Insights: Using Lean for Fast-Track Project Success

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By Matt Nicholson Any successful project starts with a good plan. In construction, as the projects we work on become increasingly complex, the necessity of detailed planning has never been more evident. It’s important to live by the principles of Lean construction — meaning looking for ways to maximize value and minimize waste in every stage of the building process. The older methods of construction design result in an inherent amount of waste, so it’s crucial for contractors to stay ahead of the curve and constantly look for ways to be more efficient in the way they work. In Turner … Read more

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Coronavirus Causes Project Delays + Cancellations, Demand for Skilled Labor High, Says AGC

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The coronavirus has harmed the construction industry, prompting project delays and cancellations, layoffs and furloughs. However, it remains difficult for a majority of firms to find craftworkers to hire, according to the results of a workforce survey conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America and Autodesk. The survey paints a picture of an industry in need of immediate recovery measures and longer-term workforce development support, association officials added. “Few firms have survived unscathed from the pandemic amid widespread project delays and cancellations,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Ironically, even as the pandemic undermines demand for construction services, … Read more

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ABC Launches Tech Alliance to Help Contractors Transform Construction Process

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Associated Builders and Contractors has launched its inaugural Tech Alliance—a consortium of firms that create construction technology and innovative digital solutions for ABC contractor members, the majority of which are classified as small businesses and primarily perform work in the industrial and commercial sectors. Consisting of 13 companies, the Tech Alliance will leverage technology solutions to help ABC members develop people, win work and deliver work safely, ethically and profitably for the betterment of the communities in which they work. “The need for technological solutions—both big and small—in the construction industry is clear, especially given changing work conditions during the … Read more

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Multi-Trade Prefab Shaves Time, Cost for Clinic

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The University of California, Davis had clear construction goals for its new on-campus health clinic requiring an innovative approach. The 4,000-square-foot clinic, site utilities and site improvements had to be finished in seven months in time for the university’s open enrollment scheduled for November 2020. The budget for the primary care clinic was fixed and perhaps at odds with the timeline. And, just as construction started, the nation was in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. For The Boldt Company and Design-Build partner Boulder Associates, the solution was a highly collaborative environment that made extensive use of prefabrication. This allowed … Read more

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2020 Design-Build Conference & Expo Goes Virtual

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DBIA’s annual Design-Build Conference & Expo is going virtual Oct. 28-30. With seven tracks of education, including targeted tracks for Water/Wastewater, Transportation and Virtual Design & Construction, federal sector pre-conference sessions, a virtual Technology Pavilion and more, DBIA’s virtual events will harness the best online conferencing tools available to deliver its most expansive program ever. America’s Design-Build teams are playing a critical role in the pandemic response and will be vital to our nation’s post-COVID-19 recovery. That’s why now, more than ever, it’s important DBIA provides the tools, resources and networking opportunities Design-Build project teams need to prepare for the future. … Read more

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