Lean Construction Integration

Lean Construction Integration
When applied to the construction industry, lean integration promotes efficient and collaborative workflows among all parties in the production process, from vendors to stakeholders
What Does Lean Solve?
Lean Integration is a construction productivity solution that combines Lean Manufacturing principles with the best and most proven practices of prefabrication, preassembly, modularization, and off-site fabrication (ppmof). It is a formula for enhancing traditional EPCM and project delivery methods.
Fully integrated Lean modular programs help to solve:
- Dysfunctional business models
- Minimal or limited collaboration
- Unproductive activities
- Safety shortfalls
- Schedule/cost overruns
- Lack of skilled labor
- Duplication of effort
- Underused technology
- Stakeholder alignment issues
Lean construction integration drives change at every level to improve the reliability of work assignments and, therefore, work flow. It borrows key tools and concepts from the Lean method of manufacturing - such as the Last Planner System, Value Stream Mapping, Root Cause Analysis, Continuous Improvement, Just In Time Construction (JIT) Delivery, and Lean Construction Waste Identification to name a few - and applies these to relevant processes within the construction industry.
Another major component of its success is the transfer of certain construction activities into a manufacturing environment. This not only makes it easier to apply Lean principles, but it affords gains in efficiency, control over timeline, improvements in quality, and reduces opportunity for injury and delays compared to typical field construction methods.
Lean integration can influence positive results at almost any stage of the construction process, but the highest possible value is realized during the earliest phases of project planning. Early Lean implementation creates more opportunities for construction productivity improvement, including:
- Improved project estimation accuracy
- Improved project schedule
- Proven overall cost reductions
- Standardization and improved product quality
- Improved job-site efficiency and safety
- Optimization of manpower, skills, and training
- Reduced on-site labor activities by 30%
- Material management efficiencies – Long Lead planning
- Parallel production activities / multitasking
- Reduced site footprint requirements
- Reduced site infrastructure requirements
Lean implementation requires smart planning from start to finish and a commitment to collaboration and continuous improvement on every level. It is a learned behavior that is best deployed with the help of a lean advocate or champion like Exentec.