2023 GroundBreaker: Adam Hoots, Lean Construction Shepherd
GroundBreak Carolinas is honored to spotlight Adam Hoots, Lean Construction Shepherd and founder of Construction ACHE Solutions, who is a member of the Class of 2023 GroundBreakers — an exclusive group of individuals who have gone above and beyond to make a difference for the construction community in the Carolinas.
Construction ACHE Solutions is a coaching business specializing in Lean Construction – a relationship-oriented, production management-based approach to construction project delivery that emphasizes the management and design of construction processes, as opposed to just the end product.
Hoots’ passions include building, learning, and sharing knowledge obtained through more than 20 years of experienced leadership developing large-scale construction projects while employed by Whiting-Turner, DPR and Langston Construction. He lives out his passions as a Professor at Clemson University in the Nieri Department of Construction, Development and Planning where he teaches Construction Scheduling and is a PhD candidate. He also hosts “Hoots on the Ground – with Adam Hoots,” a Lean Construction podcast focused on topics that are relevant to men and women who earn a living doing the hands-on business of construction each day.
GroundBreak Carolinas caught up with Hoots for a quick conversation.
Tell us what you are most passionate about when it comes to the AEC industry and/or your role within your organization?
Two things. First, I am most passionate about making the work in the field easier for those doing the true value of laborious work. We do this through creating respect, stability, and flow on construction projects. Second, I’m very passionate about the next generation of construction supervisors to help them understand the current conditions of the industry they’re walking into and how to navigate the industry.
What are some of the things you are doing inside and outside of your workspace and organization to improve the construction industry and encourage others to make construction a potential career choice?
I participate in the Next Gen Builders events where we visit different colleges and host panels to help the next generation of CM Supervisors understand what to expect once they join the industry. These are sponsored by Davis Hambrick and Walker Lott with Laying Foundations. I’m also a co-founder of Skilled Trades Alliance (STA) where our mission is to help trade workers have as much pride in their careers as they do in their work.
What do you see as the future trends of the construction industry over the next 5-10 years? Will technological advances dominate the industry changes of the future?
I believe robotics and prefabrication will become more a part of what we do in construction. When we can engineer buildings with replaceable parts, we will be in a much better position to move the industry forward. I also see a massive shift in how society values and respects skilled trade workers.
What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment?
Being a part of some really cool teams that have built some really complex and high-tech life science cleanrooms and laboratories. I was a part of a team that built the world’s largest stem cell research facility at Stanford University — the lab where they house the atomic clock in North America and a few other really cool projects. Oh yeah, I also wrote a book called the Old Dawg Lean Thesaurus.
What do you think are the most important personal attributes one must possess to be successful in the construction industry of tomorrow?
Emotional Intelligence, facilitations, and leadership skills. Today, people must have an open mindset. Doing things the way we have always done it doesn’t work in today’s industry!
What are 3-5 leadership principles you have discovered and executed that have contributed to your success?
Respect everyone: every person on this earth can add value to your scenario if you look deep within what they’re trying to say to find the value. Ask the right questions!
Flow efficiency is more important that resource efficiency — we want the entire project to flow, not one individual or one trade partner.
Continuous Improvement — Does your team improve over time? Are you better today than you were yesterday?
Within construction projects, we must do more to visualize the plan and the work.
Looking back over your construction career, is there anything you would do differently if you had the chance? Why?
I would have invested in the people side of the business a lot earlier on. I was always focused on the process side of construction and making things happen versus getting to know people and how to obtain buy in better. This is something that I have improved on over time.
Connect with Adam Hoots on LinkedIn.
