Author: Gurpreet Singh
What is Lean Construction:
Lean Construction is the application of Lean production management and manufacturing practices to construction project delivery. This includes the entire construction industry (owners, designers, architects, engineers, general contractors, subcontractors and end users) and not simply the work that occurs during the construction portion of a project. In the 80s and early 90s, Lean production techniques changed the efficiency and profitability of manufacturing across the world. These techniques are now enthusiastically being applied by progressive teams to a broad range of industries ranging from healthcare, services, retail and more.
At Pavilion, we are always looking for ways to maximize value and efficiency and minimize waste, essentially doing more with less. Applying Lean Construction management principles to a project and continuously assessing ways to eliminate waste and inefficiencies achieves:
- Increased productivity
- Reduces waste
- Enhanced quality
- Advanced execution–less fire-fighting
- Improved operations–smoother flows
Productivity has flat lined:
Productivity improvements in the construction industry has flatlined in recent decades compared to other industries like information technology, manufacturing and agriculture. From Plan Grid and FMI’s report, “Construction Disconnected,” it is estimated that construction teams in the US will lose $177 billion in non-productive labour activities. The loss includes looking for project data and information, conflict resolution and dealing with mistakes and rework. With this level of waste across the globe, we are at Pavilion always thriving to looking for ways to positively impact productivity and ultimately our bottom line.
This is a Problem That Can Be Solved:
If we assume that significant productivity gains are possible in construction, then there must be opportunities for improvement that are not currently being addressed. Project owners are likely overpaying for projects due to poor productivity and general contractors suffering from increasingly low profit margins due to inefficiencies. What should be most alarming is that many industry professionals do not perceive that there is a need for a change or acknowledge that there is even a problem. Nonetheless, looking at how Lean principles have revolutionized productivity in industries such as manufacturing, construction teams can begin to understand how Lean Construction is a framework that can boost efficiency and profits.
Leveraging Lean Principles in Construction:
When contrasting how Lean is applied in manufacturing versus construction, it is easy to recognize how different a construction project is from the majority of manufacturing plants. In manufacturing, a team can analyze the efficiency and productivity of a product until they are able to perfect the process and quality. In construction, each project is different and the lessons learned today may not apply to the next project down the road. The lack of predictability is the crux of the typical construction model. Unpredictability results in lost time, waste and stress. Lean Construction is focused on predictability and flow, thus eliminating most negative aspects from the typical construction model. Lean Construction forces all parties to have clear goals, benchmarks and objectives from end to end of the construction process. Lean philosophy ensures the team is maximizing performance at every level, focused on the goals of the customer. The silo effect of the traditional construction model is eliminated, forcing everyone on the project to collaborate as a single customer-focused group.
Thank you for reading!
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