Continuing V.E.T. Training Programme in Lean Construction to support the transition of the Construction Sector towards a more competitive and productive model. Erasmus Project

Project Title

Continuing V.E.T. Training Programme in Lean Construction to support the transition of the Construction Sector towards a more competitive and productive model.

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2016

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Enterprise, industry and SMEs (incl. entrepreneurship)

Project Summary

1.- CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND

The construction sector is undergoing a major change marked mainly by the ageing and decline in the number of workers, and the impact of the economic crisis. In this context, the transformation of the sector implies working with new strategies, innovating and questioning some traditional methods. Lean Construction deals precisely with the introduction of new management models based on LEAN methodology, to make it more competitive, sustainable and productive.

2.- OBJECTIVES

The aim of the Lean.Co project was to develop and implement a new training programme in Lean Construction, in order to provide them with the necessary knowledge and specific skills to apply and implement the Lean Construction methodology approach within companies in the sector.

In this way, we have sought to improve, in a sustainable manner, the competitiveness of workers, companies and their work systems, as well as to encourage the transition of the industry towards a new constructive model.

To this end, we have designed and tested a complete training program in Lean Construction for construction professionals, in order to respond to the qualification needs that the labor market demands.

3.- PARTICIPANT PROFILES
The project has been developed by 5 entities specialized in the sector and training:
Fundación Laboral de la Construcción (Spain)
WUT (Poland)
Centro Habitat ( Portugal)
Tipee (France)
ACP (Spain)

4.- METHODOLOGY AND ACTIVITIES
The project methodology is structured along the 24 months of duration.The different planned activities have been carried out, each led by a project partner. The working methodology for the collection and processing of information for the development of training has combined several qualitative techniques: surveys and interviews with agents of the sector and the documentary study on Lean Construction. The coordination of the activities has been articulated through face to face and online meetings between the partners, supported by a virtual space for collaborative work to share the documentation.

The project has consisted of four major areas:
1.- Project management.
2.-Development and implementation of the Lean.Co. Program.
. Design of the Lean.Co training programme (mixed face to face and teletraining modality)
. Elaboration of the teaching methodology and training modules for face to face and teletraining.
. Design and development of a platform for teletraining.
. Elaboration of didactic material, activities and visual support for teachers and students.
. Validation and transfer of the Lean.Co. program
. Replication and adaptation of the Lean.Co program for use in the 4 countries collaborating in this project: Spain, France, Portugal and Poland.
. Development of four pilot experiences with workers in the sector.
. Measurement of the satisfaction of these pilot experiences.
Dissemination and communication of the project: Valorization and sustainability.
Compilation of conclusions and future strategies: Compilation of conclusions and analysis of their future use and durability over time.

5.- RESULTS
The main result is the development and implementation of a continuous training program (mixed and teletraining) for construction workers. The Lean Construction training program has sought to provide the necessary knowledge and specific skills to apply and implement this management model in construction companies, in order to improve their competitiveness and encourage the transition to a new construction model.
The success of the implementation has been the result of close collaboration between partners, which has allowed coordinated and structured content, with a high degree of transfer between countries.

6.- IMPACT
-construction professionals, who have been able to get to know and be trained in new management models
-companies in the sector, which have introduced a new way of doing things
-public institutions and key players in the sector (sectoral clusters, professional associations, etc.), whose awareness is vital for the introduction of Lean Construction throughout the value chain.
– VET trainers and centres, which can have a quality training itinerary with Europe, and resources in line useful for the future of construction.
-project partners, who have created a product of value through joint work, with significant potential for exploitation.

7.- LONG-TERM BENEFITS
-Contribution to the transition of the construction sector towards a Construction industry and construction 4.0, through training and the creation of resources for training in new management models that allow the optimization and efficiency of processes, and the dissemination of these new procedures and methodologies, such as LEAN and BIM, among professionals and companies in the sector,
-Availability of an innovative training programme of 240 hours both in terms of content and teaching methodology.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 154142 Eur

Project Coordinator

FUNDACION LABORAL DE LA CONSTRUCCION & Country: ES

Project Partners

• Tipee
• POLITECHNIKA WARSZAWSKA
• Asociación de Constructores Promotores de Navarra
• ESKAL EUREKA
• ASSOCIACAO PLATAFORMA PARA A CONSTRUCAO SUSTENTAVEL