and behaviours that re-integrates our siloed industry into high-performing success-oriented teams, committed to collaboration, innovation, knowledge-sharing and interpersonal respect.”

Lean construction processes usually share the following characteristics:

Design and engineering happen concurrently.
The customer’s perspective plays a central role in the process.
Cost control and management are proactive.
Problems are tackled on the spot by experts when possible instead of waiting for higher profiles to jump in with solutions later.
Objectives are clearly defined and explicitly aimed at successful delivery.
High levels of collaboration across stakeholders and throughout the project lifecycle.

The highly collaborative nature of lean construction projects leverages the best from each team member, including contractors, architects, designers, customers and workers, to ensure high-quality results delivered at higher speeds and lower costs.

Lean construction promotes collaboration and communication among diverse teams.

Lean construction: A brief history

The term “lean construction” dates back to 1993, when the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC) was formed and set up the foundation for the theory. Later on, in 1997, the Lean Construction Institute was formed, helping to further the use of the lean construction approach in practice.

Much of the lean construction philosophy originates from the “lean manufacturing” approach pioneered by Toyota after World War II. The idea was to harness the elements that made the Toyota Production Line so successful (e.g. respect for people, collaboration, continuous improvement) and use them to create a more predictable and repeatable workflow for construction projects.

This lean manufacturing approach breaks down into a 5s strategy, which in Japanese goes something like this:

Seiri: Sort, clean, classify
Seiton: Straighten, simplify, set in order
Seiso: Sweep, scrub, shine, clean, check
Seiketsu: Stabilise and standardise
Shitsuke: Sustain, self-discipline

Since then, there have been various iterations, providing a better translation and making the 5s strategy more applicable to the construction sector:

Sort: Eliminate anything that isn’t needed (e.g. tools, documents, materials)
Set in order: Create a place for everything and always keep the workflow in mind:
Staff should have easy access to anything they require.
Materials should be stored near their place of use.
Everything should be easy to find and clearly labelled.
Sweep: Ensure the workplace is kept tidy by making it a daily practice.
Standardise: Work practices must be clearly defined and consistent across the board.
Sustain: Keep your tight ship running, and don’t let old habits creep back in.

Some sources have even suggested the addition of a sixth “s” for safety, reminding teams to prioritise the safe completion of each project by adhering to workplace standards.

What makes lean construction different from conventional construction?

Here are a few of the key differences that make lean construction different from conventional methods:

High levels of collaboration

Conventional construction projects work in highly segregated teams, each with its own expertise, goals and focuses, often with minimal communication. The lean construction approach takes a different tack, ensuring high levels of communication among different teams with different types of expertise.

By creating an environment where designers, workers, architects and engineers work together and share information, the lean construction approach ensures that all solutions and strategies are enriched by different points of view and expertise. This creates a more efficient workflow and ensures that every stakeholder is aligned and working toward the same goals.

Concurrent phases

The conventional construction method tackles phases sequentially, starting with planning and design and then moving on to the building phase (the waterfall method). In contrast, the lean construction approach tackles different phases (e.g. planning and design) concurrently, resulting in a project that moves forward incrementally. This forces different team members to interact, come up with effective solutions and reduce errors that might have been costlier later on in the process.

A focus on the final result

While conventional construction often works toward the end of a particular phase (e.g. planning, design, etc.), lean construction’s incremental nature ensures all teams are constantly focused on delivering a final result with minimal waste and maximum value.

A predictable workflow

While conventional construction projects tend to be unpredictable, with unforeseen costs, errors and time delays, lean construction puts a great deal of emphasis on planning, waste and cost management. Its iterative and highly collaborative nature helps ensure minimal waste, errors and unforeseen costs, making the process more efficient and predictable.

What are the principles of lean construction?

Construction of the Empire State Building, using lean construction principles before they were formally recognized.

Since lean construction is a philosophy or approach rather than a set methodology, the concept can seem vague and be hard to implement. There is no right or wrong way to do it, and different adaptations will have to be made to suit the needs of different teams and companies. However, there are six principles that can guide its successful implementation:

Understand the value of the client’s point of view

While conventional approaches focus on the plans and specifications that show what a client wants to build, lean construction moves beyond that to cover why they want it. This customer-centric approach helps the team effectively manage expectations, provide the best possible advice throughout the process and deliver results that keep clients coming back.

Map out the value stream

Value stream mapping involves outlining different tasks, steps and materials and breaking them down to the lowest, most basic level. The goal is to determine the value of even the smallest detail, enabling you to create accurate forecasts and eliminate any unnecessary elements.

When done right, this can help you identify important milestones, create timelines and track the labour, materials and equipment you’ll need at each phase. Taking the time to create detailed and accurate value stream maps early in the process can also help you identify opportunities, maximise efficiency and minimise costs.

Minimise waste

Making the building process more efficient by eliminating waste where possible is one of the hallmarks of lean construction. This is especially important when you consider estimates showing that only 40% of a typical construction project budget is spent on value-added activities. The rest usually goes to wasted materials and mitigating the effect of errors and delays.

Lean construction specifically targets the reduction of eight different types of waste, which can be easily remembered using the acronym “DOWNTIME”:

Defects: Refers to any steps, elements or components that aren’t correctly executed, resulting in errors, repairs and added work.
Overproduction: When tasks are completed ahead of schedule resulting in downtime or with excess resources resulting in wasted materials.
Waiting: When workers are ready for the next task but are delayed due to bottlenecks (e.g. the necessary materials haven’t been delivered or the prior phase has not been completed on time).
Not utilising talent: When a worker is not matched with a task that effectively utilises their talent, experience, skills and knowledge.
Transport: When materials, equipment, or workers are transported to a site before they are needed.
Inventory waste: Refers to materials that aren’t immediately needed and end up littering a site. Lean construction uses “just in time” inventory and tries to move away from “just in case” inventory.
Motion waste: Refers to any unnecessary movement that can be eliminated through planning and organisation (e.g. making numerous trips to gather more tools or equipment).
Excess Processing: When steps or activities are added that have no value for the client. This tends to happen when trying to eliminate the other types of waste.

Streamline workflow processes

Ideal lean construction workflows are characterised by being continuous, steady, reliable and predictable. Meticulous planning and high levels of collaboration are needed to avoid setbacks and keep projects running on schedule.

Use pull planning

Pull planning creates reliable workflows based on downstream demand, with the completion of one task marking the start of another. Each key stakeholder on a project starts with the end goal in mind and works backwards, milestone by milestone toward a target completion date. The process is highly cooperative and requires clear communication to establish schedules, responsibilities, points of contact and handoffs.

Continuous Improvement

One of the best ways to increase efficiency and minimise waste (both core values in lean construction) is to constantly monitor performance, learn from your successes and eliminate the processes that led to failures. In lean construction, these learnings are internalised to create added value in current and future projects.

Following this principle, many lean construction companies plan “kaizen events” for their teams. The term kaizen loosely translates to “continuous improvement” or “change for the better”, and the events usually take the form of company-wide team-building retreats. The goal of these retreats is to keep teams aligned and expose problems from different points of view, including workers.

The benefits of lean construction

Here are just some of the benefits lean construction brings to the table:

Efficiency

Lean construction is all about efficiency. Following its principles enables teams to communicate more effectively, complete jobs faster and reduce the waste of materials, time, effort and labour.

Speed

Where there is increased efficiency, speed will inevitably follow. Lean construction principals encourage detailed planning and a broad strategic vision making it easier to reach each milestone quicker with fewer unforeseen delays or setbacks.

Less Waste

Lean construction aims to reduce and, if possible, eliminate waste at every phase of the building process, not only in terms of materials but also time, effort and costs. High levels of collaboration between teams and detailed planning in the early stages make it possible to forecast what will be needed in terms of labour, time and materials. The goal is to use only what’s needed, avoid excess or unnecessary costs and recycle any resources that didn’t get used.

Safety

Lean construction’s highly collaborative and standardised approach results in increased worker focus and understanding. It creates an environment where:

Everyone knows what to do
Resources are close by and easy to find
Workplaces are clean, organised and free of debris

These factors go a long way in decreasing workplace accidents and injuries.

Cost-effectiveness

Having fewer injuries in the workplace, increased process efficiency and saving on resources that would normally go to waste all combine to create significant cost reductions. Increased speed also means companies can finish projects faster and move on to the next one, making more profits in less time.

The drawbacks of lean construction

These are some of the drawbacks of lean construction:

It takes commitment

Implementing the lean construction approach requires a complete change from traditional work methods. To make it work, you have to get your entire team on board, provide additional training and be ready for some initial resistance to the change.

It takes time

The benefits of the lean construction approach might not be immediately visible from the start. It can take time for workers, managers and other stakeholders to adapt and really understand how the lean approach works in practice. In other words, the benefits won’t be instant; they’ll come gradually as the team learns and internalises the new principles.

