If there is one trend that is sweeping
production builders across the country, it is even flow construction.
It may be one house per week, per day, or per hour –it doesn’t
matter as long as homes are slotted into a schedule that sets
a steady pace for production. The effect on quality and productivity
of the trades has been monumental.
How it Works
Even flow construction offers the benefits
of factory efficiencies on the jobsite. In factories workers
assemble products as they move down a production line. The same
principles apply to even flow construction as craftsmen move
steadily down the street assembling homes.
"We release the same number of homes
every week in every community," reports Ken Neumann, president
of Neumann Homes, Illinois, a 1998 NHQ Award winner. "We're
very balanced in how we do things. Reliability, predictability,
and consistency are critical. We build our homes plus or minus
a day, year round."
Building speculative houses is not required
to maintain even flow production. Reduced costs allow these builders
to offer compelling value, creating construction backlogs that
feed the system.
Steady work and a highly productive working
environment attract the best trade crews. A stable network of
top-notch trades working together use teamwork to refine the
construction process for smooth and efficient operation. Commitment
to the discipline required for the even flow process is reinforced
by benefits that everyone enjoys.
Results
"With even flow, you can staff almost
one-third less people in the work force. That’s how we were
able to build a couple hundred extra homes this year with absolutely
the same work force" says Pat Hamill, president of Oakwood
Homes, Denver, a 1996 NHQ Award winner. "Panelization wasn’t
the key to building more homes with less labor; even flow production
is the key. Since we went to even flow we cut our actual build
time and improved our actual delivery dates over 35 percent."
With even flow construction, office procedures
also become much simpler. Slotting house starts sets the schedule
for every phase of production. No juggling trades. Field superintendents
are never stretched to the breaking point. Closings happen on
a regular basis. Month end madness becomes a thing of the past.
Sanity rises from the chaos.
America’s First ISO 9000 Registered
Homebuilder
Delcor Homes of Milford, MI received an
ISO 9001 Certificate of Registration on October 27, 1999. This
certification makes Delcor the first US homebuilder to have their
quality management system independently audited by an ISO 9000
registrar and approved based on their rigorous compliance with
the ISO 9000 series of international quality control standards.