Construction projects are rarely completed without a hitch, but the unanticipated issues don’t have to cause delays and cost overruns. With the Lean construction approach, a project team can more successfully and easily navigate around obstacles — and even prevent many of them from arising in the first place.

Delays arise from countless variables and logistics. One company may have trouble obtaining a needed element such as a lighting fixture because of a hold-up with the supplier. Another company may anticipate being temporarily short-staffed in a coming week.

Enter Lean construction. The method is a series of best practices that encourage close cooperation and communication among all of a project’s stakeholders to respond to such issues. Lean construction creates a unified team that is more nimble and efficient, avoids many complications and identifies collaborative solutions for any issues that do arise.

At LeChase Construction Services, we have employed Lean construction for several years. It recently reduced the timeframe for a Westchester County, N.Y., renovation project from 14 weeks to 12. The time savings, about 14%, came from collaborating on Lean construction initiatives and discussions to work around issues, including the previously mentioned lighting fixture that one contractor had trouble obtaining.

This is just one benefit of the approach, now a best practice for many companies. A 2021 survey of 336 contractors, conducted by Dodge Data & Analytics for the Lean Construction Institute and the Associated General Contractors of America, showed the benefits of Lean construction methods across various areas, including timeframe, profitability and enhanced team culture. Of those that used a “high intensity” of Lean construction methods, 60% reported profitability higher than with typical methods; 56% said the quality of the project exceeded expectations; 41% reported finishing a project sooner than the original schedule; and 73% said they would work with the same company again.

LeChase is deploying Lean construction principles at the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, N.Y., where we serve as general contractor on the renowned museum’s $53 million StudioNEXT expansion. The project will transform the museum’s studio into a pre-eminent international center for students and artists working in glass. Corning already was employing Lean planning methods, so we began the project by providing refresher training to those subcontractors with Lean experience and introductory training for those without any Lean experience. Careful planning is crucial to completing sections of the project while allowing museum operations to continue in other areas.

The Lean Construction Institute describes six tenets of Lean construction. One, respect for people, provides the foundation for the rest. For a project team to function smoothly, trust among the companies and their crews is essential. We build this trust in our daily meetings, in which courtesy is enforced with rules such as allowing one person to finish talking before another speaks.

The other tenets are to optimize the whole; remove waste; focus on process and flow; focus on generating value; and continuous improvement. The tenets, applied to construction and design, serve to “develop and manage a project through relationships, shared knowledge and common goals,” the institute’s website reads. “Through these tenets, traditional silos of knowledge, work and effort are broken down and reorganized for the betterment of the project rather than of individual participants.”

This collaboration and coordination can generate beneficial practices at every step. An example: Don’t set down materials if you’ll have to move them again. Coordinate team members to bring materials on site only when they’re needed. Then, place them proximate to where they’ll be used, rather than storing them elsewhere on site while crews prepare for them in another section.

Lean construction’s benefit may be greater, and more apparent, in larger projects, and Lean construction is not formally applied to every job. Still, when used frequently and proven to be of value, the principles can become part of the company’s culture and DNA. Even when Lean construction is not implemented on a smaller project, a project manager or superintendent experienced in the approach will be more likely to collaborate with subcontractors about potential problems and to find remedies.

Lean construction is not a one-size-fits-all process, but its approach brings value for both the construction company and clients. Success typically results in projects completed sooner and at lower cost.

Ken Osmun, a project executive with LeChase Construction Services, is certified in Lean construction. Learn more about LeChase at LeChase.com.

If you’re a small business looking to dominate search engines, it takes more than high-quality content and a solid page-load speed. You also need a robust off-page SEO strategy.

Off-page SEO is all the things you do to improve your search engine optimization outside of your website. It includes activities like guest blogging, social media engagement, and forum participation.

Here are the top 9 most effective off page seo strategies that can help you build your organic search traffic.

1. Guest Posting

While content marketing is an essential off-page SEO strategy, you need to look beyond your website to build brand awareness and generate new leads. Influencers have a large and engaged audience, so they can help you get in front of potential customers and increase your reach.

Guest posting is a solid strategy to help market and advertise your plumbing business. It is a powerful off-page SEO strategy that can help you build backlinks and boost your rankings. However, you must ensure that the blog you are writing for has a high domain authority (DA). 

To do this you can do the following:

• Go to a backlink analysis tool
• Download your competitor’s backlinks
• Reach out to all the websites and offer to write content for their website

2. Social Media Engagement

While building backlinks is a top off-page SEO strategy, it’s also important to build your brand’s reputation on other sites. This includes social media platforms like Reddit and Quora, as well as reputable news sources that publish unlinked brand mentions.

Search engines use these off-page signals to evaluate a page’s quality and its E-A-T (Expertise, Authority, and Trustworthiness). Those that are more reputable tend to rank higher on SERPs.

