How to Build Cars... And Houses.... And Houses out of Cars...

One of the benefits of our planning and pre-building process is that we can minimize the waste we generate. Not only wasted materials, but wasted time as well. We invest time up front on methods and processes that allow us to build efficiently like building the wall panels in the plant and delivering them to the site in the order we will stand them. We don't cut framing on site so there's not a big pile of lumber or steel scraps. The exterior rigid foam insulation is installed in the plant not hand-cut out in the field. We deliver the materials for each day's work in the morning and leave the job site clean at the end of the day. All this planning means there aren't extra parts, material or scrap sitting around on our job sites. It’s one of the remarkable things that people notice when they visit.


This way of working comes from the Toyota Production System (TPS). It’s called “The Five S’s.” They are:
• Sifting – Identifying the needed items at the worksite and removing the unneeded items
• Sorting – Arranging items at the worksite to be easily found and within reach when needed.
• Sweeping – Cleaning the area and around the worksite and cleaning the tools to maintain top performance
• Spic and Span – Providing a system to create a clean and safe work environment
• Sustaining – Creating awareness or discipline by each worker to maintain a clean and safe worksite.

The Five S’s are important because disorder can cover up problems and because they encourage prevention thinking.

Another positive result of the methods we use is a very clean job site.
We feel that it’s a good reflection on us and provides a safe work site for our associates and our visitors. Job site housekeeping is one of the major requirements in the General Safety and Health Provisions section of OSHA’s Health & Safety Construction-related Regulations. Even small obstacles can be a tripping hazard. Injuries from slips, trips and falls on flat surfaces account for a large number of the overall injures in residential construction.

Of course, an uncluttered job site is easier to work in too. Tools and supplies are visible, easier to find, and it’s easier to move around. Time isn’t wasted moving things out of the way before you can start the next task. A clean job site means that it’s easier to do even the small safety tasks that can make a difference like running our magnetic sweep around the site to pick up any stray screws that could pierce a boot or a truck tire.

Really, it’s just an extension of our quality-focused approach throughout the whole process. It includes all of the processes, the people, the methods and the end product.

Mark Mecklem - Miranda Homes