Lean Homebuilding = Better Product, Greater Return

These two guys, Scott Sedam is President of TrueNorth Development and Todd Hallett, AIA, President of TK Design & Associates, Inc. might rub the Lean purist out there the wrong way. If the truth be known, I do all the time. I think this is why I liked doing this podcast. So much, that it is a whopping 50 minutes long. I could have cut it in a few places and when you hear Scott describe Granny; you may wonder why I did not.

The discussion takes me back a few years to my construction equipment building days. Contractors always had a knack for keeping you in the moment to say it politely. They had a job to get done and how you facilitated that was the key to your success. Though many will argue about the importance of culture and the big picture, all of these things are ultimately made up of a lot of little pictures. The importance of that razor-like focus is an understanding, unlike any other profession that I have been associated with that contractors have.   

This podcast is not about all the intricacies and Japanese terms used in Lean. Scott and Todd do not ask their clients for any great leaps of faith. The only thing they ask is to put your foot in the water. This is a refreshing podcast that is simply about how you build a better product with a greater return. Or more simply, how you make money using Lean.

Download Podcast: Click and choose options: Download this episode (right click and save)

or go to the Business901 iTunes Store.

Mobile Version

Scott Sedam is President of TrueNorth Development, an internationally-known consulting and training firm focused exclusively on the building industry. Now in its fifteenth year with a staff of 6 field consultants, TrueNorth conducts consulting projects and training workshops with more than 200 builder, supplier & trade clients in the U.S., Canada, Australia and Mexico. During the recent industry downturn, TrueNorth’s LeanBuilding™ processes have saved clients more than $200 million, demonstrating clearly how to improve product, process and profit without compromising builder, supplier and trade relationships. Scott’s presentations are a popular feature at industry conferences and company meetings and he has published a monthly article in the industry for more than 15 years. Scott serves as contributing editor for Professional Builder Magazine.

Todd Hallett, AIA, President of TK Design & Associates, Inc. has been designing award winning homes for over 20 years. He spent 15 of those years working for a $50 million production building company. Todd designed all of their homes but also worked in every other aspect of the company, including purchasing, development, land acquisition, product development, and operations, and was President of the company for three years. Equipped with his vast building experience and fueled by his love for architecture, he left to form an architecture firm that is second to none in working cohesively with Builders. Todd specializes in Lean Design and works, alongside Scott, in the trenches with builders, suppliers, and trade contractors.

Read Scott Sedam and  Todd Hallett Weekly Lean Blogs on LEAN TUESDAY at HousingZone.com or follow the following links directly; Scott Sedam’s Lean Tuesday blog and Todd Hallett’s Lean Tuesday blog.