Is good enough “making do”? An investigation of inappropriate processing in a small design and build company

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to address behaviour that often leads to inappropriate processing in a small design and build contracting organisation that employs direct labour. The objective was to reduce process waste and improve the value delivered to clients. This formed part of a larger knowledge transfer project (KTP) to improve performance on construction sites through the application of lean thinking.

Design/methodology/approach

Action research was used to identify and bring about change within the contracting organisation. The method was applied to live construction projects in the social housing sector in the greater London area. The intervention was to raise the awareness of site personnel to the importance of finishing tasks through informal discussions and visual management techniques.

Findings

Raised awareness of the importance of finishing work to allow other trades to follow on unimpeded, leading to significant improvements in the quality and flow of work. This helped to contribute to significant savings in time and cost.

Research limitations/implications

Findings relate to a small to medium‐sized enterprise (SME) with directly employed labour, therefore the findings have limited applicability. Further applied research is required to determine the generalisation of the approach/findings to organisations that subcontract their labour.

Practical implications

This applied research is practical and cost effective to apply to live projects managed by small and medium sized contracting organisations.

Originality/value

Provides a unique insight into the practical application of lean thinking tools and process improvement.

Citation

Emmitt, S., Pasquire, C. and Mertia, B. (2012), "Is good enough “making do”? An investigation of inappropriate processing in a small design and build company", Construction Innovation, Vol. 12 No. 3, pp. 369-383. https://doi.org/10.1108/14714171211244622