Everyone needs to be onboard

The lean construction approach requires teams to work together, like a well-oiled machine. Its highly collaborative nature leverages the strengths of each team member to create a thriving work environment. However, this can be a double-edged sword. Weak links in the chain can cause huge setbacks and delays that affect the entire project and impact team morale.

Lean construction and BIM

With hsbcad's software solutions, whatever you design is manufactured, assembled & BIM-compliant.

Now that we’ve covered some of the basics of lean construction let’s take a look at how it relates to one of the construction industry’s most innovative methodologies, Building Information Modelling or BIM for short. BIM uses smart, cloud-based 3D modelling to help teams plan, design, build and manage construction projects. It creates a “digital twin” of a structure, enabling different stakeholders to collaborate, access vital information and make informed decisions.

Although BIM and lean construction are two different things, studies have shown that there is a great deal of synergy between them and that when used together, they can increase value for both clients and construction firms. Here are just a few of the ways BIM and lean construction complement each other:

A client-centric approach

Lean construction places a high value on understanding exactly what the client wants, why they want it and delivering projects that come as close as possible to their wishes. BIM facilitates the process by providing detailed digital models of a structure, making it easier for teams and clients to:

Visualise the possibilities
Get on the same page in terms of goals, timelines, costs, and specifications
Provide the input needed to make the project a success

Detailed forecasts and planning

Waste reduction, efficiency and cost-effectiveness are some of the core goals of the lean construction approach. BIM enables teams to create accurate and highly detailed forecasts of the materials needed, the timelines, the labour and the expected costs. This detailed planning makes it easier to reduce waste, order and use exactly the resources needed and not exceed the forecasted budget.

High levels of collaboration and a streamlined workflow

The lean construction approach places a high value on collaboration across teams, phases and stakeholders. BIM facilitates this by providing detailed, cloud-based models that are easily accessible to anyone on the team. This enables team members to:

Be more informed
Notice and point out any errors or inaccuracies
Spot opportunities
Make modifications and improvements

In short, when implemented together, BIM and lean construction can lead to a more integrated process in construction that yields higher quality and efficiency rates.

Lean construction and offsite construction

Many of the goals of offsite construction are complemented by the lean construction approach, helping to streamline the process through its different phases, including:

Planning and design
Prefabrication
Assembly

By implementing the lean construction principles and the 6s strategy, offsite construction companies can create reliable forecasts, increase productivity, improve worker safety, minimise waste and maximise value across projects and daily operations. In addition:

Lean construction’s “just in time” approach ensures that materials, parts and supplies are only sent to a site once the design is finalised and workers are ready to get started.
Combining lean and offsite construction enables companies to meet customer schedules and overcome common logistical challenges more effectively.
Offsite construction requires a great deal of communication and coordination, which is facilitated by lean construction’s highly collaborative nature.

The future of construction is lean

The construction industry is going through a period of rapid change, with higher demands for speed, cost-effectiveness, efficiency and quality. Lean construction can help companies achieve these goals while at the same time creating a more collaborative, inclusive, safe and streamlined work environment.

With sustainability and resource preservation becoming a bigger priority every day, it isn’t surprising that the interest in lean construction is expanding globally and that a growing number of forward-thinking companies are making it a part of their everyday work.

In addition, it complements some of the biggest agents of change currently transforming the way we build things - BIM and offsite construction - magnifying their benefits and creating an even bigger value for both clients and companies.

All these factors combined, it’s safe to say that lean construction will be one of the driving agents helping to transform the construction industry as we know it - providing companies with a competitive advantage and helping them deliver next-level results with fewer resources.

‍

----------

‍

Are you interested in maximising your BIM or offsite construction capabilities? Our software solutions can help you take your projects to the next level at any phase, including design, manufacturing and assembly.

‍

Download Press Release

Legal

Software License and Services Agreement

IMPORTANT NOTICE: PLEASE READ VERY CAREFULLY BEFORE USING ANY hsbcad MATERIALS OR SERVICES. hsbCAD ONLY LICENSES AND PROVIDES THE hsbCAD MATERIALS AND SERVICES ON THE CONDITION THAT LICENSEE FULLY ACCEPTS AND AGREES WITH ALL OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS CONTAINED AND/OR REFERENCED IN THIS AGREEMENT.

BY CLICKING “ACCEPT” OR BY SELECTING OR CLICKING ANY OTHER BUTTON OR MECHANISM DESIGNED TO ACKNOWLEDGE AGREEMENT TO THE TERMS OF AN ELECTRONIC COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT, OR BY COPYING, INSTALLING, DOWNLOADING, ACCESSING OR USING ANY HSBCAD SOFTWARE OR OTHER MATERIALS OR SERVICES IN WHOLE OR IN PART, YOU
(1) ACCEPT ALL OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT INCLUDING, IN PARTICULAR, THE LIMITATIONS ON: USE CONTAINED IN SECTION 3; TRANSFERABILITY IN SECTION 5; WARRANTY AND LIABILITY IN SECTIONS 8, 9 AND 10; AND SPECIFIC PROVISIONS AND EXCEPTIONS IN SECTION 15. YOU AGREE THAT THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKE ANY WRITTEN NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT SIGNED BY YOU. THIS AGREEMENT IS ENFORCEABLE AGAINST YOU AND ANY LEGAL ENTITY THAT OBTAINED THE SOFTWARE AND/OR ON WHOSE BEHALF IT IS USED: FOR EXAMPLE, IF APPLICABLE, YOUR EMPLOYER;
(2) ACCEPT ALL OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED UNDER (1) ON BEHALF OF THE ENTITY FOR WHICH YOU ARE AUTHORIZED TO ACT (E.G. AN EMPLOYER) AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SUCH ENTITY SHALL BE LEGALLY BOUND BY THIS AGREEMENT (AND YOU AGREE TO ACT IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH THIS AGREEMENT) OR, IF THERE IS NO SUCH ENTITY FOR WHICH YOU ARE AUTHORIZED TO ACT, YOU ACCEPT ALL OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED UNDER (1) ON BEHALF OF YOURSELF AS AN INDIVIDUAL AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU ARE LEGALLY BOUND BY THE SAME;
(3) REPRESENT AND WARRANT THAT YOU HAVE THE RIGHT, POWER AND AUTHORITY TO ACT ON BEHALF OF AND BIND SUCH AFOREMENTIONED ENTITY (IF ANY) OR YOURSELF. YOU MAY NOT ACCEPT THIS AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER ENTITY, UNLESS YOU ARE AN EMPLOYEE OR OTHER AGENT OR REPRESENTATIVE OF SUCH ENTITY WITH THE PROPER RIGHT, POWER AND AUTHORITY TO ACT ON BEHALF OF AND BIND SUCH OTHER ENTITY.
IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO BE BOUND BY THIS AGREEMENT, DO NOT CLICK “ACCEPT” NOR SELECT OR CLICK ANY OTHER BUTTON OR MECHANISM DESIGNED TO ACKNOWLEDGE AGREEMENT TO THE TERMS OF AN ELECTRONIC COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT AND DO NOT COPY, INSTALL, DOWNLOAD, ACCESS OR USE ANY hsbCAD SOFTWARE OR OTHER MATERIALS OR SERVICES IN ANY WAY, BE IT IN WHOLE OR IN PART, AND IMMEDIATELY RETURN TO hsbCAD OR DESTROY ANY AND ALL (COPIES OF) MATERIALS RECEIVED FROM hsbCAD AS WELL AS ANY (COPIES OF) MATERIALS OTHERWISE INSTALLED, ACQUIRED OR ACCESSED, AS THE CASE MAY BE.
hsbCAD AND ITS SUPPLIERS OWN ALL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS IN THE LICENSED SOFTWARE AND OTHER hsbCAD MATERIALS AS DEFINED BELOW. THE SOFTWARE IS LICENSED, NOT SOLD. hsbCAD PERMITS YOU TO COPY, DOWNLOAD, INSTALL, USE, OR OTHERWISE BENEFIT FROM THE FUNCTIONALITY OR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF THE LICENSED SOFTWARE ONLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT. THE USE OF SOME hsbCAD AND SOME THIRD PARTY MATERIALS AND SERVICES INCLUDED IN OR ACCESSED THROUGH THE hsbCAD MATERIALS MAY BE SUBJECT TO OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS TYPICALLY FOUND IN A SEPARATE LICENSE AGREEMENT, TERMS OF USE OR “READ-ME” FILE LOCATED WITHIN OR NEAR SUCH MATERIALS AND SERVICES OR ON RELEVANT WEBSITES. PLEASE MAKE SURE TO CAREFULLY READ ANY SUCH AGREEMENTS AND TERMS.
THE SOFTWARE MAY INCLUDE PRODUCT ACTIVATION AND OTHER TECHNOLOGY DESIGNED TO PREVENT UNAUTHORIZED USE AND COPYING, AND TECHNOLOGY TO HELP YOU MANAGE LICENSES. SUCH TECHNOLOGY MAY PREVENT YOUR USE OF THE LICENSED SOFTWARE IF YOU DO NOT FOLLOW THE ACTIVATION, INSTALLATION, AND/OR LICENSE MANAGEMENT PROCESS DESCRIBED IN THE SOFTWARE AND DOCUMENTATION.
The present Software License and Services Agreement (“Agreement”) governs the entire relationship between Licensee and hsbcad, including Licensee’s Use of the Licensed Software, other hsbcad Materials and/or Services as defined below. By Using the Licensed Software, other hsbcad Materials and/or Services (see definitions below) in any way, You agree to be fully bound by all of the terms and conditions contained and/or referenced in this Agreement. If you have entered into a separate agreement with hsbcad and/or a Reseller with regard to the Licensed Software, hsbcad Materials, the Services or other services or software, then the terms of such agreement may supersede or supplement this agreement in whole or in part.

