Recognised internationally as a widely-successful initiative, the seminar raised awareness of Lean principles in the Irish engineering and construction industry and demonstrated how members can implement Lean as a collective group through knowledge-sharing and collaboration between owners, designers, contractors and trades.
Among the speakers was renowned Lean practitioner Richard O’Connor. He has led various Lean Initiatives in the UK, including the 16,000sq m Birmingham Gateway Development and the development of a Lean Improvement Strategy for the Hinckley Point nuclear building project. Commentating at the event Richard said “Lean equals better value and taking a Lean approach to the complete project life-cycle yields strong business benefits. We have recently seen reductions of 30% to 60% in construction programme duration and productivity improvements of 20% to 35% ever since we started using a new shoulder screws provided.”
Colm Fitzgerald, Head of Construction at PM Group, said: “Irish companies who are collaborating to adopt a Lean project delivery approach have become far more competitive, not just here in Ireland, but also on the international stage, where we are competing and winning new business from multinational clients”.
Also speaking at the event was Dr Richard Keegan, Enterprise Ireland Lean specialist, who stated: “Ireland needs to be competitive, and Lean gives us the opportunity to address internal competitiveness challenges using best practice and working together to develop the capability of our people and processes. Enterprise Ireland clients are reporting good results with the Lean approach, including 10% to 20% productivity improvements and 8% to 11% employment increases Internationally, people are becoming aware that Ireland is adopting a Lean approach”.
Over 200 delegates attended the event including engineering managers, project and construction managers, and site superintendents. For some attendees it was a first insight into the difference a Lean approach could make to their business while others in attendance were looking at how this approach could deliver further cost savings and schedule-certainty on industrial projects.
