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Lean construction for efficient construction projects
Construction projects are becoming increasingly complex, with many parties involved and growing time and cost pressures. Often, everyone works in isolation, leading to fragmentation between planning and execution. The consequences are inconsistencies, errors, costly rework, and delays.
The question is: Isn't there another way?
Our solution:
Lean processes through lean construction
PLACE Strategy relies on Lean Design & Construction—a holistic approach that makes planning and construction processes more efficient and collaborative. Using methods such as the Last Planner® System, we reduce waste and create transparent workflows. Unlike traditional project management, your construction projects stay on schedule and within budget while achieving the highest quality. We establish a culture of continuous improvement so that your team can work together stress-free and productively.
Our services at a glance
Lean Design & Construction
Lean planning and construction by applying lean principles throughout the entire project life cycle - from design to construction site. We identify optimization potential and support implementation on site.
Learn moreIntegrated project management (IPA)
Advice and support with the introduction of IPA (Integrated Project Delivery). Through multi-party contracts and early involvement of all partners, we create a „best for project“ culture without silo thinking.
Learn moreSeminars & trainings
Practical training on lean construction and the Last Planner System. We train your employees to apply lean methods independently - for greater schedule and planning reliability in your projects.
Learn moreStrategy consulting & lean transformation
Supporting your company in sustainably anchoring the lean mindset. We work with you to develop customized lean strategies for a successful transformation.
Learn more
Your advantages with Lean Construction
- Shorter project times & higher productivity: Lean streamlines processes - cycle times can be reduced by up to 30 %, productivity can increase by 5-50 %.
- Cost savings & budget compliance: Eliminating waste significantly reduces project costs. According to studies, lean projects are three times more likely to be completed ahead of schedule and twice as often under budget.
- Higher quality: A lean culture promotes quality management and continuous improvement. The result: fewer defects, less rework and a more reliable end product.
- Better cooperation: Lean and IPA rely on open communication, early coordination and shared responsibility. This improves transparency and significantly reduces conflicts between project participants.
- More satisfied customers & teams: A project that runs smoothly and according to plan increases everyone's satisfaction - clients receive their product on time and in the desired quality, while teams can work more effectively and with less stress.
What our
Customers about us:
Joachim Hölzel
Managing Director
Bankwitz Ltd.
"Since we started working with PLACE there is much more coordinated planning and we have much shorter planning times […]"
Christoph Rahrbach
Teamlead General Construction
Pharmaplan GmbH
"My experience with PLACE staff is that they have a lot of personal experience on the job sites and they also know what's behind the processes in a design or construction project. […]"
Christian Denzinger
Deputy commercial manager
Gottlob Rommel Group
"Since we started working with PLACE, we've saved quite a bit of construction time and have been able to resolve interface issues on job sites. […]"
Selected
References
Why PLACE in the
Lean Management
PLACE is your specialist for lean management in the construction industry.
Our process coaches support clients, project developers and construction companies in all phases - from initial planning to successful implementation. We ensure that your construction projects are implemented efficiently, on time and within budget.
Thanks to daily planning and the consistent application of lean principles, we optimize every work step and create maximum transparency in the project. This reduces costs by eliminating waste, improves communication between everyone involved and significantly increases project quality and customer satisfaction.
With our many years of experience, we analyze all processes and identify hidden potential as well as typical problems such as inefficient processes, time-consuming interruptions or activities that do not add value. Together, we take your construction project to the next level - from strategy to operational implementation.
FAQ: Your questions about Lean Construction answered
Lean methodology
What is meant by Lean?
Lean is a management approach that aims to optimize processes and avoid waste. Methods and tools are used to improve the efficiency and quality of processes and to increase customer value. The lean approach was originally developed in the automotive industry and is based on the Toyota Production System (TPS). However, it is now applied in many other industries, including construction.
What does Lean Construction Management mean?
Lean Construction Management means optimizing and organizing all phases of a construction project so that your processes become "lean" (from the English: lean and effective). Lean Construction was developed on the basis of the Lean management was developed. In the process, the fundamental ideas were taken up and, based on them, new methods were developed to apply the principles to the construction industry.
As a company in the construction industry, how can I apply Lean Construction to my projects?
