Lean Construction in the Mechanical and Plumbing Industry: A Revolution in Efficiency and Quality

What is Lean Construction?

Lean construction is a relationship-oriented, production management-based approach to construction project delivery. At its heart, the Lean approach focuses on identifying and eliminating non-value-adding activities, also known as “waste,” throughout the construction process. Its primary goals are maximizing stakeholder value while minimizing waste, all while heavily emphasizing inter-team collaboration.

Lean Construction is a mindset, a way of thinking,
rather than a technique. 



6 Tenets of Lean Construction

  • Respect for People: Respect the team and value what they do through constant communication and helpful feedback.
  • Optimize the Whole: The traditional construction approach assumes that most project teams do only their work and nothing else. However, bringing in different project participants for more involvement in other construction phases brings a friendlier and conflict-free environment.
  • Eliminate Waste: Identify and eliminate non-value-adding activities, or “waste,” throughout construction.
  • Focus on Flow: Create a smooth, uninterrupted workflow by optimizing the sequence of tasks and minimizing bottlenecks.
  • Generate Value: Clients need more than what is in plans and specifications. Lean construction goes a step further to streamline a client’s requirements. Understanding the client’s needs requires deep trust established in the early planning phases.
  • Continuous Improvement: During every project step, construction teams should identify opportunities for improvement and take necessary actions to implement them. Continuous improvement means less waste, more efficiency, and better results.
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