One of Capsys Corp. projects, Bldg. 92, which is an extension to the renovated Marine Commandant’s residence, will soon be open to the public.  The Grand Opening of this building will take place on November 10, 2011.  The Brooklyn Navy Yard Center at Bldg 92 has a permanent exhibit about the history of the Brooklyn Navy Yard called ‘The Brooklyn Navy Yard: Past, Present and Future’.

You can find more information about the BNY Center at Bldg 92 at http://www.bldg92.com/index.html

Two of our workers were lucky enough to be a part of the exhibit

See also:

Building 92 – 4 days for a 16,500 SF building

Building 92 Setting

Brooklyn Navy Yard – Building 92 Update

Brooklyn Navy Yard – Building 92

The European home construction marketplace has thoroughly embraced off-site construction.  Over 30% of all of the new housing in the UK is built using factory construction methodology.  Why then has the US been slower to adopt modern modular construction techniques such we employ here at Capsys?  Interestingly, the author of the following article suggests that the UK was forced to adopt sustainable construction earlier than the US due to its adoption of the Kyoto Protocol in the late 90’s that required substantial reductions of greenhouse gas emissions. 

While we talk a good Green game here in the US, the British have become leaders in Energy Efficient building and Modular Construction is their secret weapon.

http://www.jetsongreen.com/2011/10/modern-methods-offsite-construction-mccaughey.html

The Park Terrace project is set for LEED Gold in the Mid-rise LEED for homes program!  Capsys incorporated many innovative and energy saving features to the project such as Energy Star Lighting, water use reduction, framing efficiency, waste management.  In addition to these and many others the use of modular construction is recognized as an exceptional method of building in an environmentally conscious way!  We are thankful to all the project team members for contributing to the overall goal; the building is coming together very well.

Ashburton LEED Checklist

I remember learning back in undergraduate school about Ivan Pavlov and his now famous experiment involving dogs and classical conditioning. It was interesting but the merit of this experiment did not became clear until this week on the production line. Our brains remember emotions; types of touch, patterns, colors, thoughts, etc. through association of neurons with similar inputs say ACB could be associated with ABC. Pavlov demonstrated how when a dog hears sit he may start salivating because he knows every time he sits he receives a treat.  The treat did not cause the salivating the “conditional stimulus” caused it.  Another example is when a person smells coffee they instantly become more alert even though the effects of coffee on the central nervous system does not go into effect until 20-30 minutes after consumption.

This week, I was at a job site; therefore, not on the manufacturing line and was surprised to see our production go from averaging 2.5 to 1.25 sqft/mnhr.  I asked myself why? Then, I proceeded to ask every lead person the same question five times. There were some interesting reasons but the most startling was that some of them were not aware there was still a schedule and thought they were “on-time”.

Ilona Milewska, the office manager, said that this makes sense, because they associate you with a schedule and when you were not there, they assumed there is not one. By walking the line, I was the “conditional stimulus” of there is a schedule and it needs to be kept. I was a reminder of a goal that should be reached. Now, I am not comparing our highly experienced and skilled workforce to dogs, but merely stating how conditioning takes place no matter what the venue.

This  type of “conditioning” can be very dangerous to a production line and should not be maintained. There were many other factors leading to a momentary loss of efficiency, but this was the most surprising. The system is what people should depend on, not positions of influence. A good system works effectively and efficiently regardless of differences in management or variation.

So, in order to change this, a good reminder of what the schedule is and how it will not change unless communicated otherwise, was in order. Also, a possible addition of “Andon Lights” to bring a “conditional to unconditional reminder” to the system could work wonders.

The terrible two’s as parents call it when their children reach the age of two and start questioning everything they see. Why this, why that, why, why, why, until their parents either answer these questions or pass out. There were no questions too small or big. Their status quo is not developed yet and their minds are completely open to new ideas.  

