The Kanban Method: A Productivity Boost for Construction Workflows

Introduction

Construction project managers are always looking for more effective ways to streamline their building processes.

Safety, quality, and productivity are the major pillars determining how well a construction project will flow until completed.

When any of these aspects are disrupted, it can mean delays and added costs. Complex construction projects have a lot of moving parts that can quickly overwhelm even the most organized management team.

Any one of these things can lower your construction workflow to a crawl:

• Lack of inventory or materials
• Incomplete drawings
• Inspections
• Instruction and training scheduling
• Lack of tools or equipment
• Poor communication

While some bottlenecks may be unavoidable, a lot can be done to mitigate problems before they affect your workflow.

It starts with having the right mindset so that your construction business can run seamlessly.

More Productivity Hacks:

1. Forbes: “25 Productivity Hacks for the Busy Professional” – https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2019/05/13/25-productivity-hacks-for-the-busy-professional/?sh=7d9a9c8e7f96
2. Inc.: “20 Productivity Hacks to Get More Done in Less Time” – https://www.inc.com/marcel-schwantes/20-productivity-hacks-to-get-more-done-in-less-time.html
3. Entrepreneur: “25 Productivity Hacks to Help You Get More Done in Less Time” – https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/326616
4. Time Management Ninja: “15 Productivity Hacks for Busy People” – https://www.timemanagementninja.com/productivity-hacks-for-busy-people/
5. Reminder Call: 10 Easy Hacks to Make you a Productivity Master: https://www.remindercall.com/resources/10-easy-hacks-to-make-you-a-productivity-master/

What is the Kanban Method?

The Kanban Method is a work management style that helps business leaders define, manage, and improve their services.

The word “Kanban” comes from a Japanese word meaning “visual board” or “sign” and has been used in the business world since the 1950s.

It was first developed by Toyota as a scheduling system for inventory. The intent was to create a system of pulling inventory “just in time”.

Any parts pulled from stock through the day would be recorded and that amount would be replenished for the next day. The end goal was waste reduction without losing productivity.

Fast forward to today and you will find companies across many industries implementing the principles originated by Kanban.

Construction project workflows are no different. The Kanban Method can help you work with an emphasis on knowledge of where your business is at in real-time.

It will also create an environment that levels out the peaks and valleys of too much or too little work, leading to greater efficiency and morale.

Learn More:

1. Kanban University: “The Kanban Method” – https://kanbanuniversity.com/the-kanban-method/
2. LeanKit: “What is Kanban?” – https://www.leankit.com/learn/kanban/what-is-kanban/
3. Lean Kanban University: “The Kanban Method” – https://leankanbanuniversity.com/the-kanban-method/
4. Agile Alliance: “Kanban” – https://www.agilealliance.org/kanban/
5. Lean Enterprise Institute: “Kanban” – https://www.lean.org/kanban/

Setting Up a Kanban System for Construction

At its heart, Kanban is a visual system. Cards or tiles with work items on them are arranged under different status categories.

Think of it like sticky notes, each with one task, placed on a board. Briefly, you will be able to judge what has been done, what is being done, and what needs to be done.

Four Kanban principles should be kept in mind while creating a workflow system for a business in the construction industry.

Visualize the workflow

Kanban helps to visualize the work being accomplished. Select a method that creates an easy-read system where work items can be viewed and understood immediately.

This means that each work item may be summarized with key pieces of information like a summary description and the assigned worker.

Adding too much information to each work item complicates the whole system. Not having enough details limits its effectiveness in communicating statuses.

Limit the work in progress

The Kanban Method is a pull system. Work items are pulled and worked on as needed which allows for quickly determining current work-in-progress items and who is accomplishing them.

You will be able to keep enough open projects going so workers do not lose productivity. And you can ensure that your construction project isn’t taking on too many tasks at once so that employees are overstressed.