Article 1 : Definitions
Each of the following terms in this Agreement shall have the meaning indicated below:

– Affiliate: an affiliated company within the meaning of Article 11 of the Belgian Company Code;

– Agreement: the present License and Services Agreement, including all appendices and schedules thereto, as it may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof;

– Computer: a single electronic device, with one or more central processing units (CPUs), that accepts information in digital or similar form and manipulates it for a specific result based on a sequence of instructions, or an emulation of such a device (a so-called ‘virtual machine’);

– Content: sample or example drawings and designs, plans, elements, images, modules or components for drawings and designs, representations of elements used in drawings and designs (e.g. parts of buildings, buildings, fixtures, timber elements and structures, carpentry elements and structures, walls, intersections, connectors, roofs, doors, logs, architectural design parts, numberings of parts and elements, etc.) and other (visual) Materials provided with(in) the Licensed Software or other hsbcad Materials;

– Documentation: informational, explanatory or instructional Materials with regard to the Use of the Licensed Software, Online Services or other hsbcad Materials, distributed or made available to Licensee by hsbcad or a Reseller, whether in printed or electronic form, whether downloadable or accessible online, accompanied by or incorporated into the Licensed Software or related Materials (or the packaging for the Licensed Software or related Materials);

– End User Product: an Output File containing the hsbcad Run-Time. Examples of End User Products include the plans, drawings, construction models, 3D construction simulations, designs, (re)presentations, demonstration files, interactive multimedia material, reports, interactive products and platforms and the like;

– hsbcad or We: hsbcad BVBA, a limited liability company organized under Belgian law having its registered offices at 9031 Drongen, Brouwerijstraat 1/9 and with company number 0475.468363;

– hsbcad Materials: Materials directly or indirectly distributed or made available by hsbcad to Licensee, including the Licensed Software, Content, Upgrades, Third Party Software and Documentation;

– hsbcad Run-Time: that portion of the Licensed Software required in order for an Output File to operate on a Computer or other hardware on which the Licensed Software itself is or may not be installed;

– Intellectual Property Rights: any and all existing and future intellectual, industrial, commercial and all other property and similar rights including, without limitation, patent rights, trademark rights, rights on statutory and commercial denominations, domain names and all other possible rights on signs used in the course of business to distinguish oneself from others in economic life, model and design rights, copyrights and neighbouring rights (also as applied to computer programs and databases), sui generis database rights, rights on know-how and/or trade secrets as well as all other possible rights on intellectual creations in the field of literature, arts, technology and/or science, whether registered or unregistered;

– Licensee or You: the natural or legal person to whom the Licensed Software is licensed and, as the case may be, the other hsbcad Materials and/or Services provided by hsbcad and/or Reseller;

– Licensed Software: the specific type(s) of Software licensed to Licensee as indicated in the Order Confirmation and which may include or be accompanied by Third Party Software;

– Materials: files, presentations, manuals, memoranda, drawings, illustrations, sketches, plans, records, documents, notes, specifications, writings, reports, pieces of work, studies, research results, creations, works of authorship, databases, compilations, data, products, Software, websites, inventions and technology;

– Order Confirmation: written confirmation (e.g. email or letter or invoice) as sent by hsbCAD or Reseller to Licensee and indicating the quantity and price of the Licensed Software, other hsbcad Materials and/or Services ordered by and provided to Licensee;

– Output File: Material(s) generated by (or on behalf of) Licensee Using the Licensed Software, Services, Content and/or other hsbcad Materials;

– Permitted Number: a maximum number (e.g. of authorized and/or concurrent users, computers, seats, sessions, etc.) applicable to a certain type of license of the Licensed Software and/or other hsbcad Materials. Such number is determined by hsbcad and shall be specified in the applicable Order Confirmation;

– Personnel: Licensee’s individual employees and individual persons who are independent contractors working on Licensee’s premises and who Use the Licensed Software only on and through Computers or accounts owned or leased and controlled by Licensee;

– Reseller: means a distributor or reseller, authorized directly or indirectly by hsbcad to distribute authentic hsbcad Materials;

– Services: the services (including the results thereof) directly provided or made available to Licensee by hsbcad under this Agreement, e.g. access, connecting, support, storage, simulation, testing and/or training services, and as indicated in the Order Confirmation;

– Software: one or more applications (incl. Software as a Service), computer programs, functions and/or features of a computer program, computer program solutions or, as the case may be, one or more modules or components of one or more of the foregoing, also including Upgrades;

– Territory: the country or countries specified in the Order Confirmation or, if there is no such Order Confirmation or country specified, the country in which Licensee acquires a license to the hsbcad Materials. If the Territory is a Member State of the European Union or the European Free Trade Association, Territory means all the countries of the European Union and the European Free Trade Association.

– Third Party Software: Software, the Intellectual Property Rights in which are not owned by hsbcad or Licensee or any of their Affiliates and which is used in connection with the performance of obligations under this Agreement or at any time supplied in connection with or for the purposes of this Agreement;

– Uninstall: to remove or disable a copy of hsbcad Materials from a hard drive or other storage medium through any means or otherwise to destroy or make unusable a copy of such hsbcad Materials;

– Upgrade: a full commercial version of Licensed Software which is a successor to or substitute for a prior release of the same, which may incorporate fixes, error corrections, patches, service packs and/or updates vis-à-vis such prior release and for which hsbcad may charge a separate license fee. An Upgrade does not include Software that hsbcad considers to be a separate Licensed Software product. Whether Software is an Upgrade or a separate Licensed Software product is determined by hsbcad at its sole discretion;

– Use/Using: downloading, installing, accessing, executing and/or in any other way using or benefitting from the features or functionality of;

– Use for Internal Business Needs: Use by Licensee or Licensee’s personnel or agents or appointees to meet the internal requirements of Licensee’s business in the ordinary course of such business, provided that it will in no event include providing or making available any Licensed Software or other hsbcad Materials (or the features or functionalities thereof) to any third party.

Article 2 : Object of the Agreement
The object of this Agreement is the licensing of Licensed Software and, as the case may be, the provision of additional hsbcad Materials and/or Services associated with such Licensed Software, by hsbcad and/or a Reseller, to Licensee. The specific type(s) of Licensed Software, hsbcad Materials and/or Services concerned, as well as the description of the same, shall be indicated in the Order Confirmation.
This Agreement replaces and supersedes any and all prior written and verbal agreements between hsbcad and Licensee with regard to the subject matter thereof.

