LEAN CONSTRUCTION PROCEDURES (LCP®)

LEAN Waste in Construction

This is the easy part of Lean Construction Procedures. We all recognise WASTE when we see it. Everybody on site knows it is there, they joke about it, moan about it - and walk past it! Creating the environment to discuss what is waste - prior to undertaking the activity is key. Not repeating wasteful tasks is essential!

a) The "kick start" shift in behaviour that creates an environment where all those involved feel able to suggest change is most difficult challenge.

b) What is the incentive. Money, praise, promotion, a better work place, satisfaction?

c) When it becomes the NORM to step forward and suggest that waste is eradicated then the drive for LCP can be most effective.

In order to create this environment all the pieces within the LEAN puzzle need to be functioning.

Below are some common examples:

Building ahead of demand/time
Waiting (people, material, information, for the next operation)
Unnecessary transport (double handling)
Inappropriate processing (larger machines, unnecessary steps, machines not quality capable, over design)
Material stocks (early deliveries, storage space, deterioration)
Unnecessary motions (ergonomics, bending, reaching)
Building defective parts/sections
Waste of untapped human potential

Lean is not about size or number of people employed. A reduction in employees may cut costs, and eliminate the waste of those employees. It does not decrease the proportion of waste to value adding within the organisation or process. Most waste is through products waiting to be worked on by succeeding activities.

Construction Myths and Legends - "The biggest waste around here is the meetings - hours are spent by management talking. I've noticed that if lunch is provided the number of people attending is double. They should be forced to stand in the room, taking their chairs away would cut the meeting time down to next to nothing. We stand outside when we are discussing how to get over a problem - imagine if we brought chairs outside to sit on when we were talking! That would soon stop"