Lean Construction Tactics Target Waste on Solar Projects
According to Solar Power World, an op-ed by Mortenson project manager Chinmay Pingulkar makes the case that Lean construction principles, long used in manufacturing and other construction sectors, remain underused in utility-scale solar. The piece points to transitions between activities, like crews waiting on materials or working around incomplete predecessor tasks, as major hidden productivity drains. Tools cited include value stream mapping, standardized work practices, Kaizen-style continuous improvement, look-ahead planning, and daily coordination meetings.
What It Means for Subcontractors
- Crews and installers who can document standardized work practices may have an edge when EPCs evaluate schedule reliability.
- Subcontractors involved in staging, logistics, and materials delivery should expect tighter coordination requirements to reduce wait times between task handoffs.
- Firms offering scheduling, planning, or field coordination support could find new demand as EPCs formalize look-ahead planning and daily coordination processes on solar sites.
