Application of lean strategies to construction storage area (proposal)

Abstract

Digger Construction is a large excavating and earth moving construction company located in Wisconsin that specializes in Wisconsin Department of Transportation, municipality, and commercial construction projects. Due to years of improper care and control, Digger Construction's headquarters had become a disorganized laydown area for construction materials and equipment. The 12-acre construction yard was cluttered with excess materials, waste inventory, and broken-down vehicles and equipment. This disorganization and layout of the property created extra costs from employees trying to navigate areas of the property and locating needed items, as well as unknown inventory carrying costs. This study utilized lean and 5S methodologies to develop an improvement plan for the cleanliness and organization of the yard. Spaghetti diagraming and ABC inventory grouping were used to study the existing yard and to create an improved site plan. 5S was used to further organize the yard as a whole and to improve workflow, as well as used to develop example policies and documents that were to be used to standardize and sustain the new layout.