What is Lean

Labor productivity in the construction industry impacts all contractors and project owners.

D. Brown Management Profile Picture
Share

This has become even more challenging with the craft labor shortage. Training field supervisors and the entire project team the tools, workflows and behaviors that will improve production is a big part of the solution.

What is Lean? Maximize customer value while minimizing waste.

The Training Within Industry program used during WWII can be viewed as the most massive vocational supervisory training and process improvement program ever rolled out. Most of the principles are as applicable to solving our field productivity and talent shortage problems today as they were then. Every leader in the construction industry must become a student of these prior lessons learned then figure out how the best ways to apply them to their teams and companies.  
Read more: Training Within Industry: Job Instruction

If you want to learn more about the best resources and talent we have found for helping contractors improve labor productivity contact us.  That is one of our employees grandmother in the picture who was trained very quickly to build airplanes at the Boeing plant in Washington while her grandfather was serving on the USS Lexington.




Lean Principle - Observation (Gemba Walks and Learning to See)
One of the most important tools for improving productivity is going to the jobsite or work area and observing for an extended period of time with the intent to understand but not to immediately interact. Observation progresses through about 7 stages.
Project Delivery - Integrated Project Delivery
Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) can be the best method for a project if the culture and competencies of all parties, including the Project Owner, are all aligned.
Lean Principle - 5S Habits for Building a Productive Work Environment
5S is a foundational concept for creating a productive work environment and continuous improvement. The 5S process is to productivity what eating a healthy breakfast and exercising is to your health - daily consistency will change your life.