Lean & Quality

Lean processes enable continuous improvement. This collaborative study focused on trade contractors’ adoption of continuous improvement principles, methods, and practices. The procedures used to analyze the trade contractor capture a snapshot of the successful adopters’ methods and practices throughout their operations. Conducting case studies of successful adoption helps us to profile the processes and business …

Continue reading “A Comparative Analysis of Continuous Improvement Approaches Among Trade-Contractors”

Continuous improvement, as used in this paper and in the industry, is the name of an approach to improvement known and used around the world for decades. It applies to processes in the office, project or anywhere within the organization. The major components of continuous improvement are often referred to as an acronym, DMAIC: Define …

Continue reading “Building a Culture of Continuous Improvement”

Owners and managers are constantly searching for production improvement applications. A Kaizen Event, when properly planned, coordinated, and executed, can increase performance, with little or no capital expense, in seven significant ways: Increased productivity Reduced inventory Lower setup times Less waste Space use reductions Quality improvement Order-to-delivery time improvement To attain improved performance, management must …

Continue reading “Kaizen Blitz: Significantly Improving Performance in a Week or Less”

This project updates research conducted in 2005. The need for the update was driven by the increasing complexity of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) and sheet metal construction industry. Advancements in technology, financial pressure, and customers seeking greater involvement and value from their projects are the main contributors to this complexity. A goal …

Continue reading “Thinking Lean – Tools for Decreasing Costs and Increasing Profits”

The lean production principles that have led other industries to higher profitability and lower costs are easily applicable to the sheet metal and HVAC industry. Lean thinking can help: reduce costs in the office, yard and fabrication areas reduce waste in the field by eliminating double handling, crews waiting and time spent searching for materials …

Continue reading “Lean Production Principles”