Lean Business Management for Builders - Lowe's

At any construction site, spending time searching for tools is part of the daily grind. But those minutes can add up. Dennis Sowards, president of Quality Support Services, Inc. has made a career of teaching business owners how to save money by preventing unfruitful tool hunts along with other wasteful work habits.

Sowards provides consulting, coaching and training on a philosophy known as “lean.” His clients come from various industries, all hoping to save money by creating process efficiencies. Lean entails creating value for the customer by eliminating any wasteful activities or materials. Most companies embrace some element of the philosophy, though the construction industry has been slower to incorporate it.

“When you try to explain the concept to business owners, their eyes glaze over,” says Sowards. But they pay attention when he explains how to save money by reducing waste. Considered a Lean Expert by the American Society for Quality (ASQ), an organization that certifies people in the practice, Sowards says small businesses don’t have to dive into any commitments. They can wet their toes by addressing the most glaring lean offenses on their own.

There are several common areas where waste can be reduced. Identifying these in your business is the first step in incorporating lean principles:

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