Our CEO Keyan Zandy was recently interviewed on the value of Lean Construction by Neil Gerrard with International Construction. We invite you to read Neil’s intro and the full article: There was a point earlier in Keyan Zandy’s career when he asked himself if he was cut out for a construction career. It was shortly after he and his colleagues had spent 70 straight days trying to wrestle the first phase of a multi-phase project back on schedule. Despite the praise he got from his superiors for this feat of firefighting, Zandy found himself wondering if it had to be this way. That was when he st ..read more

We had an incredible time in Detroit — connecting with others and learning alongside so many Lean enthusiasts and practitioners from across the globe at the 25th Lean Congress! The cherry on top was cheering on our CEO, Keyan Zandy, as he accepted LCI’s 2023 Pioneer Award, which honors individuals “who have moved the Lean Construction Institute (US) forward by embracing and implementing Lean culture, tools, and techniques.” Friends and fellow Pioneers old and new partied with us at the The Apparatus Room as we celebrated the “pioneer spirit” that drives Lean and embraces continuous i ..read more

Construction lost as much as $40B on poor productivity in 2022 About half of contractors see labor inefficiencies worsening, according to a new report, but firms see relief through Lean practices. This Construction Dive article, by Zachary Phillips, explores the problem and possible solutions. Our CEO, Keyan Zandy, and other industry experts discuss ways to enhance productivity with Lean tools and practices. Read this interview on Construction Dive: https://www.constructiondive.com/news/construction-wastes-billions-labor-lean-planning/696421/  The post Construction Dive: Interview wi ..read more

The Lean Construction Institute (LCI) has named Keyan Zandy as its 2023 LCI Pioneer Award winner. The annual award recognizes individuals who have moved the design and construction industry forward in embracing and implementing Lean tools and techniques. “Keyan has been an active advocate and champion for Lean construction practices since 2005. He’s used Lean culture, practices, and tools to propel Skiles Group to record growth and built an avid, active base of Lean enthusiasts with his The Lean Builder community,” shares Dan   Heinemeier, executive director for L ..read more

The construction industry is making great strides by evolving the delivery of work and incorporating new technologies, but there is still much room for improvement. It’s no secret that one of our biggest challenges is the labor shortage. Our entire industry needs more people—and we especially need more craftspeople in the trades. The impact of this one issue has a ripple effect across all projects. It means longer construction timelines and overtime for many projects. It’s not ideal for owners, firms, or workers—and, if we’re being honest, it’s not sustainable. It’s clear that our industr ..read more

While virtually everything in life seems to be moving faster and expanding in efficiency, productivity—succinctly defined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as “a measure of economic performance that compares the amount of goods and services produced (output) with the amount of inputs used to produce those goods and services”—in construction is indisputably on the decline.  Why? There’s no easy answer for that—there are a hundred reasons why. Books, white papers, dissertations, think tanks, and more have been devoted to understanding and remedying this problem. I could list dozens of drive ..read more

Buddy Brumley, Katayoun Mokhtarzadeh, Keyan Zandy, Lucas Wilke, and Thomas Hardy had a fantastic time making connections, sharing ideas, and expanding their Lean knowledge at the Lean Construction Institute (US)’s 2022 LCI Congress in New Orleans, Louisiana last week. Our team can’t wait to hear what they learned and how we can keep driving our Lean practices forward! The post Lean Construction: Continuing the Journey at LCI Congress appeared first on Skiles Group ..read more

As we reach the halfway point of 2022, there are three distinct problems plaguing the North Texas construction industry: cost escalations, long lead times, and labor shortages. Despite volatile market conditions, clients can succeed with a collaborative, creative approach to building. Here are 5 steps to how. 1. Early General Contractor/Trade Partner Involvement Bringing your CM/GC and trade partners on board during the project’s conception phase allows the design team to talk directly with and learn from the builders who are procuring materials and building the project. This is incredibly imp ..read more

Change isn’t fun, but it is inevitable. Resenting or resisting what you can’t avoid is a waste of time and energy that could be better used working to create a mindset that embraces transformation. This is especially important in our industry, where new technologies and delivery methods, coupled with an accelerated pace of work, present an unpleasant choice: adapt or be left behind. Superintendents, no matter their leadership style, are expected to get a project completed on time and within budget. This hasn’t changed—however, the way these projects are built and delivered certainly has change ..read more

As a field-focused lean practitioner, I’m often asked for my thoughts around the most effective way to implement lean methodologies on a construction project. Here’s a quick “how-to,” outlining the benefits of lean construction tools and processes, with an emphasis on their practical application to improve communication and workflow. Step One: Move to a Daily Huddle Are your subcontractor/field coordination meetings unproductive? Do the foremen seem disengaged? Do topics take too long to work through? Consider switching to a daily huddle, as well as these practices: • Set a Timer — A huddle sh ..read more