NEHP Blog

Eliminate Inventory Waste and More with JIT Delivery

Just-In-Time (JIT) delivery is an inventory management approach designed to eliminate waste by "receiving goods only as they [are needed] for production processes." ^[1]  While JIT delivery is most often correlated with combating the issue of inventory waste, it is also perfectly applicable to the elimination of D.O.W.N.T.I.M.E and all of the 8 wastes of lean. 

In construction or manufacturing processes, inventory waste is generally the result of unnecessary stockpiling of materials due to over-estimating and over-ordering. But it can also include and/or lead to the unnecessary use of said materials, thus translating to a whole host of wasted effort, time, and material.

Tips for Successful Long Lead Planning

A common risk (and constraint) to construction project schedules is the availability of project materials. Project materials can include anything from building materials, to office supplies, to tools, equipment needs, and even personnel.

Often times construction firms must procure materials and services from various suppliers who do not work in unison, but rather have multiple commitments of their own to complete and varying deadlines to complete them under.

All of these puzzle pieces must be carefully planned and aligned to keep deliverables flowing, schedules intact, and project costs in check. 

Continuous Improvement is Key to the New Era of Construction Productivity

Over the last 50 years many businesses in the manufacturing industry have dramatically improved their production protocols. Those businesses have achieved strong results by adapting methods from the Toyota Production System (TPS). The core tenet of TPS is to eliminate waste and improve efficiency, thereby earning the system the general name of 'lean' manufacturing.

Now, more and more industries are finding useful applications of 'lean' within their own productivity agendas.

What is the Last Planner System and How Does it Work?

The Last Planner System (LPS) is a workflow method developed by the Lean Construction Institute to increase worker productivity and accountability through tight scheduling and detailed group planning.

Last Planner is seen as a managerial approach on how to efficiently run a construction project. The guiding principle of the system is to ensure that each contractor and subcontractor on a construction site can manage their workload, while holding them responsible for the work they promised to complete.