If you’ve worked in software development, you’ve probably come across the concept of technical debt. It’s the extra work that piles up because a task was completed quickly rather than correctly. Think of it like borrowing time: you get the immediate benefit of speed, but there’s a catch—you’ll “pay interest” later when those shortcuts start creating problems.

Paying the Debt—and the Interest

Technical debt isn’t just about repaying what you borrowed; it often comes with interest, just like a consumer loan.

Imagine taking out a credit card loan to buy something quickly. Sure, you get what you need right away, but over time, interest payments add up, and you end up paying far more than the original price. Similarly, in steel detailing, skipping thorough checks or taking shortcuts to meet tight deadlines can lead to a heavier workload down the road.

For example, rushing to submit shop drawings without properly checking, doing only “basic erections,” or coordinating your work might initially save time. However, when those conflicts or errors are discovered during fabrication or erection, the cost of fixing them can far exceed the time saved.

The “interest” could be anything from additional hours spent reworking models to significant material wastage or even delays in the entire project. Let’s dive into technical debt in steel detailing, why it occurs, and what you can do about it.

Examples of Technical Debt in Steel Detailing

When you’re working on tight deadlines or just trying to get the job moving, it’s easy to make decisions that save time at the moment but cause headaches later. That’s what we can call “technical debt”. It happens to the best of us, but recognizing it early can save you a ton of time and stress down the road. Here are some common examples you’ve probably come across.

Skipping Project Analysis and Pre-Detailing Meetings

You know that urge to just dive into a project without spending time upfront on reviews and pre-detailing meetings with clients? It might feel like you’re saving time, but trust me, it usually backfires. If you don’t clarify fabrication preferences or resolve design inconsistencies early on, you’re setting yourself up for rework later.

For example, it is helpful to know the maximum size of bent plates that a fabricator’s press brake can handle. If you don’t find this out at the project review stage, you could model bent plates that are too large for the equipment. This oversight would require you to revisit the model later, adjusting plate lengths to fit within fabrication limits—a time-consuming and avoidable task.

Another pervasive example. In many projects, the design team doesn’t properly call out the top of the steel elevation. You can spend some time figuring this out by sending an RFI, but in many cases, the deadline forces us to make an assumption and release drawings ASAP. In more than 50% of cases, you will have to revise the elevations later.

Taking the time for project analysis and pre-detailing meetings ensures that fabrication preferences are accounted for, helping to avoid unnecessary changes.

Skipping Model Parametrization

Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.

– Abraham Lincoln

Parametrization might feel like a hassle when you’re racing against a deadline. It’s tempting to skip it and dive right in, but trust me—this is one shortcut that can come back to bite you. Without parametrization, every little change has to be adjusted manually.

Sure, it saves time upfront, but when the project evolves (and it almost always does), you’ll end up stuck redoing things over and over. That quick win disappears fast.

Take sloped roofing, for example. We once parametrized a roof model so that the profiles and connections adjusted automatically if the slope changed. It took some extra effort at the start, but when the slope changed mid-project, the setup saved us hours of rework—and a lot of frustration.

If there’s even the slightest chance your project might change, do yourself a favor: invest in parametrization upfront. It’s a small effort that pays off big time later.

Rushing Approval Drawings Without Thorough Checks

Deadlines are tough, and it’s tempting to submit drawings quickly to keep things moving. But if you skip a proper review, you’re asking for trouble.

Missing details or errors in approval drawings often cause delays when the issues come to light later. Worse, you might have to go through another round of approvals, which can push back steel fabrication.

Take the extra time to cross-check the erection and detail drawings before submission. It’s easier to catch problems now than deal with them later when they’re much harder (and more expensive) to fix.

Ignoring or Neglecting Standards

We’ve all worked on teams where one person does things their way, and another does things completely differently. It’s fine until you have to collaborate, and suddenly, you can’t make sense of each other’s work.

When you skip standardization, you’re setting up your team for confusion and inefficiency. Without clear, consistent processes, every detailer ends up working their own way—using different methods, naming conventions, or drawing styles.

Here’s the problem: when someone else needs to step in, they can’t figure out what’s been done. It’s like trying to read a map where the legend keeps changing. Instead of making progress, they waste time deciphering the model or drawings, hunting for missing information, or untangling messy file structures.

In the worst cases, teams stop entirely, waiting for the original detailer to return and explain what’s going on. This kind of dependency kills productivity and adds unnecessary delays—especially when deadlines are tight.

Establish and follow standards. This will keep everyone on the same page and make it easier to hand off work when needed.

Why Does Technical Debt Happen?

Technical debt doesn’t just happen randomly—it’s usually the result of external pressures or gaps in knowledge or processes. Here are some common causes:

Client Pressure

When you’re under the gun to deliver quickly, it’s easy to skip steps.

Lack of Awareness

Not everyone thinks about the long-term consequences of their decisions.

Inadequate Checking Protocols

Relying on spot checks instead of proper reviews allows issues to pile up.

Weak Collaboration

Knowledge silos and poor mentoring mean missed opportunities to avoid debt.

Limited Skills or Experience

Sometimes, you just don’t know what you don’t know.

Last-Minute Changes

Sudden design tweaks leave no time to check everything thoroughly.

Laziness or Lack of Incentives

When there’s no push to do things properly, shortcuts are tempting.

Recognizing these causes is the first step toward dealing with technical debt. But what happens if it’s ignored?

What Are the Consequences?

Let’s be real—technical debt isn’t always bad. Sometimes, it’s the only way to keep a project moving forward. But if it builds up unchecked, the consequences can be frustrating:

Missed Deadlines: Fixing overlooked issues always takes longer than planned.

Last-Minute Problems: Unchecked errors pop up at the worst possible time, frustrating clients and delaying the project.

Team Burnout: Constantly playing catch-up creates a stressful work environment. Fatigue increases the likelihood of even more mistakes, trapping teams in a cycle of rework that drains morale and drives high turnover.

So, how do you stop technical debt from becoming a problem?

How to Manage Technical Debt in Steel Detailing

Managing technical debt doesn’t mean avoiding it entirely. It’s about keeping it under control. Here’s how you can do that:

Recognize It

Understand that technical debt exists and factor it into your planning. Think about the trade-offs you’re making and their long-term impact.

Plan Ahead

Take the time to analyze the project, review drawings thoroughly, and clarify requirements upfront.

Standardize Workflows

Consistent processes for models, drawings, and documentation make it easier for teams to work together.

Address Debt Regularly

Don’t let it pile up. Tackle it incrementally—review, refine, and update as you go.

Keep Documentation Up to Date

Maintain accurate RFI logs, master sets, and open question lists to avoid confusion and wasted effort.

By taking these steps, you’ll keep technical debt in check and avoid major headaches later.

Technical debt is part of the job. Sometimes, you must take shortcuts to hit a deadline or move a project forward. The key is to recognize when it’s happening and have a plan to address it before it gets out of hand.

Whether it’s spending more time on project reviews, parametrizing your models, or creating better standards, every step you take to manage technical debt pays off in the long run. You’ll get smoother workflows, happier clients, and fewer late nights fixing last-minute issues.

Steel detailing is all about precision, planning, and collaboration—don’t let technical debt throw you off track!