Lean: A Management Philosophy
Details:
A lecture by Visiting Professor Glenn Ballard, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California.
Contrary to popular belief, Lean is not a specific set of tools or methods. Lean is a management philosophy broadly applicable to human organisations.
The philosophy is defined in terms of the ideal pursued, principles followed, and methods used. Methods such as Kanban, a scheduling system for lean and just-in-time production, have been developed by devotees of the philosophy, but the Lean tool box can adopt anything fit for purpose.
The relationship between ideal, principles, and methods is illustrated through examples drawn from design and from site construction. An example of a design-based principle is to apply all relevant criteria simultaneously to the generation, evaluation and selection from design alternatives. One method is organisational integration; bringing downstream players into upstream processes, contrary to the traditional sequential processing model followed in the construction industry.
Programme:
- 6 pm Registration with pre-event drinks, Newton building
- 6.30 pm Lecture, Newton LT5 followed by a buffet supper
The event will finish by 9 pm.
Download your copy of the official invitation. 
Book your place
To book your place please complete the online booking form. If you have any questions about this lecture, please email us or telephone +44(0)115 848 8268.
Biography
Glenn Ballard is co-founder and research director of the Lean Construction Institute (LCI), a non-profit organisation dedicated to applying Lean theory, principles and techniques to create a new form of project management to design and build capital facilities. Dr Ballard brings 25 years of construction industry expertise to his role and is a recognised expert in the area of project performance improvement.
He has worked as a manager, trainer and consultant with a myriad of organisations ranging from construction and engineering firms to public utilities and international oil and gas manufacturers. These organisations include:
- Ford Motor Company
- Brown & Root
- Bechtel Corporation
- Jacobs Engineering
- Petroleos de Venezuela
- Pacific Gas & Electric
- Caltrans
- the United States Department of Defence.
An accomplished educator, author and public speaker, Dr Ballard is currently a member of the construction engineering and management program faculty at UC Berkeley and Stanford. His teaching focuses on improving, as opposed to controlling, project performance. His principle research interest is adapting lean production theory from manufacturing to construction management practice.
Lean and the Last Planner System
Christine Pasquire, Professor of Lean Project Management in the Centre for Lean Projects at Nottingham Trent University, will be delivering a one day course at NTU on Tuesday 4 June 2013, which will introduce you to Lean and the Last Planner System (LPS), a philosophy that requires a new way of thinking and a new culture in design and construction.
