The construction industry has been mired in an environment that has been siloed and antiquated for years. The view has been that things have always been done a certain way and there is no reason to change. Meanwhile, numerous industries have embraced lean methodologies and have significantly reduced waste, improved efficiency and delivered higher quality products which meet or exceed customer expectations. Surveys show that at least 50% of processes involved in planning and construction are wasteful. The industry has adopted lean construction methods, which are starting to change an industry that lagged behind others.

Learn more here about lean construction!

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Muda is all about waste and Lean manufacturing is about eliminating Muda. It is any activity that adds no real value to the product or service being created or delivered. The diligent attention to the elimination of waste in how work is performed is a fundamental tenet of Lean manufacturing, the operational excellence strategy that was developed over many years and is widely used in business today.

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Boeing builds the venerable 737 workhorse at a rate of one every nine days! That is a monumental feat of Lean manufacturing. The Boeing 737 is the workhorse of many airlines across the globe, flying short and medium range flights. It was originally designed in 1964 and took its first flight in 1967. In 1968, Lufthansa airlines put the Boeing 737 into service across their service areas. Since its inception, the aircraft has been through numerous upgrades and modernization changes that continue to make it an in-demand aircraft among airlines. As of 2006, there were an average of 1,250 Boeing 737s airborne at any given time, with two either departing or landing somewhere every five seconds. 

Watch this video and see how they do it!

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Since 2006, Great American Cutlery has built the reputation for making the finest quality traditional pocket knives in the US. Located in historic Titusville, PA, the brand focuses on a hands-on process which yields the most beautiful and high quality pocket knives on the market. Their products exceed expectations from customers by producing a product that first became a mainstay in the late 19th century.

Check out the unique insights to the process that is Great American Cutlery!

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Since 1906, the name Rolls Royce has been recognized as quality and luxury in transportation. Throughout its legendary history, discerning people from around the globe have chosen Rolls Royce vehicles for their transportation. They are understood to be the finest example of luxury and comfort in motor vehicles. Take a few minutes and immerse yourself in the luxury of Rolls Royce.

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Take a step back in time with a vintage Honda factory tour! Since 1959, Honda has been setting records. They are the largest manufacturers of motorcycles and internal combustion engines in the world. In 2001, they became the second largest Japanese auto manufacturer. Honda also manufactures garden equipment, marine engines, personal watercraft, power generators, and other products. Since its inception, Honda has applied the principles of Lean manufacturing, and this timeless video will take you back and show you how they do it.

Take some time and enjoy a flashback in Lean manufacturing!

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With Tesla and Elon Musk hitting the news almost everyday on a variety of topics other than manufacturing, it seems like a good time to refocus and revisit one of the most innovative manufacturing processes in action. Tesla, under the leadership of Elon Musk, is breaking the mold in manufacturing and doing just what everyone said he couldn’t do. Musk is confident that Tesla will become the example for mass car production of the future.

Take a few minutes with Elon Musk and enjoy the tour!

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Walters & Wolf are a premier commercial cladding manufacturer. They have established the industry reputation of being able to produce products of every cast and color, to precise and exacting specifications. They draw and engineer all systems in-house, both shop and fabrication drawings for project submittals and shop fabrication and field installation. Their quality and customer satisfaction could not be reached without engraining a firm core of Lean manufacturing in their culture and everything they do.

Take a few moments and learn from Walters & Wolf!

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Since the beginning of time, man has had to protect his possessions and valuables against damage and theft. With the advance of technology, protecting what is valuable to us is becoming easier. However, just like the old saying goes, if man can build it, man can break it. Look at today’s digital technology. It just barely stays one step ahead of hackers who are bent on accessing our most valuable data and goods. Nothing is foolproof, and there will always be a way to ‘get the goods.’ We thought it would be interesting to explore the 10 most heavily guarded places and earth and see how they do it.

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Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) can shape strategy and fact-based decision making inside businesses, only if those inside the organization act on them.  It doesn’t matter how brilliantly you’ve aligned your KPIs to your strategy, or even how brilliantly you have captured and presented the relevant KPIs, if they aren’t used as they were intended. If you aren’t using your KPIs to inform your decisions and drive performance, then you are wasting your time and effort.

Check out this informative video!

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Kanban is a lean method to manage and improve systems and process across an organization. The methodology balances the demands with available capacity, and improves the handling of system level bottlenecks. The Kanban board is a tool within the methodology which will allow the visualization of any process. The goal of a Kanban system is to limit the amount of work in process so the work flowing through the system matches its capacity.

Check out this informative video on the Kanban Board!     

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Push and pull models of manufacturing are two major approaches implemented by organizations. The decision on which approach to use is often based on their business strategy. Push and pull-based models in manufacturing starts at the planning phase and continues through the execution stage.

Watch this informative video on Push/Pull Production!

https://youtu.be/a7YvJB0n16I

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In taking a cue from manufacturing, marketing departments are embracing the principles of lean agile practices. Research shows that over the past five years, 77% of marketing departments have embraced lean agile principles, and 67% of those have shown increases in both revenue and profits. Needless to say, lean agile principles are making an impact in the marketing community.

Please take some time and watch this informative video on the topic!

https://youtu.be/j-r5W_Eq4G4

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Leading in turbulent times requires a deliberate shift from command-and-control towards a collaborative style of leadership. This may be easier for some than others. It requires a shift in mindset! The idea of collaborative leadership requires individuals at all levels take initiative and act in ways that supports the achievement of the vision, purpose and objectives of the enterprise. The freedom to take risk, to fail, to engage in constructive conflict, to participate in decision making and to experiment, learn and innovate. This is collaborative leadership.

Take the time to watch this informative video!

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PDCA is all about innovation! By using a methodical approach to problem solving, PDCA is one of the most valued tools available to Lean Manufacturing. When applied properly, PDCA creates a culture of innovation throughout the manufacturing process. It prevents decision paralysis, and methodically moves improvement forward through measured trial and error.

 Watch this educational video on PDCA!

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