Interview with Hans Thomas Holm
Hans Thomas Holm is a Norwegian an advocate of lean thinking and methodologies. Since 2006 he has worked at the Norwegian Directorate of Public Construction and Property, Statsbygg, as a project manager. Currently, Hans is working in the Life Science project in Oslo, one of the largest construction projects in Norway.
In June, he spoke at Finland’s Lean Construction Days, where he shared his experiences from large-scale projects and his personal lean journey.
How does lean construction differ between Finland and Norway?
“In Norway, takt production is being actively developed in both design and construction. However, we still have a way to go, but especially when it comes to implementing lean in the design phase. On the construction site most of our projects operate with a weekly takt, whereas in Finland some projects are already working with daily cycles.
Another key difference lies in the use of contracting models. In Finland, the alliance model is widely used, even in major state-owned projects. In Norway, we’re not quite at that level yet. I see the development of contract models as a clear area of improvement for us.”
What is the single most important thing you would recommend for lean-based construction projects?
“In smaller projects, I highly recommend using OKRs and KPIs – clear objectives and measurable key results at every level. These goals must be connected to daily operations and be transparent. This way you can have real leadership.
In large projects, I would in addition name a clean and well-organized construction site as an important factor. It sounds simple, but in practice it’s not. Cleanliness improves safety, logistics, and workplace satisfaction. It’s not just about appearances – it’s part of a functional daily environment.”
How do you make cleanliness part of the daily routine on site?
“Cleanliness is not always a top priority for everyone, which is why you need both incentives and consequences – bonuses, sanctions, and sound metrics. You have to make cleaning easy.
On our site, for example, we have 400 waste containers distributed across 30 waste stations. That means around 10 to 12 sorting bins per station. This setup allows us to achieve almost a 99% waste separation rate. That wouldn’t be possible if cleaning was difficult or inconvenient. Real change starts with simplicity and good logistics.
You have to continuously improve, and document, the systems and the methods, either they are in the design phase or at the construction site.”
Explore Hans Thomas Holm’s presentations:
• Keynote: Going “All In” is more challenging than it sounds
• Get your map ready: endurance, challenges, and experiences from “an even better (mega)project”
Photo: Ahti Brummer
