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The infrastructure industry is in constant pursuit of Lean Construction, concerned with the management and improvement of construction processes whilst minimising costs and maximising the value for clients and stakeholders. Lean Construction seeks to reduce waste and ultimately achieve the efficient supply of effective services. A challenge for the industry is the loss of productivity when compared to other sectors in the economy.
The Productivity Commission suggests there are five root causes for poor productivity:
- Contracts rarely motivate real collaboration, inhibiting close coordination and innovation
- Work planning and delivery at the task level is unreliable, with almost half of all tasks in a project rarely undertaken when promised
- The costs of errors are not measured resulting in a culture of acceptance
- Risk is often contractually passed down the line regardless of whether that is a sound course of action and not effectively managed or mitigated
- High levels of error-repetition illustrates a culture of error-acceptance rather than learning
The Productivity Commission suggests that one of the key drivers to improving productivity is through encouraging early multidisciplinary involvement in planning, encouraging innovation and management of risk through collaboration within the supply chain. Pensar works in multidisciplinary teams to offer clients improved productivity, cost savings and high-quality outcomes.
Pensar’s multidisciplinary offering fosters collaboration among specialised teams, across varied capabilities who have worked alongside each other for a number of years. The close coordination of specialists from a single company encourages innovation and reduces time lost through the back and forth between companies and departments. With less external stakeholders and a single set of well-defined management systems and a core culture, projects are streamlined and deadlines are met as promised. A single multidisciplinary team of specialists work to one set of standards and level of performance, held to account when it comes to safety, quality and production. When errors are made or risks identified, they are acknowledged, rectified and recorded to eliminate a culture of acceptance and ensure all teams are delivering projects to a consistently high standard. Pensar encourages learning across teams, sharing challenges and achievements from past projects and implementing these in future to improve efficiency and productivity.
Pensar has multidisciplinary teams based across South East Queensland and regional Australia. A few of our recent multidisciplinary projects include:
Logan Water Infrastructure Alliance Reservoir Renewals – Greenbank
The Greenbank Reservoir complex was one of three sites refurbished as part of LoganWIA Reservoir Renewals project. The refurbishment of the Greenbank site utilised Pensar’s Structures and Civil teams for the rehabilitation of the existing water reservoir infrastructure consisting of two low level reservoirs and one elevated tower reservoir. The purpose of the project was to improve the water quality, maintain head pressure, and ensure the assets were future proofed.
Molendinar Backwash System and Electrical Upgrade
The upgrade of the Molendinar Water Treatment Plant backwash and electrical systems was the largest upgrade to the plant since it was built in the 80’s. The upgrade would ensure future capacity and reliability of the treatment plant, to service the growing community. Pensar’s Structures, Power and Water teams collaborated to refurbish the electrical systems and pipework as well as delivering custom structures to house the upgraded infrastructure.
Helensvale Rail Station Bus Interchange
The upgrade of Helensvale Station on the Gold Coast was part of the Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program, aiming to connect communities, enhance road safety, boost the economy and generate employment. Pensar’s Power, Structures and Civil capabilities collaborated to deliver a full-service solution for the client.
The project involved a 47 lot subdivision in Ormeau, catering for the growing Gold Coast community. With Pensar’s multidisciplinary offering our team had the capability to deliver a full project solution, using our Urban, Water and Power capabilities. The project team self-preformed the delivery of a pump station and sewer rising main construction, electrical reticulation and road widening.
Pensar’s Multidisciplinary approach to project delivery promotes Lean Construction through combining the capabilities of one company rather than using subcontractors to deliver a number of project packages, reducing waste through an improved supply chain. Productivity improves when teams work from one set of systems, increasing the efficient supply of effective services and ultimately maximising the value for clients and stakeholders.