(Notes and thoughts from AIA Virtual Conference 2011 and presentation by Teknion)

Lean design aims at increase efficiency from the traditional design process. It is more or less like a design-built process, in which contractors or cost estimators work together with design team to generate a constructional product within the given budget and time schedule.

Collaboration among the team members are very much required. However, it does not mean endless meetings that were usually unproductive. It means that people ought to communicate in a cross-functional way towards target value directions, that are not limited to capital and schedule. According to studies presented by Teknion, Americans have spent way too much time in meetings and most attendants were focused in the meeting for perhaps 50% of the time.

Some ideas for communications: internet social platform, white boards in common area, standing surface for short communications, open office to increase interaction, etc.

Pull Planning: 

• is about holding off on making decision until the last responsible moment. The prurpose is to reduce negative iterations in the design process.
• conversations & commitment between the person requesting the work and the person performing the work.
• defining work so that it’s completion releases other work.

AIA conference presenter Ms. Blume showed a color-coded commitment log. Each member has a commitment color, and all team members can check if any members meet the commitment and get the work done. This method was utilized in larger projects in PAI. It is useful only when all team members are committed to use such tool.

AIA conference presenter Mr. Stan Chiu talked about “Drawing Kuban”. This is a method to reduce time for inspecting drawings. Production Kanban attaches information to the document WIP. Document attached the to the drawings identifies:

• descriptions of the revisions,
• RFI or field trigger,
• who made the changes,
• when the changes were made, and
• what the planned publication is.

In end of each day, project manager gets email report on the work progress. Instead of over-checking drawings, project manager checks the work accomplished.

Resources:

• Managing the Design Factory
• Linkedin
• ASQ Lean Enterprise
• Lean Construction Institute