Is Your Jobsite a Wasteland? Check Out These 3.5 Ways to Reduce Waste and Costs
Command Alkon
No, I’m not talking about piles of leftover debris or even
the kind of “trashy” look that’s common on construction sites. While neatness
is nice, especially on a highly visible site, the waste I’m referring to is all
those insidious, sometimes hidden, wastes that may not look messy but can make
a real mess of budget forecasts and construction schedules.Jobsite waste – and the losses it creates – is a serious
problem throughout the HBM industry. In fact, according to a 2016 McKinsey
study, “Large projects across asset
classes typically take 20 percent longer to finish than scheduled and are up to
80 percent over budget.”Most
budget overruns are not the result of leftovers or throwaways. Most are a
result of squandering 1) time, 2) motion, and/or 3) accuracy. Eliminating waste
is an ongoing challenge, but these best practices can help you recognize – and
correct – this resource-draining scourge:1) TIME. Wasting time is probably the most common and costly jobsite
activity, especially since it’s virtually always unintentional and unobtrusive.
What’s the best way to spot it? Recognize
that all wait time is wasted time. Any person, place or thing that sits
idle or is not ready when needed is generating waste.When
workers wait on instructions or tools or equipment or approval or inspection,
their time is being wasted. When tools, parts or equipment are unavailable or
inoperable, time is being wasted. When one process or procedure is stalled
waiting for another to be completed, valuable time is being wasted.Wasted
time typically results from inadequate planning, communication or resource
allocation, so invest in these time-saving, preventive measures instead:·
Begin with informed planning that includes all
pertinent people. Early integration and transparent information sharing improve
efficiency at every operational stage.·
Forecast construction schedules, budgets and
requirements so that you can realistically anticipate tools, materials and
labor.·
Create and communicate contingency plans so that
the entire crew stays up to date and in sync.·
Use technology to communicate. Radios, mobile phones, tablets and other
digital tools speed communication and improve clarity.2) MOTION. Going
back to the truck to grab another tool, hunting down a colleague for
collaboration, moving critical materials or machinery from its current location
to where it’s needed, dispatching and transporting workers, even unloading
deliveries and distributing parts are all costly operations that reduce
productivity. Any unnecessary or
unplanned movement of people, equipment, tools or materials wastes valuable
time and energy.To minimize wasted motion, use efficient workplace
procedures and productivity-enhancing devices:·
Plan ahead to place and prepare critical
equipment for use at the point of operation.·
Corral required tools, parts, kits and equipment
in well-stocked, well-organized, well-maintained work carts. ·
Equip workers with tool belts, trays, bins and pouches
for easy accessibility.·
Use rail-lock aerial accessories (tool bins,
pipe racks, cradles, panel carriers, etc.) when working on scissor lifts, boom
lifts or other platforms for safe, secure, fast access.·
Use communications technology to locate misplaced
or misappropriated resources. ·
Designate a worker to make deliveries and tools
runs as needed.3) ACCURACY. Precision
in quality control, inventory management, and maintenance and replacement
programs is vital for preventing wasted materials and labor. Symptoms of sloppy
jobsite practices include tasks that can’t be done due to damaged, defective or
missing materials; rework due to poor quality or specification mismatches;
“shrink” due to lost or stolen tools or inventory; breakage due to careless
handling or improper use; and mistakes in ordering, stocking, storing, handling
and accounting for materials.Verifying resources
and quality takes attention and vigilance. These common-sense practices can
bring valuable order and discipline to your jobsite: ·
Make sure all workers have a clear project
understanding, including the latest drawings, specifications and contingency
plans.·
Lock up tools and equipment at days’ end and
when not in use.·
Remove and replace damaged tools or materials
immediately.·
Designate a specific person to order, inspect,
label and monitor materials, especially near job’s end, to avoid leftover
inventory.Are time and resources going to waste on your jobsite? Command
Alkon helps make fast work of unnecessary jobsite losses.
To reduce the costs, risks, and waste that result from
out-of-stock and over-stock situations, inefficient hauling practices, and lack
of transparency, the HBM industry relies on Command Alkon’s supplyCONNECT to
manage daily replenishment plans. By promoting collaboration among supply chain
trading partners, supplyCONNECT saves money and time – ensuring that the right
amount of inventory is delivered to the right place at the right time.
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