SUMMER– 2007
IN THIS ISSUE:

LEAN PROJECT DELIVERY
CONTRACTORS GO ON THE "SKINNY"
Lean, not mean, may soon become the mantra at construction sites in the United States and abroad. Going “lean” on your construction projects can improve workflow, productivity and profitability. This article describes how lean thinking focuses on total project performance rather than merely reducing the cost or increasing the speed of one activity. A sidebar reports how one contractor used lean construction principles to complete more projects without adding staff.

TAKING THE PAIN OUT OF CHANGE ORDER MANAGEMENT
Adequately documenting and tracking change orders can help you save money and relationships. This article discusses why it’s so important to review your contracts so you can identify weaknesses that could eventually cause change orders. In addition, it explains why communication among all parties and keeping accurate records are critical if you want to make a healthy profit on the overall project.

HOW DOES YOUR BUSINESS STACK UP?
USE BENCHMARKING TO FIND OUT
If you’re curious about how well your construction company is doing compared with either its own past performance or with its competition, benchmarking can help. Benchmarking is the practice of looking inside and outside your company to evaluate and compare common functions and practices, called metrics. This article looks at some key metrics you may want to track. Plus, it offers tips for finding surveys and other data that can help you compare yourself to others in the construction industry.

4 HIGH-TECH BUILDING MATERIALS THAT CAN SAVE YOU TIME AND MONEY
This brief article discusses how precast concrete, engineered wood wall framing, eco-friendly flooring products and recycled rubber can help you save time and money on future projects.

Contractor's Toolbox:
YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR
TIPS ON OFFERING COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION
Hiring and retaining good workers means providing a competitive compensation package that’s aggressive enough to lure the cream of the crop, but not so lucrative that it eats into your profits or threatens your survival. This article discusses how to assess the value of each position and how much your company can afford, so you can design a compensation package that is fair but still leaves room for contingencies.

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