Differences Between Lean Construction Approach and Project Management Institute (PMI) Approach
The differences between and PMI approach are listed below:
- Managing the interaction between activities and combined effects of dependence and variation, is a first concern in lean construction because their interactions highly affects the time and cost of projects(Howell,1999);in comparison, these interactions are not considered in PMI.
- In lean construction optimization efforts focus on making work flow reliable (Ballard, LPDS,2000 ); in contrast PMI focuses on improving productivity of each activity which can make errors and reducing quality and result in rework.
- The project is structured and managed as a value generating process (value is defined as satisfying customer requirements) (Howell, 1999), while PMI considers less cost as value.
- In lean approach, downstream stakeholders are involved in front end planning and design through cross functional teams (Ballard, LPDS, 2000); on the other hand PMI doesn’t consider this issue.
- In lean construction, project control has the job of execution (Ballard, PhD thesis, 2000); whereas, control in PMI method relies on variance detection after-the-fact.
- In lean method, pull techniques are used to govern the flow of materials and information through networks of cooperating specialists (Ballard, PhD thesis, 2000); in contrast, PMI uses push techniques for releasing the information and materials.
- Capacity and inventory buffers are used to absorb variation(Mura). Feedback loops are included at every level, to make rapid system adjustments, (Ballard, PhD thesis, 2000); in comparison, PMI doesn’t consider adjustments.
- Lean construction tries to mitigate variation in every aspect (product quality, rate of work) and manage the remaining variation, while PMI doesn’t consider variation mitigation and management. (Ballard, PhD thesis, 2000)
- Lean approach tries to make continuous improvements in the process, workflows and product (Howell, 1999); whereas PMI approach doesn’t pay that much attention to continuous improvement.
- In lean construction, decision making is distributed in design production control systems (Ballard, PhD thesis, 2000); by comparison, in PMI decision making is centered to one manager some times.
- Lean construction tries to increase transparency between the stakeholders, mangers and labourers, in order to know the impact of their work on the whole project (Howell, 1999); on the other hand, PMI doesn’t consider transparency in its methods.
- In lean construction a buffer of sound assignments is maintained for each crew or production unit (Ballard, PhD thesis, 2000); in contrast, PMI method doesn’t consider a backlog for crews.
- Lean construction is developing new forms of commercial contracts to give incentives to suppliers for reliable work flow and optimization at the deliverable-to-the-client level (Howell, 1999); while PMI doesn’t have such policy.
- Lean construction production system design resists the tendency toward local suboptimization. (Ballard thesis); however, PMI persists on optimizing each activity.
- The PMI-driven approach only considers managing a project at the macro-level. This is necessary but not sufficient for the success of projects. Lean Construction encompasses Project and Production Management, and formally recognizes that any successful project undertaking will inevitably involve the interaction between project and production management. (Abdelhamid et al. 2008)
Read more about this topic: Lean Construction
Famous quotes containing the words differences, lean, construction, approach, project, management and/or institute:
“Generally there is no consistent evidence of significant differences in school achievement between children of working and nonworking mothers, but differences that do appear are often related to maternal satisfaction with her chosen role, and the quality of substitute care.”
—Ruth E. Zambrana, U.S. researcher, M. Hurst, and R.L. Hite. “The Working Mother in Contemporary Perspectives: A Review of Literature,” Pediatrics (December 1979)
“As they lean over the beans in their rented back room that
is full of beads and receipts and dolls and cloths,
tobacco crumbs, vases and fringes.”
—Gwendolyn Brooks (b. 1917)
“There’s no art
To find the mind’s construction in the face:
He was a gentleman on whom I built
An absolute trust.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“Weaving spiders, come not here;
Hence, you longlegged spinners, hence!
Beetles black approach not near;
Worm nor snail, do no offence.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“If we should swap a good library for a second-rate stump speech and not ask for boot, it would be thoroughly in tune with our hearts. For deep within each of us lies politics. It is our football, baseball, and tennis rolled into one. We enjoy it; we will hitch up and drive for miles in order to hear and applaud the vitriolic phrases of a candidate we have already reckoned we’ll vote against.”
—Federal Writers’ Project Of The Wor, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)
“No officer should be required or permitted to take part in the management of political organizations, caucuses, conventions, or election campaigns. Their right to vote and to express their views on public questions, either orally or through the press, is not denied, provided it does not interfere with the discharge of their official duties. No assessment for political purposes on officers or subordinates should be allowed.”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)
“Whenever any form of government shall become destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, & to institute new government, laying it’s foundation on such principles & organising it’s powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety & happiness.”
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)