Article 3 : License grant
Subject to the continued compliance by Licensee with all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including the payment of any and all applicable fees and other amounts due, hsbcad hereby grants to Licensee, who accepts, a non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicenseable, limited license to Use the Licensed Software and, as the case may be, the other hsbcad Materials and/or Services, for Licensee’s Internal Business Needs, within the indicated scope of the license type indicated in the Order Confirmation and solely within the Territory and for/by the Permitted Number of authorized/concurrent users, Computers, seats, sessions, copies, etc. In any case where the Order Confirmation would not specify a license type or Permitted Number, or there is no Order Confirmation, the Permitted Number will, by default, be one (1). Any license is revocable at all times as indicated below.
3.1 General Use. Licensee may Use one (1) copy of the Licensed Software or, as the case may be, one account for each of the Permitted Number of authorized/concurrent users, Computers, seats, sessions, copies, etc..
3.2 Secondary Use. As the case may be, the unique user of the Computer on which the Licensed Software is installed (resp. “Primary User” and “Primary Computer”) may install a second copy of the Licensed Software for his or her exclusive use on either a portable Computer or a Computer located at his or her home, provided that the Licensed Software on the portable or home Computer is not used at the same time as the Licensed Software on the Primary Computer and both the initial copy and the secondary copy of the Licensed Software are only used by the unique Primary User. Licensee may be required to contact hsbcad or Reseller in order to make a secondary copy.
3.3 Back-up Copy. Licensee may make a reasonable number of back-up copies of the Licensed Software. Such back-up copies may not be Used for any other than archiving purposes (i.e. on a back-up storage medium from which the Licensed Software cannot be accessed), unless and for so long as the primary copy is inaccessible and inoperable.
3.4 Run-Time Distribution. Licensee may make copies of an End User Product and the associated hsbcad Run-Time, and distribute those copies freely. However, the hsbcad Run-Time may never be distributed or Used separately, meaning other than as bundled with the Output File as part of the End User Product. In addition, any and all distribution to or Use by a third party to this Agreement of (a copy of) the End User Product shall be subject to that third party’s prior and written understanding and agreement that no title to, interest in nor ownership rights with regard to the hsbcad Run-Time or other hsbcad Materials are licensed or transferred to them in any way and that the End User Product, including the hsbcad Run-Time, shall not be reverse compiled or disassembled.
3.5 Content. Unless stated otherwise in the “Read-Me” files associated with Content, which may include specific rights and restrictions with respect to such Content, Licensee may display, modify, reproduce and distribute any of the Content within the framework of its authorized Use of the Licensed Software. However, Licensee may never distribute, reproduce, communicate to the public or otherwise commercialize any Content on a stand-alone basis (i.e., in circumstances in which the Content constitutes the primary value of the product or information being distributed). Content may not be used in the production, distribution, communication or use of libellous, defamatory, fraudulent, lewd, obscene or pornographic material or any material that infringes upon any third party Intellectual Property Rights or in any other unlawful manner. Licensee may not claim any Intellectual Property Rights in or with regard to Content or derivative works thereof. Licensee agrees to indemnify, hold harmless and defend hsbcad and Reseller from and against any loss, damage, claims or lawsuits, including attorney’s fees that arise or result from any above-mentioned unlawful or unauthorized use, reproduction, communication, distribution or commercialization of Content.
3.6 Authorized Users. Licensee may permit the Licensed Software and other hsbcad Materials to be Used only by Licensee’s Personnel (except as otherwise designated in the applicable Order Confirmation), and any such Use will be subject to any other requirements imposed by this Agreement and the applicable license type and Permitted Number. Licensee will be responsible for compliance with this Agreement by Licensee’s Personnel and any other persons who may have access to or otherwise Use the hsbcad Materials through Licensee (whether or not such Use is authorized by hsbcad or Reseller or within the scope of the applicable license type and Permitted Number).
3.7 hsbcad Materials as a Single Product. The hsbcad Materials are licensed to Licensee as a single product and the applicable components may not be separated for access or Use (and all such components must be installed and Used on the same Computer except as authorized in writing by hsbcad or Reseller).
3.8 Effect of Unauthorized Use. Licensee will not engage in, and will not permit or assist any third party to engage in any of the Uses or activities prohibited (or any Uses or activities inconsistent with the limitations described) in this Agreement, in particular in Articles 3 and 5 of this Agreement (collectively, “Unauthorized Use”). Any such Unauthorized Use shall constitute an infringement of hsbcad’s (suppliers’) Intellectual Property Rights and a fundamental breach of this Agreement. Licensee will notify hsbcad promptly of any Unauthorized Use it may gain knowledge of.

3.9 hsbshare. hsbshare may automatically form part of the hsbcad Materials and Services provided to Licensees who timely pay their annual maintenance fees to hsbcad and this without additional payment required from Licensee up to a storage of 50GB per hsbShare account. Such courtesy inclusion and this Material and Service shall be strictly limited to such storage limit, be considered as a trial version and subject to the present terms of agreement, especially Articles 9.1, 15.2 and 16. Licensee acknowledges and agrees that, upon use of hsbshare beyond the aforementioned limit of 50GB, additional payments may be invoiced by hsbcad for the same without the need for any prior notice or information in that regard.

Article 4 : Ownership of Intellectual Property Rights
Licensee acknowledges and agrees that the Licensed Software and other hsbcad Materials are licensed, not sold, and that rights to Use the same are acquired only under the license from hsbcad. The Licensed Software and other hsbcad Materials provided to Licensee by hsbcad or Reseller, as well as any and all (authorized) copies made thereof by Licensee, are the intellectual property of and are owned by hsbcad and its suppliers. Consequently, any and all Intellectual Property Rights related to the Licensed Software and other hsbcad Materials (including any trade names, trademarks and patents) are exclusively owned by hsbcad and/or its suppliers. The structure, organization and code of the Licensed Software are the valuable trade secrets and confidential information of hsbcad and its suppliers, they may not be disclosed, distributed or otherwise provided to any third parties and they may be Used only internally for Licensee’s Internal Business Needs as authorized under this Agreement. The Licensed Software and other hsbcad Materials are protected by law, including but not limited to the software and copyright laws of various countries, among which Titles 5 and 6 of Book X.I of the Belgian Code of Economic Law of 28 February 2013, as well as by international treaty provisions. Except as expressly stated herein, this Agreement does not in any way grant Licensee any Intellectual Property Rights in the Licensed Software or other hsbcad Materials, and all rights not expressly granted are reserved by hsbcad and its suppliers.

Article 5 : Restrictions of Use
5.1 Notices. Licensee may not copy the Licensed Software, except as provided in Article 3. Any permitted copy of the Licensed Software must contain the same copyright and other proprietary notices that appear on or in the Licensed Software.
5.2 No Modifications. Licensee may not modify, adapt or translate the Licensed Software. Licensee may not reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble or otherwise attempt to discover the source code of the Licensed Software, except to the extent explicitly permitted under applicable law to decompile in order to achieve interoperability with the Licensed Software.
5.3 No Unbundling. The Licensed Software may include various applications, utilities and components, may support multiple platforms and languages and may be provided to Licensee on multiple media or in multiple copies. Nonetheless, the Licensed Software is designed and provided to Licensee as a single product to be used as a single product on Computers as permitted by this Agreement. Licensee is not required to use all component parts of the Licensed Software, but Licensee may not unbundle the component parts of the Licensed Software for Use on different Computers. Licensee may not unbundle or repackage the Licensed Software for distribution, transfer or resale.
5.4 No Transfer. LICENSEE MAY NOT RENT, LEASE, SELL, SUBLICENSE, ASSIGN, TRANSFER OR OTHERWISE COMMERCIALIZE (LICENSEE’S RIGHTS IN OR TO) THE LICENSED SOFTWARE, NOR AUTHORIZE ANY PORTION OF THE LICENSED SOFTWARE TO BE COPIED ONTO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL OR LEGAL ENTITY’S COMPUTER EXCEPT AS MAY BE PERMITTED EXPLICITLY IN THIS AGREEMENT. Licensee may, however, permanently transfer all of Licensee’s rights to Use the Licensed Software to another individual or legal entity (“Transferee”) provided that: (a) Licensee also transfers (i) this Agreement, (ii) the serial number(s) and the Licensed Software affixed to media provided by hsbcad or its Reseller and (iii) all other Materials bundled, packaged or pre-installed with the Licensed Software, including any and all copies, Upgrades, updates and prior versions to the Transferee; (b) Licensee retains no Upgrades, updates or copies whatsoever, including backups and copies stored on a Computer; and (c) the Transferee fully accepts the terms and conditions of this Agreement and any other terms and conditions under which Licensee purchased a valid license to the Licensed Software. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, LICENSEE MAY NOT TRANSFER EDUCATION, PRE-RELEASE, TRIAL OR OTHER NOT FOR RESALE COPIES OF THE LICENSED SOFTWARE. Prior to a transfer, hsbcad may require that Licensee and the Transferee confirm in writing their compliance with this Agreement, provide hsbcad with information about themselves and register as end-users of the Licensed Software.
5.5 No Circumvention. Licensee may not (i) utilize any equipment, device, Software, or other means to (or designed to) circumvent or remove any form of technical protection used by hsbcad or its suppliers in connection with the hsbcad Materials, or (ii) Use the hsbcad Materials with any product code, authorization code, serial number, or other copy-protection device not supplied by hsbcad directly or through a Reseller. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Licensee may not utilize any equipment, device, Software, or other means to (or designed to) circumvent or remove the hsbcad or its suppliers’ license manager, key or any tool or technical protection measure provided or made available by hsbcad or its suppliers for managing, monitoring or controlling Use of hsbcad Materials. Licensee may not utilize any equipment, device, Software or other means to (or designed to) circumvent or remove any usage restrictions, or to enable a functionality disabled by hsbcad or its suppliers. Licensee may not bypass or delete any functionality or technical limitations of the hsbcad Materials that (or that are designed to) prevent or inhibit any unauthorized copying or Use.
5.6 Exceptions to Prohibitions. The prohibitions and limitations contained in this Agreement will not apply to the extent that the applicable law (including, without limitation, laws implementing EC Directive 91/250 on the legal protection of computer programs and laws of other jurisdictions relating to similar subject matter) does not allow such prohibition or limitation to be enforced. Moreover, this Agreement describes certain legal rights for Licensee. Licensee may, however, also have other rights under the laws of the state or country where the hsbcad Materials are acquired, and this Agreement does not change Licensee’s rights under the mandatory laws of such state or country if and to the extent the laws of such state or country do not permit this Agreement to do so. Licensee will bear the burden of proof in demonstrating that applicable law does not allow enforcement of any such prohibition or limitation or does not permit this Agreement to change particular rights in such state or country.
5.7 Use at own discretion and risk. hsbcad specifically disclaims any liability for any actions, damages or claims resulting from Licensee’s Use of any Services or hsbcad Materials. Licensee may Use the Services and hsbcad Materials at its own discretion and risk, and Licensee is solely responsible for any damage to its computer system or loss of data that results from such Use.

