Re: Dr. Deming and the building construction industry?

[James Robert Crow <jr1crow@mindspring.com>]

Hello Group:

I don't have any specific examples, but building is a process.  Any
building has a beginning and an end, and many pitfalls in between.  About
20 years ago I build a house and acted as the general contractor.  First I
took a course on how to build your own house, then I followed the course
instructions and got the house up with a minimun of problems.  I has able
to do this because of the larger system.  At the time interest rates were
running at 12.5%, and there was very little construction going on.  As a
result sub-contractors were available and hungry.  I was able to negociate
good prices, the subs showed up when they were expected and stayed on the
job until the work was completed.

I would not attempt that same job today.  Markets are tight.
Sub-contractors are very much in demand to the point that they can pick and
choose.  They might not show up and in many cases leave a job unfinished.

This is the problem of in individual builder.  If I was in the industry
then it is a process of building relationships with your suppliers, and
customers.  I have talked with a local builder from time to time and there
is a lot of sub-optimization in the industry.  People will be pulled off of
jobs to finish houses at the end of the month so it can be sold in order to
hit some numbers.  This causes a lot of waste and fustration by the crews.


Robert Crow
Principal
Crow Consulting
165 River North Circle NW
Atlanta, GA 30328 USA
Voice 770-396-2280
FAX 770-396-7010
jr1crow@mindspring.com
www.crowgroup.net