Fall Conference Program Topic; Lean Construction -September 24th & 25th

(Click here for details and registration)

Ted Garrison will be presenting, “How to Increase Productivity by Using the Principles of Lean Construction”.  You might be asking, “What exactly IS lean construction?  Over the next couple of weeks the E-Updates will feature some background resources on lean construction to help you better understand the concepts to be discussed. 

Last week's question was, “What is lean construction and why should I attend training about it?”

The reason you should attend a seminar on lean construction is because it delivers real value to project owners.  Lean construction seeks to better meet customer needs while using less of everything required to complete a construction project.  While traditional construction management practices have similar end goals, lean construction is better able to deliver value because it focuses on production management principles, extending the planning process to the “nuts and bolts” level of construction, thus improving accountability and performance at the crew level. 

This week’s question: “What is the origin of Lean?”

Lean construction originates from lean production practices.  Lean Production was developed by Toyota Motor Company and championed by Engineer Taichi Ohno.  Ohno was dedicated to continuous process improvement.  The term “lean” was coined to highlight the elimination of waste in Toyota’s production system and to differentiate the system from other forms of mass production. 

Lean manufacturing best practices continue to evolve, but they still embrace the basic outline of Toyota’s original efforts:

Thank you to our top sponsors that have made a commitment to a Diamond or Platinum 2009-2010 Annual Sponsorship.   As of today Gene Lilly Surety Bonds, Union Bank & Trust Co., Lutz & Company CPA, and Woods & Atiken LLP have signed up! 

The Chapter would like to welcome Prairie Construction Company into General Contractor Membership.  Matt Schuman, Steve Rease and Frank Schuman are the principles and key contacts. 

We would also like to welcome Mid-Plains Insulation into Associate Membership. Scott Weekley is the president and key contact.

Contact information for both companies is included in the online Membership Directory. 

Emerging Construction Professionals Forum

Last spring the Building Chapter “signed on” with NPP to bring our local chapter members the Verizon 22% discount.  Many of you have taken advantage of this discount that is available to only AGC members and National Home Builder Members. 

NOW, NPP brings our membership a great discount with FedEx. This is a much deeper discount than what is offered from AGC of America. The NPP FedEx discount is guaranteed to be an average savings of 50% from retail.  Here is an example:

FedEx Envelope-Priority Overnight-standard pricing $16.15; NPP discount $5.65.

Click here for Fed Ex Discount Discounts

Click here for Verizon Wireless Discounts