As often happens in my articles and columns in Professional Builder Magazine, I set out to write one article, which quickly morphs into one, two or three … or in the case of the Quality Management Series, that will soon be up to six. I wrote my first article on the coming trade shortages last October about the perils and politics of immigration policy. I wrote the second one in December providing a 10-step immunization plan to protect a builder from the effects of...
Considering the millions of people wandering around with chins buried in their chests, thumbs ablaze on glass keyboards, few would suggest the smartphone is underutilized.
When I travel with my wife, or sometimes just run to the grocery, cleaners or hardware store, she frequently has to remind me, “Scott, remember, you are NOT in charge here.” Many of you fellow Leanistas know the drill. You hardly ever see a restaurant, a checkout, a meat counter at the supermarket, a parking lot or God help us a TSA line at the airport – in our out – that we could not spend 5 minutes rearranging and save folks a ton of time and money. Or maybe it’s the Chase...
This pottery is the future.
When I was part of a growing home building company we learned to be on guard for the newest “technology” coming down the pike that promised to revolutionize our home building business. We called the condition of falling for these fantastic technology claims the “allure for the sexy lady of technology.” Thirty years later, it is safe to say, some things never change. Before I expand on the latest siren of technology, let me give you the results of a couple recent studies.
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Studies show that across industries Cost of Quality (Failure, Appraisal & Prevention) is: 2.6-4% of sales revenue.
In the construction industry the Cost of Quality profile is:
70% spent on Failure Costs
25% on Appraisal Costs and only
5% spent on Prevention Costs.
The cost of correcting deviations from construction specification is 12% of project cost whereas
the cost of providing quality management is only 1-5% of project cost....
Did you know that Bronson Pinchot has a show on the DIY Network? That’s right, folks — Balki renovates houses!
It turns out that Pinchot, best known as the co-star of the 1980s sitcom “Perfect Strangers,” has a passion for remodeling old homes with salvaged materials. I’ve only seen one episode, but the guy...
Green building has touched nearly every new-home price point in urban areas as well as the suburbs. A recent Chicago Sun-Times article touted Avondale as “the hot new West Side neighborhood.” In Avondale, an architecturally diverse neighborhood of vintage homes, walkups and new residential construction, the single-family houses are the best value, according to the Sun-Times.
The most desirable detached homes in this neighborhood are boxy, ultra-modern structures that are smart as well...