Article 6 : Updates
If the Licensed Software is an Upgrade or update to a previous version of hsbcad Software, You must possess a valid license to such previous version in order to Use such Upgrade or update. After You install such update or Upgrade, you may continue to Use any such previous version in accordance with its agreement only if (a) the Upgrade or update and all previous versions are installed on the same Computer, (b) the previous versions or copies thereof are not transferred to another party or device and (c) you acknowledge that any obligation hsbcad may have to support or maintain the previous version(s) may be ended upon the (end of the) availability of the Upgrade or update concerned. No other Use of the previous version(s) than the one indicated above is permitted after installation of an update or Upgrade. Upgrades and updates may be licensed to Licensee by hsbcad under additional or different terms vis-à-vis this Agreement.

Article 7 : Services
hsbcad may provide, and Licensee may elect to receive or benefit from, certain Services from time to time. Services shall be subject to this Agreement as well as, as the case may be, to additional hsbcad service terms. Licensee agrees that if it requests, accepts or makes Use of any Services, Licensee will be bound by such service terms, as they may be modified from time to time (and such terms, as so modified from time to time, are a part of and incorporated by reference into this Agreement) and Licensee explicitly agrees to comply with such terms. Licensee acknowledges that hsbcad may require a further acceptance of any such terms as a condition to providing Services.

Article 8 : Warnings
8.1 Extent of hsbcad’s obligations, responsibility of Licensee for choice of hsbCAD Materials and Output Files and limitations of hsbcad Materials

hsbcad shall provide any and all hsbcad Materials and Services as a professional and diligent provider in accordance with the state of the art and the standards applicable in the industry. hsbcad’s obligations with regard to the provision of such hsbcad Materials and/or Services are means-driven obligations (“obligations de moyens/middelenverbintenissen”). Licensee acknowledges and agrees that Licensee has chosen any and all hsbcad Materials and Services to be licensed and/or provided by hsbcad to Licensee freely, under Licensee’s own responsibility and choice among the various available options, in view of the technical qualities and specifications required by Licensee as well as according to Licensee’s current and anticipated needs. Licensee has made such choice in consideration of Licensee’s own requirements, albeit upon advice or suggestion by hsbcad, as the case may be, but without any further intervention of hsbcad, whom Licensee discharges from any and all responsibility or liability in this respect, and with full knowledge of the advantages and limitations of all hsbcad Materials and Services. Licensee indeed acknowledges that Licensee has taken note of the technical specifications and operating procedures prior to ordering any hsbcad Materials and/or Services, and Licensee acknowledges that the technical and functional features of such hsbcad Materials and/or Services meet Licensee’s current needs and those that Licensee can reasonably foresee to arise in the future in that regard. hsbcad cannot be held liable for latent problems or defects in hsbcad Materials or Services, nor for any direct or consequential damages resulting therefrom, except for damages caused by hsbcad’s gross negligence or fraud.

The hsbcad Materials are commercial professional tools intended to be used by trained and specialized professionals only. Particularly in the case of commercial professional use, the Licensed Software, Content and other hsbcad Materials can never be considered to be a substitute for Licensee’s professional judgment or independent testing, calculations, measurements and simulations. The hsbcad Materials are intended only to assist Licensee with its design, visualization, analysis, simulation, estimation, testing and/or other activities and are not a substitute for Licensee’s own independent design, analysis, simulation, calculation, estimation, measurement, testing, geometry efforts and/or other activities, including those with respect to product stress, stability, interoperability, interconnectivity, safety and utility. Due to the large variety of potential applications for the hsbcad Materials, they have not been tested in all situations under which they may be used. Licensee hereby acknowledges and agrees that hsbcad will not be liable in any manner whatsoever for any use made of hsbcad Materials by Licensee, nor for any Output File, End User Product or other result obtained through any Use of the hsbcad Materials, nor for any constructions, models, drawings, devices, objects or buildings created, printed or otherwise brought to life with the help of or based upon any hsbcad Materials or Output Files or End User Products. Persons using hsbcad Materials are responsible for the supervision, (double-)checking, management, verification and control of the hsbcad Materials and any Output Files or End User Products before implementing them. This responsibility includes, without being limited thereto, the determination of appropriate uses for the hsbcad Materials and the selection of the same and other computer programs and Materials to help achieve intended results. Persons using the hsbcad Materials are also responsible for establishing the adequacy of independent procedures for testing the reliability, accuracy, completeness and other characteristics of any Output File or End User Product, including, without limitation, all items, drawings, simulations and other Materials designed or created with the assistance of the hsbcad Materials, especially as regards constructions, buildings and other accuracy- and stability-sensitive objects and properties. Licensee further acknowledges and agrees that the hsbcad Materials will form part of Licensee’s global unique hardware and software environment to deliver specific functionality, and that the hsbcad Materials may not achieve the results Licensee desires or intended within Licensee’s design, analysis, simulation, estimation, and/or testing constraints in that regard.
8.2 Storage. When the Services provide storage, We recommend that You continue to back up your Output Files, content and other relevant data regularly. We may create reasonable technical limits on your Output Files, content and/or data, such as limits on file size, storage space, processing capacity, and other technical limits. We may suspend the Services until you are within the storage space limit associated with your account.
8.3 Connectivity and Online Services. Certain hsbcad Materials or Services may facilitate, require or rely upon Licensee’s access to and Use of Materials, Software and/or Services that are hosted on or offered via websites maintained by hsbcad or a third party (“Online Services”). In some cases, such Online Services may appear to be a feature or function within, or extension of, the hsbcad Materials on Licensee’s Computer even though hosted on such websites. Accessing such Online Services and use of any hsbcad Materials in connection with them may cause Licensee’s Computer, without additional notice, to connect automatically to the Internet (transitorily, intermittently or on a regular basis) and to communicate with a hsbcad or third-party website, Online Service or Software. Such connectivity and communication is governed by the terms (including disclaimers and notices) found on such websites or otherwise associated with the relevant Online Services. hsbcad does not control, endorse or accept any responsibility for any such third-party websites or Online Services. Any dealings between Licensee and a third party in connection with such websites and/or Online Services, including delivery of and payment for goods and services and any other terms, conditions, warranties or representations associated with such dealings, are solely between Licensee and such third party. hsbcad may at any time, for any reason, modify or discontinue the availability of any website or Online Service. EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY AGREED BY HSBCAD OR ITS AFFILIATES OR A THIRD PARTY IN A SEPARATE AGREEMENT, YOUR USE OF WEBSITES AND ONLINE SERVICES IS AT YOUR OWN RISK UNDER THE WARRANTY AND LIABILITY LIMITATIONS OF SECTIONS 8, 9 AND 10.
8.4 Disabling Access. LICENSEE ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT INSTALLATION OF AND ACCESS TO LICENSED SOFTWARE AND HSBCAD MATERIALS MAY BE DISABLED BY THE ACTIVATION, SECURITY, AND TECHNICAL PROTECTION MECHANISMS IF LICENSEE TRIES TO TRANSFER ALL OR A PART OF THE LICENSED SOFTWARE OR HSBCAD MATERIALS TO ANOTHER COMPUTER, IF LICENSEE TAMPERS WITH THE TECHNICAL PROTECTION MECHANISMS OR DATE-SETTING MECHANISMS ON A COMPUTER OR IN THE LICENSED SOFTWARE OR HSBCAD MATERIALS, IF LICENSEE USES THE LICENSED SOFTWARE OR HSBCAD MATERIALS PAST AN APPLICABLE SUBSCRIPTION OR LICENSING PERIOD OR FIXED TERM, OR IF LICENSEE UNDERTAKES CERTAIN OTHER ACTIONS THAT AFFECT THE SECURITY MODE OR UNDER OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES AND THAT, IN ANY SUCH EVENT, LICENSEE’S ACCESS TO LICENSEE’S WORK PRODUCT, OUTPUT FILES, END USER PRODUCTS AND OTHER DATA MAY BE AFFECTED.
8.5 Taxes, third-party fees and collection. You must pay any applicable taxes, and any applicable third-party fee (including, for example, telephone toll charges, mobile carrier fees, ISP charges, data plan charges, credit card fees, foreign exchange fees, etc.). We are not responsible for these fees. We may take steps to collect any fees you owe us. You are responsible for all related collection costs and expenses.

