Photo: CONEXPO-CON/AGG

How Lean Building Practices Represent the Future of Success in the Construction Industry

The construction industry swarmed to Las Vegas this week for CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2014.

In case you missed it, Steve Jones (McGraw Hill Construction) moderated a panel discussion on Tuesday March 4th, which focused on Lean construction methods, challenges, and the future of the construction industry. The panelists were:

• Mark Konchar (Balfour Beatty)
• Patrick Mays (Dassault Systémes)
• James Grossman (Suffolk Construction)
• Jeff Esgar (Sundt)

Click here to access the session slides.

Attendees gained key insights into the practical aspects of implementing Lean, including:

• The biggest challenge to implementing Lean construction cited by the experts is managing the culture change. Lean requires a new way of working, new processes. Ingraining new habits into a team or organization is always difficult, but the benefits of Lean are well worth the effort.
• Select test project first. Trying out Lean practices on a discrete project limits the potential complications and makes the effort manageable. 
• Facilitation is a key skill required to successfully implement Lean.
• The construction industry’s adoption of Lean is in its infancy compared to Lean manufacturing, but once it arrives, the value for owners and the profitability of construction firms will be greatly improved.
• There are more and more tools becoming available to support Lean construction practitioners. Dassault’s Lean Construction 3DEXPERIENCE Solution is one that pilot customers rave about.

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Dassault Systèms’ Lean Construction 3DEXPERIENCE® Solution
Lean Construction Institute
McGraw Hill Construction
Associated General Contractors of America