Being "LEAN" in Construction

What doe is it mean to be LEAN? There are limited videos on the internet about LEAN practices in the construction industry. Those few videos are all geared towards "corporate" contractors. LEAN is just a philosophy and like any philosophy it can be manipulated to fit your needs. The simplest way I describe it is to move 5 boxes across the room, you could move them one at a time or the "LEAN" way would be to get a dolly and move all them at once.

By utilizing LEAN practices it actually turns into a multiplier of benefits. From my example you are not only eliminating 3 steps... yes, 3. 1 step is used to get the dolly. OK back to it, not only are you eliminating 3 steps but you are moving those boxes in less time with less effort. So at this point your like who cares the boxes in both examples got moved, right? From a business aspect being efficient is key, not only for the employer but the employee as well it creates a higher quality of life.

Efficiency only works if used properly. If the person carried all 5 boxes at once that method would be the fastest way to move all the boxes, but at what expense? Now that person just exerted so much energy that they will be sluggish for the next 2 hours or even worse hurt themselves. That is NOT LEAN. LEAN is an efficient process in all aspects not just time. Now I understand there are a 1000 different variables in that example and other situations but this is to help create a LEAN mindset. With the LEAN method that person is more efficient with their time, energy, and process.

LEAN takes time it can be a little intimidating due to the fact it takes time to set up the processes. But for every hour you spend organizing you get that time returned ten fold in the field. I said LEAN is efficiency in all aspects not just time, when you start organizing and set up your truck to be LEAN you are not only gonna be able to find your tool more efficiently you will be able to free your mind. This does multiple things: frees up your mind, lets you focus more on the task at hand, and less stress from not having to dig through your truck for a tool you used an hour ago. Overall creating a quality product more efficiently.

Taking LEAN to the next level I have taken LEAN and embraced it to its fullest capacity. The beauty of its philosophy is that it applies to anything with a process. I have just interrupted LEAN in my own way so that way I can apply it to my business just like many others out there. I want to share it with everyone I can. I am not worried about sharing my "secret" because if I was thats means I'm not evolving enough and need to step my game up. Unity creates collaboration and builds creative ideas far beyond what one person is capable of. I encourage you if you are reading this to reach out and lets all improve this industry.