14 June 2001

" Lean Construction" - a new style of construction project management which holds the promise of cheaper, faster and better finished buildings - is the subject of a weekend masters degree to be launched next week (20 and 21 June in Dundee and Aberdeen respectively).

Scotland's two north east universities - Dundee and Aberdeen - are set to lead the world with the new joint degree. Aimed at practising engineers, it will be the first ever MSc in Lean Construction Project Management.

"Lean" was the term used to describe how in the 1980s Toyota was able to build cars in half the time, with half the defects, using half the space of their American rivals. Now the two universities have applied the same principles to the building industry.

Professor of Engineering Management at the University of Dundee Malcolm Horner explains:

"Clearly there are differences between making cars and building office blocks but the construction management research unit at the University of Dundee has spent the past seven years studying how lean principles can be tailored for the construction industry. Our work has shown how productivity can be increased by 20%; costs reduced by 7%, duration by 20% and cost-related faults by 50%. It is these kind of insights we will be revealing to those who enrol for this Masters degree."

Building on Aberdeen's highly successful programme in engineering project management, the MSc will address topics such as Supply chain management Prime contracting and public and private partnerships Whole life costing Effective waste control Risk management

The course, which starts in September, will be taught on every third weekend and is expected to attract engineers from the oil, petrochemical and traditional construction industries. Initially there are places for 10 rising to 30. The course will be delivered either at the University of Aberdeen or at the University of Dundee, depending on what is most suitable for the majority of students.

The launch workshops will be addressed by Professor Horner and feature (in Dundee) Dr Richard Holti of the internationally renowned Tavistock Institute.

Contact Professor Malcolm Horner 01382 344350