Gilbane's Lean Transformation

Team,

Part of Gilbane’s Vision 2020 Strategy is our Lean transformation journey.  We approach the Lean transformation of Gilbane via three directions: 1) People First!, 2) Projects and 3) Company.  Let’s look at these one at a time.

PEOPLE FIRST!

Our Lean Practitioner Program is off to a great start.  We have had people from all over the company participate so far (GTG techs, admins, PMs, PXs and Business Unit Leaders etc.).This program helps train our people and get them up to speed on how to apply Lean principles across Gilbane.  We want all of us to run through this and when our employees think, “what can I do to get involved and make a difference?” This is what. 

PROJECTS

We have many examples of Advanced Planning and Scheduling going on, applying Lean concepts to help streamline our sites and deliver earlier with more collaboration.  This process helps unearth schedule risks and constraints and gives us cost and schedule certainty. 

COMPANY

The focus on simplification and process improvement when viewed through the prism of Lean has made Gilbane undergo the transition from what many have, policy and procedure, to something much easier.  We call it from Policies to Playbooks (P2P).  In my vernacular, we need quick start guides for  WHY and WHAT we do with the appropriate level of detail on HOW to do it.  Through Lean we illustrate the refined, streamlined processes into a Playbook, which is a concise “one pager” that is transformative.  A typical Playbook gives you:

• the non-negotiables, the things that must be done each and every time on the task, with clear WHY and WHAT.
• Strategic guidance on what A+ players do on the task to be the best, so you can see HOW the best people make it happen
• appropriate links to examples, videos etc, for deeper study if needed
• objective, leading indicators so you can use data to see how you are doing.

This is big deal for Gilbane.  Like many of our transformative journeys (safety) through the years it will take time.  But the outcome must be that WHY, WHAT and HOW we do what we do in a  simple, clear concise and consistent methodology across the world of Gilbane.

You may be in the corner of a remote fox hole in your own company fighting against the complexities of the typical large company machine, thinking this is all sounds like the flavor of the month, typical corporate gunk.  Well then, start the journey even where you are, with you.  Look at how you do what you do.  It can be done more efficiently and simply.  Gilbane will keep striving as well on the journey.  All aboard! 

Stay safe,

McK