Lean construction for wind farms can increase profitability, accelerate project timelines, and minimize waste—at a time when these are all vital goals.
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Lean construction for wind farms can increase profitability, accelerate project timelines, and minimize waste—at a time when these are all vital goals.
The construction industry has historically been quite inefficient, but that’s no longer acceptable in today’s post-pandemic world. As construction companies struggle with shortages of everything from raw materials to skilled tradespeople, sticking to timelines has become increasingly challenging. Indeed, force majeure in construction has become commonplace, from delays caused by strikes in the supply chain to extreme weather conditions.
In such a troubled global market, identifying efficiencies and implementing cost savings are more important than ever. This is where the relatively modern concept of lean construction can help, especially in terms of complex assembly projects like wind turbines. In this article, we discuss the benefits of lean construction for wind farms—but first, let’s define what lean construction entails.
There are many common misconceptions about lean construction. It might sound like a manufacturing process, but lean construction is more of a holistic ideology. In essence, it’s the process of minimizing waste. Regardless of whether you’re wasting resources, time, manpower, or anything else, you’re increasing costs and reducing profitability. In today’s competitive and complex construction sector, that’s unjustifiable.
Lean construction begins with initial consultations and designs, ensuring that subsequent stages (such as assembly and completion) are as cost-effective and streamlined as possible. It relies on a unified approach from architects and designers, as well as builders and their clients. Lean construction techniques will therefore vary from one project to the next.
Every client brief raises different challenges, as the various parties involved in realizing a specific vision try to balance the (often conflicting) aims of working quickly, affordably, and to a high standard. However, one constant is the need for clear and proactive communication between all stakeholders. This must take place at every stage of a project.
Wind turbines are a key weapon in mankind’s battle against climate change, and one of the few construction sectors experiencing year-on-year growth. Yet wind farms are almost uniquely complex to construct. They’re outdoors, usually on exposed hillsides or offshore, where conditions are inhospitable and volatile. They extend across huge swathes of land, necessitating independent construction of each turbine and its ground-level infrastructure. They involve expensive raw materials, specialist assembly equipment, dedicated access roads, and highly knowledgeable construction staff.
Modular turbine assembly can often be completed within a couple of months. However, this overlooks the manufacturing processes that precede it and the infrastructure that surrounds it. When a client discusses a possible future commission, lean construction for wind farms should be imbued into every site design, timescale proposal, and costing.
These are seven of the key advantages of lean construction for wind farms:
The principles of lean construction for wind farms apply to many other construction sectors as well. Learn more about this absorbing topic by checking out our ebook, Quick guide to Lean practices for construction professionals.
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