The programme aims for cost savings of 30%
Rental housing provider Kainga Ora has launched a building materials research programme expected to increase productivity and reduce waste in the construction industry.
Under the programme, Kainga Ora is trialling management and planning processes in material supply, with the Crown agency directly purchasing and arranging the delivery of materials for social housing developments.
The programme is designed to produce a more efficient workflow, allowing tradespeople to focus on the “core mahi of building homes,” said Matt Hulett (pictured above), general manager for delivery transformation.
Each processes under the initiative are codesigned with Kainga Ora’s programme partners, Mitre 10 and Carters, along with TW Construction, Penny Homes, Kotahi Construction, Shaw Construction, and Kahikatea Construction.
Hulett noted that the new workflow will be used to deliver over 100 homes across 15 development sites in Roturua over the next 18 months.
Kainga Ora has enhanced the delivery of new state houses to retrofit existing homes through the years.
He said that the Crown agency has improved its workflow with the sector through the new Housing Delivery System, which helps the organisation scale up.
The processes in building a house employed by Kainga Ora include itemising all bolts, nails, and screws that go into their standard house designs, Hulett said, adding that this style allows for “more coordinated planning and of logistics and work plans.”’
“Because we have that detailed visibility, we are now focused on taking a more active role in materials supply,” he said.
The programme is aimed at a cost saving of more than 30%, a goal that involves five builders and their sub trades contracted on a labour-only basis.
The trial is also set to ensure that the right materials are delivered to job sites when they are needed, Hulett said.
“Therefore, the tradeperson won’t need to waste time waiting on a delivery, working around other tradespeople or driving to the store to buy a missing item,” he said.
Kainga Ora has started the development of the first three homes under the programme with the help of TW Construction and Mitre 10. These are located in Rotorua.
