Focus Upon LEAN Construction to Improve Productivity

There is only one barrier to the efficient management of the built environment…. commitment.  While BIM has been hyped by vendors and industry alike, technology is not a solution the AECOO sector’s woes.  The AECOO (Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Operations, Owner) sector could easily improve its notorious legacy of uniquely low productivity and rampant economic/environment waste with a focus upon LEAN Construction / LEAN Facilities Management.

Focus Upon LEAN Construction to Improve Productivity

What is LEAN Construction?

LEAN Construction is not complex, but does required change management for most AECOO organizations.  The basics of LEAN Construction simply involve required collaborative efforts among all participants in order to drive optimal outcomes.   This necessitates a deeper and more widespread awareness and understanding of human behaviors, organizational productivity drivers, as well as  the concepts of life-cycle management of the built environment.

The need for Change Management

A requisite level of understanding with respect to the strategic and operational value of the built environment and life-cycle facilities management and associated stewardship nonetheless has yet to be achieved by the majority of real property owners.   As owners must provide leadership within a LEAN environment, challenges will continue to exist.

Real property owners must forge closer links and collaboration between the financial, technical, sociological and operational aspects of facilities life-cycle management and integrate multi-discipline teams.   When they are capable of technical and professional leadership and transparently sharing information within an atmosphere of mutual respect and shared risk/reward, true advancement will occur.

Professional organizations and formal educational institutions also need to provide a forum for distributing and exchanging LEAN Construction know-how and best management practices.

Roadmaps and Robust Processes Already Exist

LEAN collaborative construction delivery is not new.   The two most common forms are integrated project delivery, IPD, for major new construction, and job order contracting, JOC, for renovation, repair, and minor new construction.   Nonetheless only a fraction of industry practices either, and even fewer do so to the fullest extent.

There is only one barrier to the efficient management of the built environment…. commitment.

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