Focus and flow

Setting up a Kanban system for a business helps to establish proper focus and flow. As team members complete a task, they select another item to focus on.

There is less emphasis on piling endless tasks on people. Additionally, it can keep people from standing around without anything to work on.

Continuous improvement

Since Kanban breaks the business process down into its constituent parts, it gives a greater ability to see where improvement can be made.

Process improvement becomes the standard by which your construction project operates rather than a meaningless exercise at the end of a project.

Learn More:

1. Construction Industry Institute: “Kanban System in Construction” – https://www.construction-institute.org/resources/kanban-system-construction/
2. Lean Construction Institute: “Kanban” – https://www.leanconstruction.org/kanban/
3. Project Smart: “Kanban in Construction” – https://www.projectsmart.co.uk/kanban-in-construction.php
4. Project Management Hut: “Kanban in Construction: Benefits and Challenges” – https://www.projectmanagementhut.com/kanban-in-construction-benefits-and-challenges/
5. Lean Construction Blog: “Kanban in Construction” – https://www.leanconstructionblog.com/kanban-in-construction/

The Kanban Method in Action

A simple Kanban implementation will allow for three categories – To Do, Doing, and Done. Individual work tasks for the whole project are placed under the appropriate category.

As work progresses, items are moved through the flow from one column to the next as their status updates. This Kanban board gives a visual method for overseeing the work process.

It can be as simple and low-tech as a whiteboard or sticky notes. Or a business can use innovative software that provides a real-time dashboard accessible to all stakeholders with intelligent connections between discrete tasks.

A project manager can be tasked with keeping the Kanban dashboard up to date. They may assign new tasks to idle workers and keep the construction project moving forward.

Learn More:

1. LeanKit: “Real-World Kanban Examples” – https://www.leankit.com/learn/kanban/real-world-kanban-examples/
2. Lean Kanban University: “Case Studies” – https://leankanbanuniversity.com/case-studies/
3. Agile Alliance: “Kanban Case Studies” – https://www.agilealliance.org/resources/case-studies/kanban/
4. Lean Enterprise Institute: “Kanban Case Studies” – https://www.lean.org/CaseStudies/Kanban.cfm
5. Kanban University: “Success Stories” – https://kanbanuniversity.com/success-stories/

The Benefits of Using the Kanban Method for Construction

The Kanban Method has the stated purpose of visualizing data. It allows for a transparent view of the project. Knowledge no longer needs to be held by one person.

It also allows for greater communication within a team. Everyone sees where their work item fits into the greater whole.

It makes things clearer when one team member falls behind on a task. The Kanban board may show who is waiting on another task to be completed so they can do their assignment – leading to greater collaboration and team effort.

An efficient flow and less waste mean a business project keeps moving forward instead of lagging behind.

Learn More:

1. Construction Industry Institute: “Kanban System in Construction” – https://www.construction-institute.org/resources/kanban-system-construction/
2. Lean Construction Institute: “Kanban” – https://www.leanconstruction.org/kanban/
3. Project Smart: “Kanban in Construction” – https://www.projectsmart.co.uk/kanban-in-construction.php
4. Project Management Hut: “Kanban in Construction: Benefits and Challenges” – https://www.projectmanagementhut.com/kanban-in-construction-benefits-and-challenges/
5. Lean Construction Blog: “Kanban in Construction” – https://www.leanconstructionblog.com/kanban-in-construction/

Conclusion

The Kanban Method can be applied across many industries, including construction. It allows project managers to create a simple tracking method without needing to learn complex processes.

Kanban lets you see tasks visually to instantly understand what work is waiting to be done, what items are in progress, and what tasks are finished.

This information can be presented in a variety of ways and made widely available to entire teams of workers. Thus, work is not only efficient and flowing forward, but it is also transparent.

There’s no reason to think that the Kanban Method can’t help your business achieve its workflow goals.

Try it out on your next construction project to see what improvement it can give your workflow!