In lean manufacturing and lean six sigma, this used to be annoying behavior, has become standard practice even earning the title “5W Analysis”. What industrial engineers are learning is to become that two-year-old child once more but with a bit more diplomacy and respect for all employees while conducting this analysis. Shigeo Shingo once said, “A relentless barrage of “why” is the best way to prepare your mind to pierce the clouded veil of thinking caused by the status quo. Use it often”.

One of the biggest barriers to building modularly is preconceived notions of trailer park homes or structures with lower quality. However, this could not be more further from the truth. Our sales manager, Tom O’Hara often says, “Would you want your car built outside in the elements or in an environmentally controlled manufacturing factory?” Would it not be nice to be able to have quality checks and measures being controlled during every aspect of the construction process?

At Capsys, every aspect of the construction process is broken down and analyzed. Then put back together so the plumbers, electricians, welders, and carpenters can work together as seamlessly as possible; thus, increasing output and quality.    

As the two year old would say, “why build it the conventional site built way when quality, efficiency, production rate, and supply chain’s all are better with a manufacturing line?” As an industrial engineer, every time I walk the production line I hear that two-year-old boy inside me saying, “Why” and it brings a smile to my face as the factory workers give me silly looks as I ask them.

Capsys is embracing the closed-cell Styrofoam Spray foam system by DOW.  Used in conjunction with Thermax sheathing as a an overall system this allows for R-values unprecedented in the industry.  This system allows for greater air-tightness, reduced energy consumption and overall savings to the environment.

With Capsys adopting Kaizen and Lean Manufacturing into its Manufacturing line, one cannot help but think of a famous quote by Shigeo Shingo, “The most dangerous kind of waste is the waste we do not recognize.” One can locate waste in many different departments in any organization by asking the simple question, “Does this add value?” If it does not, it is waste and must be discarded. 

Waste or “Muda” as it is called in Lean Manufacturing is everywhere and it starts in the system/program that is responsible for everything. When designing an inventory system, production line, supply chain, production process, schedule, site management, quality control system, one must be cognizant of each step in the process because each step is magnified through time and it either focuses or folds to its pressure.  

Starting in February of 2011, Capsys has adopted this kind of Lean thinking and has enjoyed great success in its manufacturing line by nearly doubling its production efficiency in a little over 5 months while controlling costs by changing to a Kanban, pull-type Supply Chain. Its yields have also been increasing due to a more proactive quality control system that locates causes of problems versus just trying to catch after the fact defects.

On June 27^th, 2011, Capsys welded its first Chassis for Phase III of the Nehemiah Spring Creek Townhouse Project. In concurrency, Capsys is setting the Hanac Bathroom Pods, putting the finishing touches on the Ashburton and McDougal Projects, and starting erection of the Victory Blvd projects in early August of 2011.

Bringing these individual systems and projects together in an interconnected system of continuous improvement makes Capsys poised for a strong finish to 2011 and a stronger beginning to 2012. Please contact us if you have any questions or would like a tour of our construction manufacturing plant in New York City.

I’m happy to report that we are making great progress in Astoria.The project is really picking up steam.

Recently Capsys team finished plant production of 66 modular bathrooms for the Senior Living project in Astoria, NY. Today is the second day of setting of the second floor modules. The second floor’s bathrooms were shipped to the job site and now they are being set inside a conventionally constructed building. This six story building is being erected by Capsys’s sister company – Monadnock Construction, Inc.

Check out some pictures from today’s setting!

Pictures by David Parlo

Capsys has now done wide variations to the Greenflex residence hall system.  Our flexible and sustainable pre-designed system can easily be tailored to your specific needs.  Let Capsys produce a residence hall for your long-term needs in the shortest timespan imaginable!

Another shining example of modular construction making a project move quickly with great efficiency!  The Owner and Plaza Construction are pleased to have the steel frame, concrete structural floors and exterior light gauge in place in four days!  Monday morning they will start work on a building that wasn’t even there last monday!