Lean construction consists of core principles that lead to constant improvement, elimination of waste, increased production and reduced costs. It is a way to design and build facilities while minimizing waste of materials, time and effort in order to generate the maximum value for our clients.
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Lean Principles:
- Collaborate
- Early engagement of team members
- Target value design
- Last Planner - all parties involved in the schedule
- Elimination of waste and duplicate activities
- Implement the 5 S's
- Continuous feedback and learning
Follow the 5 S's:
- Sort - separate the necessary from the unnecessary
- Simplify - clearly arrange and identify items
- Sweep - routine inspections to keep workplace in perfect order
- Standardize - document methods and formalize agreements
- Self discipline - hold the team accountable to maintain agreed upon standards
Lean construction is a production management-based approach to project delivery; a new way to design and build capital facilities. Lean production management has caused a revolution in building design, supply and assembly. When applied to construction, lean changes the way work is done throughout the delivery process. Lean construction extends from the objectives of a lean production system (maximizing value and minimizing waste) to specific techniques. Lean collaboratively aligns people, systems, business processes and practices to harness the talents, knowledge and expertise of all participants. As a result, the benefits are widespread:
Client:
- Easier to align design options to client business objectives
- Improved value and a higher-quality project
- Lower cost of construction
- Energy efficient facilities reduce energy costs
- Quicker project delivery
Design Team:
- Less rework and minimizes reiteration
- System for managing relationships, conversations and commitments
- Easier to create high-quality sustainable buildings
- Easier to design to target cost
- Reduced design document time
General Contractor:
- Better lean design
- Logistics reviewed/developed from outset
- System for managing relationships, conversations and commitments
- Less requests for information
- More reliable construction budget and less change order requests
The reliable release of work between specialists in design, supply and assembly assures value is delivered to the customer and waste is reduced. Lean construction is particularly useful on complex, uncertain fast projects. It challenges the belief that there must always be a tradeoff between time, cost and quality.
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