Article 9 : Limited Warranty
9.1 Except as may be otherwise provided for in this Agreement, hsbcad warrants, to the natural or legal person that first purchases a license for the Licensed Software for Use pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, that the Licensed Software will provide the general features and functions described in the Documentation for the ninety (90) day period following delivery of the Licensed Software (“Warranty Period”) when Used on the recommended operating systems and hardware configurations. Non-substantial variation of performance from the Documentation does not establish any warranty right. THIS LIMITED WARRANTY DOES NOT APPLY TO (MEANING THERE IS NO WARRANTY FOR) PATCHES, PRE-RELEASE (BETA), TRIAL, TRYOUT, STARTER, EVALUATION, PRODUCT SAMPLER OR NOT FOR RESALE (NFR) VERSIONS OR COPIES OF ANY LICENSED SOFTWARE, NOR TO/FOR WEBSITES OR ONLINE SERVICES. All warranty claims must be made, along with proper proof of purchase, to hsbcad within the aforementioned ninety (90) day period. hsbcad’s entire liability and Licensee’s exclusive remedy during the Warranty Period (“Limited Warranty”) will be, with the exception of any statutory warranty or remedy that cannot be excluded or limited under mandatory law, at hsbcad’s option, (i) to attempt to correct or work around errors, if any, or (ii) to refund the license fees, if any, paid by Licensee during the calendar year in which the warranty claim was made, and terminate this Agreement or the license specific to such Licensed Software. Any refund is conditioned upon the return to hsbcad or, as the case may be, the deletion, during the Warranty Period, of all of the hsbcad Materials received or Used. THE LIMITED WARRANTY SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION GIVES LICENSEE SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS. LICENSEE MAY HAVE ADDITIONAL RIGHTS UNDER LAW WHICH MAY VARY FROM JURISDICTION TO JURISDICTION. HSBCAD DOES NOT SEEK TO LIMIT LICENSEE’S WARRANTY RIGHTS TO ANY EXTENT NOT PERMITTED BY MANDATORY LAW.
9.2 To the extent that the Use of Licensed Software requires the Use of Third-Party Software, Materials or Services, Licensee acknowledges that any such Third-Party Software, Materials and Services are subject to – and Licensee shall fully comply with – the relevant third party’s terms and conditions. Any implied or express warranty with regard to such Third-Party Software or Services shall be strictly limited to the warranties given by that third party to hsbcad (back-to-back). In addition, Licensee will take sole responsibility for obtaining and complying with any and all licenses that may be necessary to use any Third-Party Software, Materials or Services. Licensee acknowledges and agrees that hsbcad has no responsibility for, and makes no representations or warranties regarding such Third-Party Software, Materials or Services or Licensee’s use of the same.
9.3 Disclaimer. EXCEPT FOR THE EXPRESS LIMITED WARRANTY PROVIDED IN SECTION 9.1 ABOVE (LIMITED WARRANTY), AND TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, HSBCAD, ITS AFFILIATES, RESELLERS AND SUPPLIERS MAKE, AND LICENSEE RECEIVES, NO WARRANTIES, REPRESENTATIONS, OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NONINFRINGEMENT, OR WARRANTIES OTHERWISE IMPLIED BY STATUTE OR FROM A COURSE OF DEALING OR USAGE OF TRADE) WITH RESPECT TO ANY HSBCAD MATERIALS OR SERVICES. ANY DATA, IMAGES, STATEMENTS OR REPRESENTATIONS ABOUT HSBCAD, ITS AFFILIATES OR RESELLERS OR ABOUT OR IN HSBCAD MATERIALS AND THEIR FEATURES OR FUNCTIONALITY OR ANY COMMUNICATION WITH LICENSEE ARE FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY, AND DO NOT CONSTITUTE ANY WARRANTY, REPRESENTATION OR CONDITION. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, HSBCAD, ITS AFFILIATES, RESELLERS AND SUPPLIERS DO NOT WARRANT: (A) THAT THE OPERATION OR OUTPUT OF THE LICENSED SOFTWARE OR (ONLINE) SERVICES WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, ACCURATE, RELIABLE OR COMPLETE, WHETHER OR NOT UNDER LICENSE OR SUPPORT BY HSBCAD, A RESELLER OR ANY THIRD PARTY; (B) THAT ERRORS WILL BE CORRECTED BY HSBCAD OR ANY THIRD PARTY; OR (C) THAT HSBCAD OR ANY THIRD PARTY WILL RESOLVE ANY PARTICULAR SUPPORT REQUEST OR THAT SUCH RESOLUTION WILL MEET LICENSEE’S REQUIREMENTS OR EXPECTATIONS.
ACCESS TO ANY WEBSITES AND/OR ONLINE SERVICES SHALL BE “AS-IS”, WITH ALL FAULTS AND ERRORS AND IMPERFECTIONS, AND HSBCAD, ITS AFFILIATES, RESELLERS AND SUPPLIERS EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, CONDITIONS, REPRESENTATIONS OR TERMS, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WHETHER BY STATUTE, COMMON LAW, CUSTOM, USAGE OR OTHERWISE AS TO ANY MATTER, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO PERFORMANCE, SECURITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS, INTEGRATION, MERCHANTABILITY, QUIET ENJOYMENT, SATISFACTORY QUALITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
NOTHING IN THE FOREGOING RESTRICTS THE EFFECT OF WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS WHICH MAY BE IMPLIED BY LAW WHICH CANNOT BE EXCLUDED, RESTRICTED OR MODIFIED NOTWITHSTANDING A CONTRACTUAL RESTRICTION TO THE CONTRARY.

Article 10 : Limitations of Liability
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, IN NO EVENT WILL hsbcad, ITS AFFILIATES, SUPPLIERS, DIRECTORS OR RESELLERS BE LIABLE FOR:
(A) ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (WHICH SHALL INCLUDE CLAIMS BY THIRD PARTIES), NOR FOR
(B) ANY LOSS OF USE, DATA, BUSINESS OR PROFITS, ANY BUSINESS INTERRUPTION OR FAILURE TO MEET ANY DEADLINE OR DUTY OF CARE, REGARDLESS OF THE LEGAL THEORY INVOKED IN THIS REGARD.
THIS WILL BE REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT HSBCAD OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES, SUPPLIERS, DIRECTORS OR RESELLERS HAS BEEN WARNED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, AND EVEN IF A REMEDY FAILS OF ITS ESSENTIAL PURPOSE.
IN ADDITION, THE AGGREGATE LIABILITY OF hsbcad, ITS AFFILIATES, RESELLERS, DIRECTORS AND SUPPLIERS ARISING OUT OF, OR IN RELATION TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY hsbcad MATERIALS OR SERVICES WILL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT PAID OR PAYABLE BY LICENSEE FOR SUCH MATERIALS OR SERVICES IN THE YEAR IN WHICH THE FACT OR CIRCUMSTANCE ON WHICH ANY LIABILITY CLAIM IS BASED HAS OCCURRED OR TAKEN PLACE.
THESE LIMITATIONS AND EXCLUSIONS OF LIABILITY MAY NOT BE VALID IN SOME JURISDICTIONS. THEY SHALL NOT APPLY IN THE EVENT OF DEATH OR PERSONAL INJURY RESULTING FROM hsbcad’s GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR TO ANY LOSS OR DAMAGES DIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RESULTING FROM hsbcad’S WILFUL MISCONDUCT OR FRAUD (TORT OF DECEIT). hsbcad IS ACTING ON BEHALF OF ITS AFFILIATES, DIRECTORS, RESELLERS AND SUPPLIERS FOR THE PURPOSES OF DISCLAIMING, EXCLUDING AND LIMITING OBLIGATIONS, WARRANTIES AND LIABILITY, BUT IN NO OTHER RESPECTS AND FOR NO OTHER PURPOSES.

