How do Lean project teams deliver better project outcomes?
At the 2017 summer conference of the Michigan Association of Physical Plant Administrators (MiAPPA) in Big Rapids, MI, Joan Piccariello, (Director of Program Development at the Lean Construction Institute), shared shared empirical evidence that highlighted several impressive statistics regarding Lean implementation. Projects with high Lean intensity, for instance, are three times more likely to complete ahead of schedule and twice as likely to complete under budget. Piccariello shared findings from two separate LCI research efforts conducted by Dodge Data and Analytics and the University of Minnesota.
“We benchmarked 162 projects and inquired about 27 management methods,” Piccariello said. “And the research demonstrates statistically significant correlations between high Lean intensity and project success.”
What this empirical research does, according to Piccariello, is disprove some common myths about Lean project work and demonstrate how Lean makes a positive difference in project performance.
“The more the industry embraces Lean construction practices and techniques, the more satisfied owners are,” says Granger Construction Executive Vice President Tim VanAntwerp, former chair of the Michigan Lean Community of Practice.
The mission of Michigan’s Lean Community of Practice is to encourage Michigan’s design and construction industries to optimize performance by applying Lean thinking and methods.
“By helping leaders in our industry apply Lean philosophies on their projects, we advance the art of the industry as a whole. The research clearly shows that Lean work maximizes efficiency and ultimately increases satisfaction for everyone involved.”
