En todo proceso de construcción, las empresas que se embarcan en un proyecto tratan de perfeccionar su rendimiento para conseguir los mejores resultados, optimizar sus esfuerzos y rentabilizar su inversión. Por eso, a lo largo de la historia se han buscado y puesto a prueba diversos métodos que han intentado innovar y revolucionar su actividad.
However, only a few have been successful enough to establish themselves. And today we want to tell you about one of them and its benefits: lean construction.
What is lean construction?
In the field of construction and real estate engineering, we can define lean construction as the adaptation of lean manufacturing principles to this field. So the next question is: what exactly are these principles?
It originated in Japan with the Toyoda family, which created and promoted the famous Toyota automobile brand. Its founder, Sakichi Toyoda, questioned (in the wake of Japan’s post-World War II crisis) the reasons behind failures in automobile production, with the aim of finding appropriate solutions to prevent them from recurring in the future.
The Three Pillars of Lean Construction
However, the major breakthrough would not come until years later (the 1950s), when one of his grandnephews, Eiji Toyoda, drew inspiration from three principles of the American automaker Ford and applied them to his company: the elimination of inventory, the elimination of unnecessary expenses, and the maximization of employee capacity.
These were the three pillars upon which the so-called TPS (Toyota Production System) was built. It is a system that quickly demonstrated its ability to reduce costs and production times, improve quality, develop new information systems, and increase product variety. Consequently, Toyota gradually became a benchmark company, not only in Asia but also worldwide; and in 1988, American engineer John Krafcik used the term “lean” to describe it, in contrast to American production lines, as a method that seeks to minimize investment, time, and effort.
7 Benefits of Lean Construction
The principles mentioned above can be easily applied from the automotive sector to any other industry. Ultimately, the goal is to maximize the efficiency of production processes; to do so, the aim is to minimize the use of resources, eliminate anything that adds no value, and achieve the most satisfactory results for the customer.
Therefore, lean construction proposes these changes and benefits compared to traditional construction systems :
- Implementation of new construction planning and management systems through training and the acquisition of experience.
- Higher quality in construction.
- More optimized production processes.
- More profitable projects.
- Early identification of risks and errors.
- Improving the internal organization of the company and its employees so that they can coordinate and motivate each other effectively.
- Implementation of safer mechanisms for those involved in the project.
How to Reap the Benefits of Lean Construction by Identifying Waste
As we have already seen, one of the goals of lean is to eliminate any activity in the production process that does not add value. This is what is known as“waste,” so if we identify all existing instances of waste, it will be easier for us to optimize our construction project and make the most of the resources at our disposal.
The Lean methodology itself identifies eight types of waste that we must eliminate:
Transportation
It is an expensive activity because it involves travel, equipment, and labor costs. Therefore, if we move materials that do not provide any benefit, we will be losing money and delaying the completion of the work.
Overproduction
Poor planning can lead us to produce more than we need. This results in unnecessary consumption of materials, an increase in transportation needs, and excessive inventory .
Waiting time
Poor organization can lead to delays during production processes, resulting in delays on construction sites.
Defects, Rejects, or Rework
When carrying out these processes, errors can lead to defects in the work or undesirable results. This increases the risk of rejection by clients and, consequently, the risk of having to redo certain parts of the work or having to perform tasks that were not initially planned as part of the project.
Inventory
Failing to accurately determine the amount of material needed to carry out the project can also lead the company to hold more inventory than it will actually use. This is obviously costly due to the space required to store it, the need to dispose of it if it goes unused, or even the loss of value if it eventually becomes obsolete.
Overprocessed
Construction projects also need to conduct a thorough analysis of the client’s needs, because there is a risk of adding features or resources that will ultimately prove unnecessary. Another problem that can arise is if the equipment is not chosen carefully and an expensive option is selected with features that will not actually be useful.
Movement
It refers to the movement of both people and machines within the workplace to improve ergonomics without compromising safety or quality.
Human Capital
The company in charge of the project must take all necessary steps to make the most of the work capacity, knowledge, and creativity of its staff . This is especially important if the production processes include automation systems, since if these are not implemented properly, they are likely to undermine the talent of the workforce.
This Is How Lean Construction Is Guiding CULMIA Toward Innovation
In our commitment to embracing what’s different without losing the essential characteristics of a home, at CULMIA we’re committed to industrialized construction. This is a construction system that employs highly organized, innovative techniques and processes, which make it possible to reduce construction timelines and ensure optimal construction quality and environmental performance.
Thus, it is industrialization that encourages us to follow the principles of the successful lean methodology. We pursue this goal through the use of three distinct tools:
BIM (Building Information Modeling) for project design
Systems for the organization and digital management of project information. It includes everything needed for design during the project, construction, and maintenance phases, thereby strengthening building management.
LPS Last Planner System for planning construction projects and processes
It facilitates the management of collaboration among all stakeholders, both external and internal. It also covers all phases of the project, from design to building handover; therefore, in the case of CULMIA, we are applying this collaborative methodology to both our construction processes and our internal planning.
IPD (Integrated Project Delivery ) for a collaborative and transparent relationship between the Developer, Architect, and Builder
This is a construction contract that includes cost, risk, and profit sharing. It involves hiring the contractor based on the Preliminary Design, as well as the design team for the Construction Design. In this way, we maximize the value of the project by aligning the interests of all parties, ensure the delivery of a high-quality product within the projected costs and timelines, and minimize any setbacks that may arise during construction.
Homes 4.0 for a Healthier and More Sustainable Present and Future
In short, thanks to lean construction, we can offer our clients homes for today and tomorrow: Homes 4.0 that stand out for their health-promoting features , smart capabilities (automation and digitization), sustainability (optimal energy consumption), and flexibility and adaptability.
Would you like to learn more about how we innovate in our construction processes and apply LEAN collaborative methods?Visit our website to find out more!
We recommend:
- What Is Green Building: The Homes of the Future
- Bridge Mortgage: Move to a New Home Before Selling Yours