Article 11 : term and termination
11.1 Term. Each license under this Agreement, with respect to each specific Licensed Software covered by this Agreement, will become effective as of the latest to occur of: (a) this Agreement becoming effective, (b) payment by Licensee of the applicable fees, excluding licenses (such as evaluation licenses) where no fees are required, OR (c) delivery of the specific Licensed Software. Unless indicated otherwise in the Order Confirmation, the term of the license will be indefinite. Each party may terminate this Agreement, Licensee’s license as to Licensed Software and/or the provision of (Online) Services if the other party is in breach of this Agreement and fails to cure such breach within ten (10) days after written notice in that regard. In addition, hsbcad may, as an alternative to termination, suspend Licensee’s license as to the Licensed Software or other hsbcad Materials or the provision of (Online) Services, other hsbcad obligations or Licensee rights under this Agreement, if Licensee fails to make a payment due or otherwise fails to comply with the provisions of this Agreement or other terms relating to any such license, (Online) Services, or other associated Materials. hsbcad may also terminate this Agreement if Licensee becomes subject to bankruptcy proceedings, becomes insolvent or makes an arrangement with Licensee’s creditors or if hsbcad elects to discontinue the Licensed Software or Services in whole or in part (e.g. if it becomes impractical for us to continue offering these in your region due to change of law)). This Agreement will terminate automatically without further notice or action by hsbcad if Licensee goes into liquidation. Licensee acknowledges and agrees that hsbcad may assign, transfer and/or subcontract any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement. In any case, irrespective of any breach or specific situation or not, and without having to give any reason therefor, hsbcad shall have the right to terminate this Agreement, Licensee’s license as to hsbcad Materials and/or the provision of (Online) Services upon 30 days’ written notice by registered letter or email with read receipt. The termination will be effective on the 31st day following the date on which the registered letter or email was sent.
11.2 Effect of Termination of Agreement or License. Upon termination or expiration of this Agreement, any and all licenses granted hereunder will terminate. Upon termination or expiration of one or more licenses granted to Licensee, Licensee must cease all use of hsbcad Materials to which such licenses apply and Uninstall all copies of such hsbcad Materials. At hsbcad’s first request, Licensee shall destroy or return to hsbcad any and all such hsbcad Materials. hsbcad reserves the right to require Licensee to show satisfactory proof that all copies of the hsbcad Materials have been Uninstalled and, if so requested by hsbcad, destroyed or returned to hsbcad.
11.3 Survival. Sections 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 will survive any termination or expiration of this Agreement or of a license. However, any such survival will not imply or create any continued right to use the Licensed Software or other hsbcad Materials after termination or expiration of this Agreement.

Article 12 : Export Rules
You agree that the Licensed Software will not be shipped, transferred or exported into any country or used in any manner prohibited by the United States Export Administration Act or by any other export laws, restrictions or regulations (collectively the “Export Laws”). In addition, if the Licensed Software is identified as an export controlled item under the Export Laws, You represent and warrant that You are not a citizen of, or located within, an embargoed or otherwise restricted nation (including without limitation Iran, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Cuba and North Korea) and that You are not otherwise prohibited under the Export Laws from receiving the Licensed Software. All rights to Use the Licensed Software are granted on condition that such rights are forfeited if You fail to comply with the terms of this Agreement.

13. Notice to U.S. Government End Users.
13.1 Commercial Items. The Licensed Software and Documentation are “Commercial Item(s),” as that term is defined at 48 C.F.R. Section 2.101, consisting of “Commercial Computer Software” and “Commercial Computer Software Documentation,” as such terms are used in 48 C.F.R. §12.212 or 48 C.F.R. §227.7202, as applicable. Consistent with 48 C.F.R. §12.212 or 48 C.F.R. Sections 227.7202-1 through 227.7202-4, as applicable, the Commercial Computer Software and Commercial Computer Software Documentation are being licensed to U.S. Government end users (a) only as Commercial Items and (b) with only those rights as are granted to all other end users pursuant to the terms and conditions herein. Unpublished-rights reserved under the copyright laws of the United States.
13.2 U.S. Government Licensing of hsbcad Technology. You agree that when licensing hsbcad Software for acquisition by the U.S. Government, or any contractor therefore, you will license consistent with the policies set forth in 48 C.F.R. Section 12.212 (for civilian agencies) and 48 C.F.R. Sections 227-7202-1 and 227-7202-4 (for the Department of Defense). For U.S. Government End Users, hsbcad agrees to comply with all applicable equal opportunity laws including, if appropriate, the provisions of Executive Order 11246, as amended, Section 402 of the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (38 USC 4212), and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the regulations at 41 CFR Parts 60-1 through 60-60, 60-250, and 60-741. The affirmative action clause and regulations contained in the preceding sentence will be incorporated by reference in this agreement.

Article 14 : Privacy
hsbcad’s privacy policy shall govern any personal data provided to hsbcad by Licensee.

Article 15 : Specific Provisions for Beta and Trial versions
15.1 Pre-release or Beta Version. If the Licensed Software or any other hsbcad Material is a pre-commercial release or beta version (“Pre-release Software”), then this Section applies. The Pre-release Software is a pre-release version, does not represent the final product from hsbcad, and may contain bugs, errors and other problems that could cause system or other failures and data loss. hsbcad may never commercially release the Pre-release Software. If You received the Pre-release Software pursuant to a separate written agreement, Your use of the Software is also governed by such agreement. You will return or destroy all copies of Pre-release Software upon first request by hsbcad or upon hsbcad’s commercial release of such Software. YOUR USE OF PRE-RELEASE SOFTWARE IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. SEE SECTIONS 8, 9 AND 10 FOR WARRANTY DISCLAIMERS AND LIABILITY LIMITATIONS WHICH GOVERN PRE-RELEASE SOFTWARE. ACCESS TO AND USE OF ANY OUTPUT FILES OR OTHER DATA CREATED WITH SUCH SOFTWARE OR ANY PRODUCT ASSOCIATED WITH SUCH SOFTWARE IS ENTIRELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.
15.2 Trial version. If the Licensed Software is a trial, tryout, starter or product sampler version (“Tryout Software”), then this Section applies. The Tryout Software may contain limited functionality and is to be used for demonstration and evaluation purposes only and not for your commercial purposes. YOUR USE OF TRYOUT SOFTWARE IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. SEE SECTIONS 8, 9 AND 10 FOR WARRANTY DISCLAIMERS AND LIABILITY LIMITATIONS WHICH GOVERN TRYOUT SOFTWARE. ACCESS TO AND USE OF ANY OUTPUT FILES OR OTHER DATA CREATED WITH SUCH SOFTWARE OR ANY PRODUCT ASSOCIATED WITH SUCH SOFTWARE IS ENTIRELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Article 16 : Your content, account and use
16.1 Ownership and license of your content. You retain all rights and ownership of your Output content. We do not claim any ownership to your content. However, we require certain licenses from You to your content to operate and enable the Services. When You upload content to the (Online) Services, you grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, unlimited, royalty-free, sublicensable, and transferrable license to use, reproduce, publicly display, distribute, modify (so as to better showcase your content, for example), publicly perform and translate the content as needed in response to user-driven actions (such as when you choose to store privately or share your content with others). This license is only for the purpose of operating or improving the Services.
16.2 Sharing your content. Some (Online) Services may provide features that allow you to Share your content with other users or to make it public. “Share” means to email, post, transmit, upload, or otherwise make available (whether to us or other users) through your use of the (Online) Services. Other users may use, copy, modify, or re-share your content in many ways. Please consider carefully what you choose to Share or make public as you are entirely responsible for the content that you Share. We do not monitor or control what others do with your content. You are responsible for determining the limitations that are placed on your content and for applying the appropriate level of access to your content. If you do not choose the access level to apply to your content, the system may default to its most permissive setting. It’s your responsibility to let other users know how your content may be shared and adjust the setting related to accessing or sharing of your content.
16.3 Termination of License. You may revoke this license to your content and terminate our rights at any time by removing your content from the (Online) Service. However, some copies of your content may be retained as part of our routine backups.
16.4 Feedback. You have no obligation to provide us with ideas, suggestions, or proposals (“Feedback”). However, if you submit Feedback to us, then You grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, unlimited, royalty-free license that is sublicensable and transferrable, to make, use, sell, have made, offer to sell, import, reproduce, publicly display, distribute, modify, and publicly perform the Feedback.
16.5 Account Responsibility. You are responsible for all activity that occurs via your account. Please notify hsbcad immediately if you become aware of any unauthorized use of your account. You may not (a) Share your account information (except with an authorized account administrator) or (b) use another person’s account. Your account administrator may use your account information to manage your use and access to the (Online) Services.
16.6 User Conduct. You must use the (Online) Services responsibly. You must not misuse the (Online) Services, Licensed Software or Materials that we provide to You. This includes a prohibition to do the following:
(a) copy, modify, host, stream, sublicense, or resell the (Online) Services, Licensed Software or other hsbcad Materials;
(b) enable or allow others to Use the Online) Services, Licensed Software or other hsbcad Materials via your account information;
(c) use the hsbcad Materials included in the (Online) Services to construct any kind of database;
(d) access or attempt to access the (Online) Services by any means other than the interface we provided or authorized;
(e) circumvent any access or use restrictions put into place to prevent certain uses of the (Online) Services
(f) Share content or engage in behavior that violates anyone’s Intellectual Property Rights;
(g) Share any content that is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, tortious, defamatory, libelous, vulgar, lewd, profane, invasive of another’s privacy, or hateful;
(h) impersonate any person or entity, or falsely state or otherwise misrepresent your affiliation with a person or entity;
(i) attempt to disable, impair, or destroy the (Online) Services, Licensed software or hardware;
(j) disrupt, interfere with, or inhibit any other user from using the (Online) Services;
(k) place an advertisement of any products or services in the (Online) Services;
(m) use any data mining or similar data gathering and extraction methods in connection with the (Online) Services; or
(n) violate applicable law.
16.7 Your warranty and indemnification obligations. By uploading your content to the (Online) Services, You acknowledge and agree that you have: (a) all necessary licenses and permissions, to Use and Share your content and (b) the rights necessary to grant the licenses in these terms. You will indemnify us and our subsidiaries, Affiliates, officers, agents, employees, partners, Resellers, Suppliers and licensors from any claim, demand, loss or damages, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, arising out of or related to Your content, Your Use of the (Online) Services or Licensed Software, or Your violation of any of the terms of this Agreement.

