Is the Lean Building Revolution About to Hit New Zealand?

Friday 10 May 2013

Is the Lean Building Revolution About to Hit New Zealand?

Lean manufacturing has revolutionised industries throughout the world – and now it could be time for New Zealand’s homebuilding industry to capitalise on the successful philosophy. That’s according to international building consultant Scott Sedam, who is the keynote speaker at the Certified Builders Association of New Zealand’s “The Best Tools to Build Your Business” conference in Blenheim on 17 and 18 May 2013.

More than 350 Certified Builders from throughout New Zealand will hear Scott’s top tips for improving product, process and profit using LeanBuilding™ practices in his presentation “The Lean Building Revolution: More Value – Less Waste”.

Scott, a 25-year homebuilding veteran and president of TrueNorth Developments, will share 10 tips that builders, along with their designers, suppliers and trades can implement.

Lean manufacturing is a management philosophy derived mostly from the Toyota Production System and has revolutionised most industries worldwide but has only recently arrived in the home building sector.

“Lean process is the relentless pursuit, identification and eradication of waste in product, process and plans,” says Scott, who has implemented more than 100 Lean projects with builders, suppliers and trade contractors of all sizes in the US, Canada, Mexico, Australia and now, New Zealand.

He was also among the first to recognise that building Lean also means building green.

“Lean is not about cutting corners or simply reducing costs; Lean is about preserving value with less work – doing things smarter to benefit the customer and your business. It is about enabling significant value enhancement at lower cost in a wide variety of products and services.

“I am a passionate advocate of Lean and I hope to leave the Certified Builders thinking differently about their business than they ever have before.”

Certified Builders Chief Executive Grant Florence is excited to have Scott present at the conference.

“The conference theme is ‘The Best Tools to Build Your Business’, and Scott’s focus on profitability, productivity, best practice and reducing waste is an obvious fit. He will challenge the delegates’ thinking.

“Focusing on productivity and best practise has a positive flow on effect. It’s about quality and effectiveness and taking the stress out of building for the client – research shows that building a house can be one of the most stressful life events.

“Certified Builders’ focus is on supporting our members to be the best at what they do on and off site – to be not just good builders but great builders.”

The conference is being held at the Marlborough Convention Centre on Friday 17 May and Saturday 18 May 2013 and will include Certified Builder’s AGM and the final of the Apprentice Challenge 2013.

Building and Construction Minister Hon Maurice Williamson will officially open the conference and will host a question and answer session. Chef, author and former Hell’s Kitchen winner Chris Fortune will share his knowledge, entrepreneurial skills and taste for life with delegates.

ENDS.

© Scoop Media