In my article Confessions of a Social Researcher in the Building Industry, I shared the challenges we face in the construction industry because we don’t have a formal research structure. What I have been working on lately is the tie between Lean and equity exploring what is a lean equitable […]
Why Lean and Diversity are Going to Get You the Best Results READ MORE
When people hear the word research, they often think of research in science or medicine that seeks new solutions to known problems by building on studies that came before. It’s expected that new research builds upon previous findings and does not repeat them. To give you an example from the
Confessions of a Social Researcher in the Building Industry READ MORE
Are you one of those people who think that Scrum is for a bunch of software nerds who sit around programming all day? Maybe it’s time to shift your perspective. Yes, Scrum originally took hold in the Software industry as companies realized how Scrum allowed them to adopt and react
The Secret to Gaining Market Advantage in the Construction Industry READ MORE
Since the popularization of quality circles in the 1960s, companies around the globe continue engaging front line employees to improve their work using variations of PDCA, a scientific method for problem-solving using four steps: Plan a change or test aimed at improvement. Do carry out the experiment. Check (study) the
A3 Thinking for Powerful PDCA to Improve Project Delivery READ MORE
Humans are generally resistant to change. Change requires courage, trust, and faith. We tend to stick to long-formed habits even when we realize that they are hindering progress or create pain. Forming and establishing new habits requires effort and commitment. Sometimes, painful experiences. How does this relate to Lean construction
Lean Construction: Improving Your Team Performance One Habit at a Time READ MORE
Everything is connected. This first Law of Ecology “reflects the existence of the elaborate network of interconnections in the ecosphere: among different living organisms, and between populations, species, and individual organisms and their physicochemical surroundings.” Similar to our ecosystem, small changes ripple across companies and organizations with unintended consequences. Decisions
The Impact of Decisions in Lean Construction Projects READ MORE
In many presentations, I have asked these questions: “How many of you consider yourselves to be effective collaborators?” (Most people raise their hands) “How many of you have worked with someone who wasn’t an effective collaborator? (Everyone raises their hands) “And if those people were in the room today,
Are You Collaborating or Muddling Through Your Construction Projects? READ MORE
Leaving Green Footprints® is the sustainability mission at McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. As the national Director of Lean Construction for McCarthy, I often work with projects pursuing sustainability goals like LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification across the United States. Many of our project leadership teams are certified
When Lean and LEED go Hand in Hand READ MORE
Teams utilizing Scrum most often double their output in the first couple of Sprints because they become more efficient and effective. Equally impressive is that they sustain their gains and that they continue improving their teamwork and work product. As a result, they optimize customer value. So, why would design
What Every Lean Project Team Should Know About Scrum READ MORE
What does Takt Planning & Scheduling have to do with Covid-19? Takt is a German word that refers to the rhythm or the beat of the music. Takt Planning & Scheduling is a method to structure work around a set pace and could, therefore, be one of the most important
How to Keep Your Workers and Bottom Line Healthy READ MORE
How HGA Optimizes Productivity Leveraging Lean Practices Sometimes in a service organization, productivity can be like a rollercoaster. There are times when everyone is working on billable projects, and there are times when people have slack periods in the office and bridge unproductive time with tasks that are not billable.
How HGA Optimizes Productivity Leveraging Lean Practices READ MORE
In my previous post What IKEA and Pull Planning in Design Have in Common I shared three strategies to make your pull plan in design a success. Check it out before you keep reading this one. Whatever is happening on a standard project and depending on the length of the
Getting Smart with Pull Planning in Design READ MORE
The Beauty Lies in Simplicity I previously wrote about how a Northern California Hospital leveraged Co-location and Lean Principles for design success. Anyone who has worked on projects of this size will agree that once the construction has started, change requests can quickly add up to dozens. Often enough, change
Change Document Requests in Lean IPD READ MORE
How to Empower Your Lean Project Team for Success (Part 1) Sharing is Caring Imagine you are planning a vacation in Italy in a few months. Do you go to a travel agent to have your trip mapped out meticulously beforehand? Do you plan every step of your time abroad?
How to Empower Lean Project Teams for Success (Part 1) READ MORE
If you are like most people, you bought flat-pack furniture from IKEA at some point in your life. You return home, unpack the pieces and start wondering how on earth this is all going to come together. Luckily, IKEA gives you a picture of the final piece that comes with
What Pull Planning in Design and IKEA Have in Common READ MORE