Agile/flexible and lean management in ready-mix concrete delivery

Abstract

The aim of the article is indicating the advantages of utilizing the synergy obtained by introducing two management methods: Lean Construction and Agile Management using the example of the process of deliveries of concrete mix in road construction. Despite the seemingly contradictory assumptions (Lean Management aims at limiting wastefulness and maximizing the value for the customer and agile management serves for creating the possibility for fast, effective response to non-expected changes thanks to the adopted strategy of flexibility, which usually requires engaging additional resources), both management methods deliver the effect of increasing the effectiveness of the machine laying the pavement. Using a “spaghetti diagram” (one of the tools of Lean Management) led to limiting the time losses during loading and unloading the concrete mix destined for constructing highway pavement. On the other hand, the tactic of technological flexibility in the form of a modification of the concrete mix allowed for broadening the time frame for the delivery of concrete to the construction site to as much as two hours. Moreover, applying the real time delivery management system (in accordance with the assumptions of Construction 4.0) created the possibilities for ensuring quick reacting to the changing conditions of delivery and laying the concrete mix in the pavement and ensuring the appropriate functioning of the machine laying the pavement. The presented examples indicated the advantages of the suggested concept in reference to the traditional solution.