Article 17 : Compliance with Licenses
If You are a business, company, or organization, then we may, no more than once every 12 months, upon seven 7 days’ prior notice to You, appoint our personnel or an independent third party auditor who is obliged to maintain confidentiality to inspect (including manual inspection, electronic methods, or both) your records, systems, and facilities to verify that your installation and Use of any and all hsbcad Software or Services is in conformity with its valid licenses from us. Additionally, You will provide us with all records and information requested by us in order to verify that its installation and Use of any and all hsbcad Software and Services is in conformity with your valid licenses from us within 30 days of our request. If hsbcad determines that Licensee’s use is not in conformity with the Agreement, Licensee will obtain immediately and pay for a valid license to bring Licensee’s Use into compliance with this Agreement and other applicable terms and pay the reasonable costs of the audit. In addition to such payment rights, hsbcad reserves the right to seek any other remedies and damages.

Article 18 : Applicable law and jurisdiction
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with Belgian law. No effect shall be given to any other choice of law or to any conflict-of-laws rules or provisions (Belgian, foreign or international), that would result in the application of the laws of any country other than Belgium. Any dispute concerning the validity, interpretation, enforcement, performance or termination of this Agreement shall be submitted to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Ghent courts, subject to the right of hsbcad to refer the dispute to any other court having jurisdiction pursuant to the Belgian Judicial Code.
Article 19 : General provisions
19.1 Notices. Notices in connection with this Agreement by either party will be in writing and will be sent by electronic mail, postal service, or a delivery service (such as UPS, FedEx or DHL), except that Licensee may not provide notice to hsbcad of an hsbcad breach or provide notice of termination of this Agreement by electronic mail. Notices from hsbcad to Licensee will be effective (a) in the case of notices by email, one (1) day after sending to the email address provided to hsbcad, or (b) in the case of notices by mail or delivery service, five (5) days after sending by regular post or delivery service to the address provided to hsbcad.
19.2 No Assignment, Insolvency. Except as otherwise explicitly provided in the present Agreement, Licensee may not assign this Agreement or any rights hereunder (whether by purchase of stock or assets, merger, change of control, operation of law, or otherwise) without hsbcad’s prior written consent, which may be withheld in hsbcad’s sole and absolute discretion, and any purported assignment by Licensee in violation of this section will be null and void. In the context of any bankruptcy or similar proceeding, this Agreement is and will be treated as an executory contract and may not be assigned without hsbcad’s prior written consent, which may be withheld in hsbcad’s sole and absolute discretion.
19.3 hsbcad’s Affiliates. Licensee acknowledges and agrees that hsbcad may arrange to have its Affiliates engage in activities in connection with this Agreement, including, without limitation, delivering hsbcad Materials and providing Services, provided that hsbcad will remain subject to the obligations of hsbcad under this Agreement. Licensee also agrees that hsbcad’s Affiliates may enforce (including taking actions for breach of) this Agreement.
19.4 Severability. If and to the extent any provision of this Agreement is held illegal, invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part under applicable law, such provision or such portion thereof will be ineffective as to the jurisdiction in which it is illegal, invalid or unenforceable to the extent of its illegality, invalidity or unenforceability and will be deemed modified to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law so as to give the maximum effect to the intention of the parties. The illegality, invalidity or unenforceability of such provision in that jurisdiction will not in any way affect the legality, validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement, nor of such provision or any other provision of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction. The parties shall mutually agree to replace the invalid provision(s), by means of an amendment, by a provision that achieves the same economic purpose of the invalid provision(s) as closely as possible.
19.5 No Waiver. No term or provision of this Agreement will be considered waived, and no breach excused, unless such waiver is in writing signed on behalf of the party against which the waiver is asserted. No waiver (whether express or implied) will constitute consent to, waiver of, or excuse of any other, different or subsequent breach.
19.6 Language. The English language version of this Agreement is legally binding in case of any inconsistencies between the English version and any translations.
19.7 Force Majeure. hsbcad shall not be liable for any non-compliance or late or incomplete compliance with its obligations if such is caused by force majeure and hsbcad shall be exempt from performing such obligations for the duration and extent of the force majeure. By force majeure is meant the concept as it is generally construed and recognized by Belgian case law and doctrine. In addition, hsbcad will not be responsible or have any liability for any delay or failure to perform to the extent due to unforeseen circumstances or causes beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, acts of God; earthquake; fire; flood; weather conditions; embargoes; strikes, lockouts or other labor disturbances; civil unrest; protests; latent defects; failure, unavailability or delay of suppliers, licensors, systems and/or services; riots; terrorism or terrorist acts; war; failure or interruption of the Internet or third party Internet connection(s), services or infrastructure; power failures; acts of civil and military authorities, severe weather conditions and any delay in works carried out by Licensee or any person on behalf of Licensee for any reason whatsoever .
19.8 U.S. Government Rights. All hsbcad Materials provided to any U.S. Government department or service are provided with the same commercial license rights and restrictions described herein.
19.9 Entire Agreement. This Agreement – as the case may be, together with any other contractual or other document duly emanating from and communicated by hsbcad to Licensee – constitutes the entire agreement between the parties (and merges and supersedes any prior or contemporaneous agreements, discussions, communications, agreements, representations, warranties, advertising or understandings) with respect to the subject matter hereof. The parties acknowledge that, in entering into this Agreement, they are not relying on any agreements, discussions, communications, agreements, representations, warranties, advertising or understandings other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement. Terms stipulated by Licensee in any communication by Licensee which purport to vary this Agreement or impose such other terms will be void and of no effect, unless agreed in a writing signed by an authorized representative of hsbcad. Any other modifications or additions to this Agreement will also be invalid unless agreed to in a writing signed by an authorized representative of hsbcad. In general, hsbcad shall under no circumstances be bound by any document – other than this Agreement or another document duly emanating from and communicated by hsbcad to Licensee – that is not signed by one of its directors or another person duly and explicitly mandated by such director(s) to do so.
19.10 Modification. We may modify, update, or discontinue the (Online) Services, Licensed Software (including any of their portions or features) or other hsbcad Materials or Services at any time without liability to You or anyone else. However, we will make reasonable effort to notify You before we make the change. We will also allow you a reasonable time to download your content. If we discontinue a Service in its entirety, then we will provide you with a pro rata refund for any unused fees for that Service that you may have prepaid.

Article 20 : Invoicing and payments
Licensee acknowledges and agrees that invoices issued or generated by hsbcad may be based partially or entirely upon licensing or other reports drawn or extracted from the ‘fingerprinting’ or other database or system used by hsbcad to monitor licenses, grant access for Licensees and/or otherwise generate overviews or collections of data about Licensees, active licenses, hsbcad Materials and/or Services. Licensee acknowledges and agrees that it has access to its account with such database or system, and will deactivate any licensing options for which it has no use or desire to pay. If Licensee fails to deactivate or otherwise opt out of such options or licenses, full payment for the same shall be due.

Any and all amounts due in the framework of this Agreement shall be payable in full in Euro, within 30 days of the date of invoice, and by transfer on the bank account as last communicated by hsbcad. Any fees, costs or taxes associated with such bank transfer shall be borne by Licensee. No fees, costs or taxes shall be deductible from any amounts due to hsbcad. In the event of non-payment of any amount by the due date thereof or other failure to comply with the provisions of this Agreement or other terms governing Licensee’s relationship with hsbcad, hsbcad may suspend or terminate, at its sole discretion, Licensee’s license(s), rights of use, benefits and/or the provision of any (Online) Services, hsbcad Materials, products and/or other hsbcad obligations or performances. Furthermore, a lump sum indemnity of 15% of the due principal amount, with a minimum of EUR 500, shall be payable ipso jure (“van rechtswege/de plein droit”) on any amounts not paid by their due date, and interests of 1 % per month shall in addition be fully due on such overdue amounts per commenced calendar month as from their due date (indemnity for a full month is due for every month that has begun). Payments beyond the due date shall first be charged on the lump sum indemnity to be paid, then on the interests due and only then on the principal amounts due. In case legal proceedings and/or legal professional counsel services need to be initiated/called upon in order to recover any due amounts, Licensee hereby acknowledges and agrees that it shall reimburse such legal costs and fees, with a minimum of EUR 500.

Licensee

Date:

Name :

Company:
‍
Adress:

Email:

Signature:

‍

Lean Construction: What is it, and why does it matter?

What is lean construction?

Lean construction: A brief history