3. Social Bookmarking

One of the best ways to generate off-site SEO is through social media engagement. By creating compelling content that people will talk about, you can create a buzz and get a lot of back links.

By using these off-page SEO tactics, you can improve your search engine ranking and build a strong brand. These strategies also help to drive more traffic and increase your domain authority. They are a must for any business in the digital world.

4. Forum Submissions

Forum submission is a great way to build brand awareness and drive traffic to your website. Participate in forums that are related to your business and industry, and answer people’s questions. However, avoid spamming as it might get you banned from the site.

Only use high quality forum submission sites. Also, make sure your answers are relevant to the question. Otherwise, search engines will consider your comments spam.

5. Blog Commenting

Blog commenting is an easy way to drive traffic to your website and build backlinks. However, make sure that you comment on relevant blogs and not spammy ones.

If you want to own organic search, you need an ironclad off-page SEO strategy. You can’t rely on your brand name or a big Moz domain authority to rank you above the competition. You need to focus on intent-aligned, full-funnel content and an off-page strategy that’s built on quality links and trust.

6. Infographics

Infographics are a great way to promote your content online. They’re eye-catching, shareable and if optimized properly, can also increase your search traffic.

While backlinks are the most important off-page SEO signal, it’s important to note that Google also uses other off-site signals when assessing websites. These include things like brand mentions (your website or brand name mentioned on another site without a link), social media engagement, and more.

Related: How to Take Your Plumbing Business Online

7. Videos

Videos are a great way to increase brand awareness, drive traffic and boost sales. They are also an excellent way to improve user experience.

Video marketing should be a part of every business’s digital strategy. Use video content that demonstrates real value. For example, this product video by luggage brand Lo & Sons focuses on showing potential customers the impact the company’s products have made in their own lives.

8. Social Networking

Embedding infographics on sites like Reddit and Quora are a great way to grow your brand, build relationships and trust, as well as generate backlinks. This off-page SEO strategy is a bit time consuming, but can be incredibly rewarding when done correctly.

Off-page SEO covers everything outside of your website that can improve search engine optimization, including link building, guest posting and social media marketing. It is important to understand off-page SEO because it helps search engines perceive your site as authoritative and trustworthy.

9. Link Insertions

Getting link insertions can be complex but very much worth the effort. When other websites with high domain authority link back to you, it signals to search engines that your website is a trusted source of information on a topic. This translates into higher rankings.

This is one of the most time consuming off-page SEO strategies, but it can yield incredible results. Simply reach out to websites that have broken links and ask them to swap it for a link to your website.

Author: Roger Avila is an SEO manager at JetRank, an SEO company based out of San Diego, CA. When not working he’s either playing soccer, at the gym or hanging out with the family. Working hard is good but you need to enjoy life too, right?

In today’s fast-paced world, leveraging the power of online resources is essential for the success of any plumbing contractor. Ferguson.com is that resource.

As a busy service contractor, time is of the essence. When I plan out my busy week schedule, resource efficiencies are at a premium, and that includes stocking my truck adequately. Moreover, running a successful plumbing business requires access to quality products, reliable suppliers, and expert advice. In today’s digital age, having a robust online platform can significantly streamline your operations and contribute to your business’s growth.

In today’s post-COVID world, especially dealing with disruptive supply chain issues, it almost goes without saying; you can never have too much inventory on the truck or back at the shop. That’s why I rely on Ferguson.com, a comprehensive website that has plumbing contractor-specific resources available, all of which are literally just a click away. And that click provides real-time stock and pricing of more than 200,000 HVAC and plumbing products; I can see what’s in stock and my contract pricing.

My plumbing business relies on my wholesaler to carry a vast range of top-quality products from leading brands, and I trust Ferguson to provide those trusted, reliable, and durable solutions. Whether I’m looking for pipes, fittings, valves, fixtures, boiler parts or specialty items, I look to Ferguson.com.

Some really helpful features include “My Lists.” I am able to customize the order process with just a few clicks, instead of individually searching for the products I purchase regularly and organizing lists of the products I want. This ultimately has saved me time and has helped to streamline my ordering process. Ferguson.com even gives me the ability to share those lists I’ve created and keeps products I purchase under the “Bought Often” tab, which is automatically updated monthly.

The Quick Tools feature is a shortcut that makes it easy for trade professionals to quickly access other popular site features. It gives me the quick ability to order, reorder, find an order, or turn existing quotes into orders, all in one place. In some cases, I can even order online and have the order ready in an hour with Pro Pick-Up 1 Hour (at locations where Pro Pick-Up 1 Hour is available).

While traditional brick-and-mortar purchasing is still a viable wholesale solution, with Ferguson.com, I can gain access to a seamless and convenient online ordering system. This allows me to browse through products, check availability, compare prices, and place orders anytime, from anywhere. By simplifying the procurement process, Ferguson.com saves valuable time and effort, enabling me to focus on serving my customers better.

