Lean and green Redefining best practices in sustainable construction

摘要

In order to remain viable, prudent contractors must search for opportunities to implement lean practices at all points of performance. One way is by being lean. Lean companies avoid waste and redundancy. This pertains to increasing labor productivity in the field as it does to increasing manufacturing efficiency in the shop. Great opportunities for improved labor efficiency exist in material handling and distribution processes. Prior to green-building standards, sheet metal contractors enjoyed much greater efficiency in material handling. They packed significantly more pounds of ductwork on each truck, ultimately reducing the number of trucks required to send materials to a jobsite. As a result, their average cost per pound to deliver materials also decreased. With the advent of the LEED building rating system, the U.S. Green Building Council mandated that sheet metal contractors "seal all duct and equipment openings with plastic" to qualify for an indoor air quality credit.