To project manage your project with a Lean attitude is just as difficult as going on a diet. In both cases motivation is key, but the results are equally impressive.

In this article we cover:

• What Lean construction is and why it could save you money
• Principles of Lean construction when project managing your self-build
• Identifying Value in your tasks and processes
• How to motivate and ensure collaboration amongst all involved
• Production boards and site meetings
• How to carry out a waste walk
• Contractual clauses and how to make the most of them

House building is probably the only sector that allows, and expects, mistakes to be made. Being wrong is standard procedure – getting it right the first time is an anomaly. ‘Customers’ are forced to pay for what in any other industry would be called defects; in the case of self-building they are called snags.