Why ‘getting better at firefighting’ isn’t the only way forward for construction SMEs

May 24, 2021

Lessons for the SME construction sector

In this podcast, we hear from John Lohan, founding partner of Integrated Project Delivery. IPD was formed in 2016 to offer client-sided consultancy for major infrastructure and construction projects. The IPD team have been involved with some of the most significant UK and international projects in recent times including Waterloo International Terminal, Heathrow Terminal 5, the Channel Tunnel Rail Link into St Pancras Station, the 2012 London Olympics, AP-LNG Queensland, Australia, and the MTRC Rail Project in Hong Kong. John argues, though, that any sized construction SME can adopt the IPD way of working and avoid just ‘getting better at firefighting.’

In this podcast…

  • How the Integrated Project Delivery Model and its systemic approach to project delivery differs from the more traditional methods.
  • Why SMEs are the source of all real knowledge and innovation in the construction industry .
  • About the standard processes the IPD model focusses on that enable successful project delivery.
  • The lessons that can be learned by the construction SME sector in adopting the tools and systems of the Integrated Project Delivery Model.
  • Why digital prototyping and BIM are vital enablers for developing standard products and for the evolution of off-site manufacturing methods.
  • Why creating collaborative environments and fostering the right behaviours creates a culture of innovation for SMEs .
  • Why IPD focus their business on educating and working with clients and how this has a positive impact on the SME businesses involved with project delivery.
  • About the digital tools and solutions construction SMEs can adopt to become more productive.
  • Why any sized construction SME can adopt the IPD way of working and avoid just ‘getting better at firefighting.’
  • Why businesses need to focus attention on systems and not setting goals.

Listen in…

This podcast is around 40 minutes long and you can watch or listen to it here (links open in new windows):

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