By: Karen Wilhelm

Karen Wilhelm — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 13:24:11 +0000

Toyota’s product development system is a good model for any kind of project work. The construction industry is beginning to use and adapt the Toyota and other lean models, and combine it with 4D CAD modeling. The fourth D is time, of course. They can simulate the whole process of building a building. GM is first simulating the entire manufacturing process layout in the new plant, allowing for flexibility and then the building is designed almost like a shell around the process. Thus there is intimate integration among the architecture/engineering/construction team and the customer who will use the building. Look at the Lean Construction Institute’s website to see how they have changed the way they look at processes. Talk about handoffs! I recently wrote an article on the collaborative process being used in lean construction for “Target,” the magazine published by the Association for Manufacturing Excellence. AME would like to dig into how lean works in IT, but have not found the right place to start. Many thanks to Shmula for inciting the discussion, and especially for bringing the Poppendiecks into it.

By: John D. Heintz

John D. Heintz — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 16:24:04 +0000

Thanks for your comments, I will definitely check out Allen Ward’s book.

I’ve also found Mary’s presentation at Agile2007 on Leadership in Software development to be very informative on this topic. (http://www.infoq.com/presentations/poppendieck-agile-leadership)

Tom, you said “The chief engineer holds the vision of how the customers can be profitably served, and collaborates with the team members to iteratively refine the vision into a collection of features and implementations.” Any more details or references for what that collaboration looks like?

Thanks again!
John Heintz

Comments on: Mary Poppendieck Seven Wastes Explanation

By: Karen Wilhelm

By: John D. Heintz