The construction industry is one which is continuously improving in productivity innovation but the construction industry is lagging on productivity improvements with no overall improvement in productivity since 1964 – this while all other industries have increased productivity by over 200% or more during the same period. Intel, along with our construction partners are committed to bending the productivity curve for construction.

On Tuesday 18th November, Intel Ireland launched the 1st Lean Construction Expo at its Leixlip Campus. The event was put together to encourage cross learning and sharing on the topic of lean construction and to showcase the Lean Excellence initiatives which have been delivered on projects by construction partners on the Intel Campus. Demonstrating these initiatives provides a showcase on how lean methodologies and lean cultures can improve productivity, increase collaboration and increase value to everybody in the supply chain during project delivery.

The event was also an opportunity to build on the current lean construction momentum in Ireland and to influence the productivity curve from a collaborative perspective which includes numerous stakeholders such as owners, general contractors, designers, trade contractor’s and academia who are each working together using lean tools and principles and enabling Ireland to be a Centre of Excellence for Lean Construction.

Eamonn Sinnott, Intel Ireland General Manager and Vice President of Intel’s Technology Manufacturing Group, officially opened the Lean Construction Expo in NASDAQ style Bell Ring Ceremony. Eamonn spoke to the 25 Year history of manufacturing and construction at the Leixlip campus through an investment of $12.5 Billion, one which is the largest private investment in the history of the State. Sinnott reiterated that lean is a journey and a worthwhile one that Intel started in manufacturing in the early 1990’s. He added “Having really embraced lean manufacturing and its principles, it has been a fundamental part of helping us to achieve results that were previously unimaginable. Construction has the same opportunity and can adopt many of these principles which have the opportunity to drive transformation of construction practices”. 

Also speaking at the event opening and underpinning the impetus for change in the industry was Joe Foley, Manager of Construction for Intel Ireland who spoke of the amount of ’waste’ in the construction industry versus the manufacturing industry and reinforced the importance of adopting lean tools, techniques and culture as a way to change the productivity curve and eliminate waste.

The official opening, which was attended by 220 people, included many guests from construction outside of the Intel Partners. These Included representation many other wners including  Google, Microsoft, Kerry Group, DAA, Diageo, DIT-Grangegorman, Many suppliers & Academia Colleges were also represented, as were CIF (Construction Industry Federation) CITA (Construction IT Alliance) and LCI ( Lean Construction Ireland CoP).

The Expo itself included 37 stands from a variety of stakeholders that are engaged in construction at the Intel Ireland campus in Leixlip. All of the stands focused on Lean Improvements categorised into 4 distinct groupings;

• What was the problem you were trying to solve using Lean?

• What did you do?

• What was the result of the Lean intervention?

• What was the benefit to the team and project?

Among the hosted stands were companies such as the M&W Group, PM Group, PCM Consulting Ltd, Kirby Group and PJ Hegarty & Sons Ltd. (full list is included in footnotes)

In parallel to the Expo there were 9 training courses being held on different tools, techniques and cultures of lean in construction which hosted jointly by Intel and our construction partners. The sessions included a ‘Plan Do Check Act’ session delivered by Mercury, a ‘Last Planner System’ offering delivered by DPS and a number of Intel led topics such as ‘Integrated Project Delivery’ and ‘Choosing by Advantage’.

Throughout the day 2450 people attended the event with almost 500 people attending the various training courses and breakout sessions which also took place in parallel to event.

The expo came to a close at 4pm with 260 attendees assembled to hear from Jim Curley, Jones Engineering Group Director and President of MEBSCA who announced the Lean Leader award winner as Eric Hendrick, Pipe Fitter – Jones Engineering. In closing the event Curley said “Irish Construction Companies are winning work outside of Ireland because of their safety and quality ethos and performance. Now is the opportunity to get lean cultures and practices up there beside safety. This would be a huge accolade for Irish Companies abroad and why not deliver the LCI Vision for Ireland”.

The Expo was then officially closed by Sean Downey, Director at Construction Industry Federation (CIF) with responsibility for Specialist Contracting. Sean added “Ireland has the best craftsmen in the world, with a number of companies not just competing for top spot, but winning, in the world skills competition. Ireland currently exports 50% of its construction output. Both in Europe and further afield we are procured for our world class safety and delivery standard. Now is our chance to add productivity to our Tool Kit. Through The LCI CoP we are going to turn every AEC project in Ireland into world class business – Our very own home grown centre of excellence”.

Eamonn Sinnott officially opens the 1st Lean Construction Expo