The International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC), founded in 1993, makes up a network of professionals and researchers in architecture, engineering, and
construction (AEC) who feel that the practice, education, and research of AEC have to be radically renewed in order to respond to the challenges ahead. The IGLC is an integrated international network and community of researchers in practice and academia that has collected a specific repository of research from the members of the community and their associates. It showcases new thinking, knowledge and practices that have been developed, funded and implemented by pioneering researchers in lean organisations in the architecture, engineering, construction and facilities management (AECFM) sector.
Many of the lean principles, methods and practices used by the pioneers of today’s AECFM sector are documented in the IGLC repository (e.g. Last Planner® System; Target Value Design; Virtual Design and Construction).
These methods are used to engage trades early in project delivery to leverage their knowledge and experience and produce better project results, including more profit by significantly improving coordination and sequencing of work which results in much less rework! Many of the pioneers and thought leaders of lean construction will be part of the week-long event.
IGLC 2019
This year’s event promises to be the largest IGLC yet. The week is split into four key parts – workshop day, industry day, 3-day research conference, and a 2-day PhD Summer School.
Workshop day
This will be located in Dublin Castle and has 10 different options to choose from. The workshops are designed to help those either beginning or at more
advanced stages of their lean journeys. Participants will learn from, and interact with, internationally-recognised lean leaders in design and construction.
Topics will include an introduction to lean; target-value design; gemba walks; simple framework for integrating project delivery; the better building model; choosing by advantages; creating enthusiasm for lean on your project; facilitating effective lean sessions; takt planning and the role of language and moods in successful project delivery.
Workshop day wraps up with “meet the authors” where the likes of David Umstot, Rafael Sacks, Hal Macomber, Klaus Lemke, Dean Reed, Atul Khanzode, Tom Richert and Marton Marosszeky will answer some more of the burning questions raised by the workshop participants during the day about implementing and sustaining lean.
Industry day
This will take place in Croke Park and will have four sessions run in a single stream with “Ted Talk ”style 18-minute presentations and audience engagement. Participants will hear about lean leadership and culture in Ireland from Ardmac, DPS, Mace and more. From an international perspective, current best practice case studies will be shared from the UK, US, Peru, Norway, Denmark and Germany.
The presentations and panel discussions will explore how purpose, culture, mind-set and team building are at the heart of successful project delivery. Industry day also includes dedicated panels to address the burning questions gathered throughout the day from the audience. The panelists include lean coaches David Umstot, Jason Klous, Randi Christensen, Cynthia Tsao and Steve Ward, in addition to the “godparents” of lean construction Glenn Ballard, Iris Tommelein, Lauri Koskela and Luis Alarcon.
The 3-day research conference
Again to be held in Croke Park, the conference will be chaired by Professors Christine Pasquire and Farook Hamzeh. It is structured to engage Irish and
international industry with the latest output and developments in lean construction from around the globe. These are either in use, ready for market, in exploratory and developmental stage or blue skies research that will shape the future of lean construction and project delivery.
Papers are being submitted under the following themes:
(1) Contract and Cost Management;
(2) Enabling Lean with Information Technology;
(3) Lean and BIM;
(4) Lean Theory;
(5) People, Culture and Change;
(6) Product Development and Design Management;
(7) Production Planning and Control;
(8) Last Planner® System;
(9) Language Action Perspective;
(10) Production System Design;
(11) Safety, Quality and Green-Lean;
(12) Supply Chain Management and Off-Site Construction;
(13) Learning and Teaching Lean.
Previous IGLC conference proceedings are searchable by key word or authors at www.iglc.net.
2-day PhD Summer School
The week concludes with a 2-day PhD Summer School in the Waterford Institute of Technology. The Summer School provides an opportunity for 12 PhD research
students (Irish and/or international applicants) to present their work and receive feedback from a panel of senior lean construction academics and experts. This two-day event supports in-depth discussion of current research in the field of lean construction.
The goal of the IGLC is to better meet customer demands and dramatically improve the AEC process as well as product. To achieve this, the group is developing new principles and methods for product development and production management specifically tailored to the AEC industry, but akin to those defining lean production that proved to be so successful in manufacturing.
See full details on IGLC 2019 at www.iglc2019.com
