Skip to main content

Unit 2 Process and Production Basics

Planning Meeting

Lean Construction Education Program

Unit 2: Process and Production Basics

Unit 2 introduces Lean Construction processes and how they work, diving deep into the last tenet, Focus on Process and Flow.

  • Lesson 1 - Process, Efficiency & Variation
    Provides a description of what a process and process flow are, then describes what makes a process efficient. From there instructors define what variation, what it looks like in our work, and what causes it, so in the next lesson we can see how variation impacts a process, its flow, and its efficiency and what that means for our projects.
  • Lesson 2 - Law of Variation
    Explains how variation, buffers, and consistency affect project performance, and identify the characteristics and consequences of unreliable workflow and reliable workflow. Participants will learn these lessons firsthand in the Parade of Trades simulation.
  • Lesson 3 – Variation Mitigation
    Describes buffers, buffer sizing and other means to mitigate variation. Participants learn specific techniques for reducing variation, and the importance of process consistency.
  • Lesson 4 – 5S
    Shows how 5S is another Lean method to help reduce variation on projects, and it does much more. It is a means for pursuing continuous improvement. It helps us reduce waste. It shows respect for people by improving their work environment and contributing to a safer workplace.