A widespread adoption of lean techniques, integrated teaming and virtual design and construction could be the keys to improving productivity in the construction industry, according to a new report released by the National Research Council. The report, “Advancing the Competitiveness and Efficiency of the U.S. Construction Industry,” focuses on reducing waste in time, cost, materials, energy, skills and labor and offers recommendations on how to promote industry-wide adoption over the next 20 years.
“This is the most important topic in the industry right now, but it’s one that has continued to falter, and ultimately no one does anything substantive about it,” says Pat Galloway, CEO of Pegasus-Global Holdings in Cle Elum, Wash., and a member of the committee that oversaw the study.