To begin applying Lean Construction to construction projects, a company can first conduct an inventory to identify current processes and challenges. It can then conduct training and workshops for the team to gain knowledge and skills in Lean Construction. It can also launch pilot projects to try out the method in practice and gain experience before scaling it up to larger projects.
Why Lean Construction?
Professional Lean Construction Management by PLACE can achieve important benefits over the duration of the entire construction process:
– Focus on efficient production system: Lean Construction focuses on an efficient and functioning production system to eliminate delays and defects ideally as quickly as possible and with foresight.
– Value Added: Lean is implemented according to the Lean principles implemented in a value-added manner. In classic project management, added value often takes a back seat and inefficient work processes with tunnel vision are the result.
Transparent, collaborative teamwork: Lean Construction promotes transparent and collaborative teamwork, with a healthy error culture (errors are inevitable and should not be hidden). The planning of buffers on the construction site is also transparent, so that excessive buffer scheduling is a thing of the past.
– Continuous improvement and learning during the project: When Lean is applied in construction, precise metrics are developed. These are used to record appropriate processes, which are evaluated on an ongoing basis. As a result, improvement takes place from week to week in areas such as personal assessment and collaboration among stakeholders.
How can lean construction promote sustainability in the construction industry?
Lean construction can promote sustainability in the construction industry by minimizing waste and increasing resource efficiency. Using lean methods can ensure that only the necessary materials and resources are used and waste is reduced. It can also help minimize the environmental impact of projects by reducing energy and water consumption and encouraging the use of environmentally friendly materials.
Lean consulting
What are the 5 Lean Principles?
Lean management in construction as well as in other areas is always determined by 5 principles, which together form the guiding principles of lean management:
– Customer added value
– Process optimization
– Flow efficiency
– Pull principle
– Kaizen
Here you will find all the details about the Five Lean Principles.
Why is Lean Transformation important?
Through the strategic use of various lean methods, all of a company's business and work processes can be made as efficient as possible, thereby bringing about a lean transformation.
The continuous use of lean methods eliminates useless and costly waste and saves valuable resources that help improve overall productivity and increase the quality of products and services.
Lean transformation is important because it enables efficient and predictable delivery of projects. Accurate planning in coordination with all stakeholders leads to the avoidance of delays and unnecessary waste, as each work step is optimized in itself through lean methods.
Here you will learn everything about Lean Transformation.
What is Takt Planning?
In takt planning, each individual process step in a construction project is defined. This type of planning achieves optimal coordination between all trades, which accelerates the construction time and optimizes costs and quality.
PLACE supports you in digital cycle planning and ensures smooth workflows on your construction site. The digital cycle and schedule plan can also be accessed online: All project participants can view it at any time – so your clocked construction site will be ready in no time!
Here you can learn everything about the Takt Planning.
What is the Last Planner System?
The Last Planner System is a collaborative production management system that visually connects people, systems and business processes in a construction project. The system is based on the 5 principles of Lean Construction Management. In doing so, the Last Planner System helps reduce or, in the best case, eliminate waste. The use of resources is optimized, increasing the productivity and efficiency of the construction project and customer satisfaction, as reliability and predictability of the production process can be determined.
Here you will find everything to Last Planner System.
What are the lean methods?
In Lean Construction Management, there are a number of different methods that can be applied to make processes more efficient and create added value.
Target Value Design (TVD)
Target Value Design is a collaborative design process in which designers, owners, suppliers, and all other project stakeholders work together to create a design that delivers the most value to the owner.
TVD is based on 5 fundamental criteria:
– Set the budget for planning
– Work structuring
– Collaboration
– Independent planning
– Collocation/Assembled in one place.
5S method
The 5S method is a systematic approach to designing one's own workplace and working environment in such a way that one can concentrate optimally on value-creating activities. In the process, waste is eliminated or reduced. In the 5S cycle, one goes through a total of five individual steps:
– Sort
– Systematized
– Clean up
– Standardize
– Steady improvement
Lean & Six Sigma
Six Sigma (6 σ) is a management system for process improvement. It involves describing, measuring and analyzing statistical quality targets. At the same time, Six Sigma is a quality management method for monitoring and statistically evaluating business processes and their improvement.
Lean and Six Sigma pursue similar goals, although the methods used differ in some cases. Through an intelligent combination of the two systems, they complement each other excellently and thus create efficiency entirely in terms of customer added value.
Here you can learn everything about the Lean basics.
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