Construction Problems and Introduction to Lean Solutions, Construction PM Principles No. 42

In this video I discuss a number of problems with traditional construction management practices and offer a solution in the form of Lean Construction Methods.
If you enjoyed this video, please select the subscribe, and like icons, and check out the many construction, business management, MS Project Professional and project management playlists on my channel. Click notifications to be notified of updates and leave a comment if you have experienced this topic in your work and wish to contribute to the construction community.
Sample of other related videos:
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Tutorial 28 Finite vs Infinite Thinks • CONSTRUCTION PM PRINCI...
Tutorial 29 Pre-award meetings • PRE-AWARD MEETINGS, TH...
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Tutorial 33 5’S Lean • ELIMINATE WASTE ON YOU...
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Tom Stephenson is a national award-winning professor (George Brown College, University of Toronto) and best-selling author whose background in education spans nearly three decades. His diverse teaching disciplines include construction project management, business management, human resource management, architecture, carpentry, and brick and stone masonry. As a dual-professional, Tom is called upon by industry leaders to translate knowledge, reinvigorate corporate culture, and inspire innovation in emerging and established companies across Canada. Before breaking into the academic realm, Tom acquired more than a decade of practical project-management experience, operating a mid-sized Toronto-based general contracting firm. He is also the author of the newly released Planning, Scheduling, and Control of Construction Projects with American Technical Publishers and the four best-selling editions of Understanding Construction Drawings for Housing and Small Buildings with Nelson Publishing Canada. Tom most recently received the Toronto Construction Association’s 2020 Chancellor’s Award for “helping his peers become more ethical, knowledgeable and professional.” A champion of change management, Tom takes pride in helping students and businesses navigate uncharted territories, take calculated risks and rise above the status quo. Some of the companies he’s worked with include Mattamy Homes, EllisDon, BIRD Construction, MCA, Maple Reinders, and Tucker HiRise, University of Toronto Project Managers.

[@gordonclark5899]

Ah ha~Thanks professor~Actually I spent a lot of time recently to figure out Lean principles by watching Jason's videos.I have to say I am impressed(How amazing there still perfect contributor about lean and we found the same channel~), also I have to say you and Jason give me wonderful experience and enlighten me to study more about MS project and Lean Construction. In our industry people always focus on completing tasks without deeper thinking which make me bored and disoriented. I want to salute for your perfect performance and continuous effort to let people understand there are still hopes in this industry, thank you!😊Sometimes as young man, I always confused about this industry and feel less hope, you make me see the lights~

[@TomStephensontraining]

Thanks as always Gordon, yes often we spend to much time doing without preparing and learning from what we did. I myself enjoy listening to Jason, we talked a few times offline so I know he is sincere and very knowledgeable through continuous learning.
Thanks for the kind words!!!

[@mohammadjalalahmadi1235]

Very good start.

[@TomStephensontraining]

Thanks Mohammad, very appreciate. Yes lots to discuss here.

[@civilsl2937]

Very interesting sir

[@TomStephensontraining]

Thanks, more to come

[@chippy977]

As a carpentry contractor, are you a believer in efficiency/quality balance?. Obviously I want to maximise quality of work but at the same time efficiency, keeping the work on schedule and meeting profit targets are also necessary to sustain competition in business. I have many a times tried to aim for perfection in my work and have finished projects 5 times slower and have had to take some sizeable losses on jobs. I’ve tried to utilise Parkinson’s law more effectively when approaching tasks, for example when hanging a door I allocate the time for completion for the profit target intended. I then move on once the time is up. Ideally I would like to work to perfection and priorise quality but contractors think you’re trying to rip them off.
Side note: I kind of consider myself a perfectionist, does perfection hold you back in this industry?

[@TomStephensontraining]

Yes I had this problem when I was starting out. The problem is it creates unnecessary stress and you either price yourself out of the job or you lose money. I believe it’s better to understand the value expectation of the client and your contract with them. Deliver on that while simultaneously and slowly working on your systems so that over time your quality goes up continuously. In 5 years you will be much better, and you will have been profitable along the way. Remember if you are not profitable you are not sustainable and perfection is no use if you can’t afford to do what you love.
I suggest a book called effortless by Greg Mckeown might help.
I hope that helps,
Tom

[@chippy977]

@@TomStephensontraining Thanks for the advice that was very helpful. It’s reassuring to know that it’s a familiar issue, as frustrating as it is. I will definitely buy a copy of the book. I am a big believer in systems being key to driving quality and efficiency. It’s been a personal obsession trying to deliver the best possible work in the shortest amount of time. I recently have started to document my methods In a standard operating procedure format.So I can review and test them, and compare others methods to mine. Similar to the PDCA framework.Do you think this is beneficial and worth the investment of the effort in creating these documents?. I have heard you talk about the importance of 80/20 and ROI for your efforts. Given the amount of carpentry tasks and documents I’ll have to write to standardise the systems, do you think this is worth the effort?.

[@TomStephensontraining]

Yes it is worth the efort if you start slow but consistently work at it picking thing that give you approximately 4 time return on your effort. Don’t spend an hour to save an hour. Spend an hour to save 4 or more hours 20/80. Also PDCA is an excellent process.

[@chippy977]

@@TomStephensontraining Hi Tom
I have took aboard your advice and am creating systems in place in order to optimise systems of working to improve effiency. However I recently broadly listed out over 70 processes involved in site carpentry work. I estimate that each process needs approximately 10-15 hours in order to produce a document which contains the step by step instructions for each process. Is this worth the return of investment of time considering I will have to investment up to 1000 hours on these documents?
Thanks

[@TomStephensontraining]

@@chippy977 pick one that will gife you the most return for your effort. If it takes 20 hrs it should give you 80 hours back. Once that one is complete move onto the next one. Overtime compounding of improvement will make you difficult to compete with. Caution, definitely don’t waste time on that you don’t see it paying a return unless it just bugs you then also likely worth it. Sometimes you can stack a couple of things together as they interrelate.
Hope that helps

[@mariadolormadriga6616]

😇😇😇

[@TomStephensontraining]

Thanks for watching