One of the biggest challenges in construction is to increase productivity while reducing waste.
A study by Alexandria University shows that in this sector, the time devoted to productivity is 43%, while the time lost reaches 57%.
The data leave no doubt that a large part of the effort of professionals is wasted.
But how to solve this?
This is where Lean Construction comes in, one of the trends to address the problem and improve the performance of construction management.
The concept was introduced to the construction industry by Professor Lauri Koskela in 1992.
In fact, Lean Construction has undergone an adaptation. Like Lean Manufacturing, it really aims to add greater value to the customer, establish a continuous flow of production and avoid waste.
But at the same time, it also has its essential characteristics spain whatsapp data for the construction sector, such as agility so that works can be completed in less time.
Later you will discover the pillars of Lean Construction.
How does lean construction work?
Lean Construction really works as an action plan.
Anyone who wants to better meet customer expectations and reduce waste needs to establish a new working model.
The task consists of carrying out all the planning of a project, defining the maximum number of actions that can be carried out and informing all professionals of what needs to be done.
Also, always look ahead to anticipate bottlenecks and problems and, therefore, avoid them.
Let's take an example. Let's imagine that a crane arrives at a construction site to carry out a major operation, okay?
However, no one thought about how this robust machine could actually enter the construction site and overcome the limitations of the physical structure.
Lack of planning means that the crane cannot be used immediately on the construction site. This ultimately results in a loss of time and money as the machine is rented out.
We discuss all of this to reinforce how essential an action plan really is and that everyone involved in the work must be aware of it.
The best way is to educate people to think efficiently.
What are the principles of Lean Construction?
Petrus Júnior Evangelista, Supply Manager for the Construction segment of TOTVS, often presents four basic techniques to enable the rapid adoption of good practices of the Lean philosophy on site.
“With these principles, it is possible to adopt the practice of Lean Construction in the work of tomorrow,” says Evangelista.
See what the principles are:
Just in time
The first step is to use Just in Time (JIT), that is, buy materials only when they are close to being used. Without uncontrolled pushing or shoving.
This type of care reduces the flow of disbursements and allows inventory to be kept low.
The TOTVS manager explains: “Inventory is not desirable, because storing it generates time, work and loss of cash flow.”
You end up investing in supplies or materials that you won't always use. And keeping all of this well stored also costs work, time and money.
Quality control
Next comes Total Quality Control (TQC), which seeks the satisfaction of suppliers, customers and employees.
In this step, it means guiding the client's work and putting quality first.
“All team members must work together to achieve this goal,” says Evangelista.
Again, it is essential that there is an educational intention, showing all employees why Lean Construction is so important and, of course, teaching how to practice it.
Adoption of plans
The third step is to work with different plans: strategic (long term), tactical (medium term) and operational (short term).
Setting clear goals and breaking them down into short, weekly periods also helps increase performance.
Remember that goals are part of the action plan, a very important point to achieve higher quality tasks and predict possible problems.