Furthermore, as a plumbing contractor, staying up to date with the latest industry trends and techniques is crucial. Ferguson.com offers a wealth of resources and expert advice to help me stay ahead of the curve. From informative articles and how-to guides to videos and product demonstrations, the website serves as a knowledge hub for plumbing professionals. Leveraging this wealth of information can enhance one’s expertise, expand a skill set, and ultimately elevate one’s business.

Sometimes I need to know what was on an order or the last time I bought a certain product. I’m able to find all of that online and end any confusion about my orders. If I need to see the status of an order, I can see it on my Ferguson Dashboard or Orders, and even get the proof of delivery. (Proof of delivery may not be available depending on how the order shipped or if it was signed for.)

Forward Thinking

Ferguson understands the importance of competitive pricing for plumbing contractors. By signing up for a Ferguson.com account, one can unlock access to exclusive contractor pricing on a wide range of products. This ensures that I can offer my customers competitive rates while maintaining healthy profit margins for my business. The savings one can achieve through Ferguson.com can significantly impact your bottom line and give you a competitive edge in the market.

It’s pretty simple, really. Creating an account on Ferguson.com provides plumbing contractors with a range of powerful tools to manage their business efficiently. By logging in, one can track his or her order history, access invoices, and manage one’s account settings, all in one centralized location. This streamlined account management feature eliminates the need for tedious paperwork and enables one to stay organized and in control.

What’s also cool about the site is that I can enroll for the free PRO Plus™ program. After I enrolled in this program, I now earn one point for every dollar I spent online. I can then redeem those points for cool prizes and earn Bonus Points faster by purchasing featured products. PRO Plus™ customers are also eligible for discounts with select businesses.

Ferguson.com boasts an extensive inventory of plumbing products, tools, and supplies, as well as expert advice and efficient account management, making it a one-stop solution for all of my business needs. By utilizing the features and capabilities of Ferguson.com, I can streamline my operations, relieve operational stress, and propel my business toward greater success. Sign up today and unlock a world of opportunities for your plumbing contracting business with Ferguson.com.

Propane offers flexibility and compliments finishes that go into any project

By Bryan Cordill

Over the last few years, homeowners have found a new appreciation for outdoor living. They are looking for outdoor living spaces that are an extension of indoor ones, and propane is an environmentally friendly and sustainable way to make that happen.

Professionals like Anthony Carrino—a designer, developer, and contractor with more than 20 years of experience in the industry—agree that using propane is an excellent solution to be environmentally conscious while meeting their customers’ needs for enhanced outdoor living spaces.

Propane helps homeowners reduce their carbon footprint

Prioritizing environmentally-friendly appliances in outdoor living projects is increasingly important to both consumers and construction professionals looking to reduce their carbon footprint—and one of the best ways to do that is by using clean energy sources, like propane. Outdoor amenities powered by propane give construction professionals the flexibility to add these options to any project—without sacrificing style and design.

Due to its lower carbon make up, propane significantly reduces the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere, helping combat climate change and improving the air quality in and around the home. Propane outdoor fireplaces and fire pits emit less soot and particulate matter compared with wood-burning options that release smoke and toxins into the air. In fact, jurisdictions in some parts of the country restrict the use of traditional wood-burning fireplaces and fire pits during certain times of the year due to their detrimental impact on air quality and respiratory health. Compared with charcoal, propane grills not only heat food faster, but produce fewer carbon dioxide emissions. According to a 2009 study in the Environmental Impact Assessment Review, the carbon dioxide equivalent for charcoal grilling is almost three times more than that for propane grilling.

Outdoor propane appliances can be used at any time

In addition to its environmental benefits, propane-powered appliances can extend the coziness of a homeowner’s backyard space throughout every season. Patio heaters add comfort on chilly nights by raising the nearby outdoor temperature by up to 25 degrees Fahrenheit and can operate on a portable cylinder, or permanently connected to the homes propane system. . When asked how propane appliances can enhance a home build or remodel, Carrino said, “Propane appliances can help increase usability of a homeowner’s outdoor space, enabling them to enjoy it year-round.”

There’s no need to sacrifice style

Homeowners want outdoor appliances that reflect their home’s style and aesthetic, too. Luckily, propane offers a wide variety of products, designs, features, and sizes from top manufacturers to match homeowners’ varying tastes, budgets, and style preferences—making it the perfect fit for any project.

As the number of environmentally conscious homeowners continues to grow, it’s important for contractors, builders, and remodelers to be well-versed in the clean energy options available to give your customers the backyard of their dreams. Visit Propane.com/Propane-Products/Outdoor-Living to learn more about the benefits of propane.

Bryan Cordill is the director of residential business development at the Propane Education & Research Council. He can be reached at bryan.cordill@propane.com.