Lean-Based Construction: Krieger+Schramm a Success Story by Staufen AG

LEAN-BASED 

CONSTRUCTION

Lean-based 

Construction 

Construction company of the year, growth champion, state prize 

for quality, champion of the future, etc. – there has definitely not 

COMPANY 

PORTRAIT 

been any other construction company in Germany that has come 

even close to winning as many awards over the last few years. Yet 

Matthias Krieger, owner of the Krieger + Schramm Group, is not 

resting on the laurels of the past. The former top athlete, now an 

author and speaker, is set on pushing things forward and designing 

the future. His goal is to motivate people and companies to 

take value-oriented and sustainable action. 

For several years, he has been pushing the topic of Lean Management 

at his company. 

“These steps will get us into shape for the future. 

The heart of the matter is lean construction, 

because ultimately we earn our money at the 

construction sites.” 

However, if you have any idea about how the day-to-day is at 

large construction sites, you know just how difficult it is to convince 

the numerous trade groups to actively contribute to the 

change process. It all started at Krieger + Schramm in early 2017 

with a pilot project in Wiesbaden, Germany. 

From the left: Matthias Gorus, Construction Manager at Krieger + Schramm 

André Schmidt, Lean and Process Manager at Krieger + Schramm 

STAUFEN. | KRIEGER + SCHRAMM 3

5 

LEAN CONSTRUCTION – 

THE THREE CORE ELEMENTS 

1 

»Here, we go deep into the construction site with 

our thoughts, focusing well in advance on the 

potential obstacles we might face and how to deal 

with them – each step fully team-oriented while 

working collaboratively with all parties concerned. 

Vivian Tarara, Project Manager at Krieger + Schramm 

« 

Detailed planning 

from the very beginning 

Lean construction thrives on perfect planning. We start off by 

creating an ideal, lean project development process with corresponding 

milestones and task-packages. Planning is assigned to 

the smallest detail to cycle control for the construction process. 

“The first step may be the greatest challenge”, says Vivian Tarara, 

Project Manager at Krieger + Schramm. “Actually, the priorities 

are completely different. At the same time, work is in progress 

at construction sites, where your complete attention is required, 

and you're being asked to deal with a project that is not scheduled 

to start until next year.” 

However, lean construction only works with early planning. On 

the other hand, afterwards everything will progress trouble-free 

for the most part. An accurate cycle plan for developing the condos 

is the basis – broken down by weeks and days up until the 

date of completion. “Here, we go deep into the construction site 

with our thoughts, focusing well in advance on the potential obstacles 

we might face and how to deal with them – each step fully 

team-oriented while working collaboratively with all parties concerned”, 

says the Project Manager. 

4 STAUFEN. | KRIEGER + SCHRAMM STAUFEN. | KRIEGER + SCHRAMM 5

2 

Lean Project Execution 

in all Areas 

Each trade group is cycled so that it has the freedom to build and 

can complete the work in the pre-defined period of time. 

If a painter arrives at the construction site, he can start 

right away and work alone in his area with no disruptions. 

Because the drywall contractor completed the cycle section and 

was approved by the painter last week. 


Every construction partner can see what they need to do in each 

cycle area on the cycle board based on a card system. 

At Krieger + Schramm, the tasks are not communicated in writing, 

but instead using color cards with visualized work steps. This way, 

even those construction partners with no German language skills 

can easily work with the board. 

In addition, for the most part information is communicated 

at Krieger + Schramm construction sites at the same time. 

How-ever, in the meantime, the company has also gained a lot of 

experience with Shop Floor Management and is now taking the 

next step: a digital solution provides all parties concerned the information 

they need in real time. For example, even the Technical 

Managing Director has the capability to view the current status of 

projects at the company headquarters at any time. 

3 

Good and easy-to-understand 

communication 

A large and weather-resistant cycle board can be found at each 

Krieger + Schramm construction site. It is the basis for the Shop 

Floor Management, which was also recently introduced. In the 

early morning hours, a 15-minute meeting is held in front of it 

with the most important trade groups that interface each other. 

If the installer has a problem, the drywall contractor will be standing 

right next to him and together they will be able to find a pragmatic 

solution fast. “Problems are no longer only communicated 

and worked out with the Construction Manager, but the various 

trade groups can communicate among themselves, and that 

saves a lot of time”, says Construction Manager Matthias Gorus. 


Construction partner 

instead of sub-contractor 

A large construction site is made up of a large number of teams 

OVERCOMING 

OBSTACLES 

from different trade groups with numerous employees of various 

nationalities. How do you get them all to join in? Within the 

company, there is in fact a clear answer: “If they see an advantage 

in doing so. And it's our job to make sure of it”, explains 

André Schmidt. 

Lean construction brings about a win-win situation for everyone 

concerned, so it really works exceptionally well at Krieger + 

Schramm. Thinking and acting as partners is the red line through 

working together with the different trade groups. This is why we 

deliberately do not use the term sub-contractor, but instead refer 

to them as construction partners. 

André Schmidt, 

Lean and Process Manager 


From Driver to Moderator 

OVERCOMING 

OBSTACLES 

The culture at Krieger + Schramm construction sites can be seen 

daily in how we treat each other. Company management does not 

want that rough and ready climate often connected with working 

at a construction site; it simply is not the new type of cooperation 

concept they want. So, the site manager is no longer a driver but a 

moderator. Now, his role is to work together with partners to find 

out why something is not working and how problems can be solved. 

This is not necessarily easy for a Construction Manager, who 

has been managing using a loud voice and a lot of stress for the 

last 20 years. All of a sudden, he is no longer allowed to step on 

the painter's toes if he does not finish on time, but must now 

ask him what obstacles he is facing. But this works really well at 

Krieger + Schramm, because company management has always 

encouraged a partnership-type style. The Construction Managers 

nonetheless received in-depth training, because this will not work 

on its own. 


WHAT LEAN 

CONSTRUCTION 

ACHIEVES 

» 

« 

We are currently making use of 

the good economy and 

are really getting ourselves into shape 

for the future by introducing lean construction. 

With the lean approach, we are ensuring 

our clear competitive advantage in the market. 

Matthias Krieger, Owner of the Krieger + Schramm Group 

“We have found quite a few less processing errors at our construction 

sites where the lean construction culture is practiced. 

And even where a problem might crop up, we can respond 

much more quickly. This allows us to save time and also costs, 

of course”, explains Process Expert Schmidt. As early as in the 

first pilot project in Wiesbaden, we managed to complete a full 

month earlier than the specified construction time. 

After approval was completed by the customer, there were 

hardly any of the otherwise typical numerous rework requests, 

because inspections were done in short cycles and deviations 

were responded to earlier. With each new lean construction 

project, the company is continuing to learn, benefiting from the 

experience. 

Company boss Matthias Krieger, however, still sees the subject 

in a much larger context: “We are currently taking advantage of 

the good economy and are really getting ourselves into shape 

for the future by introducing lean construction. With the lean 

approach, we are ensuring our clear competitive advantage in 

the market”, emphasizes Matthias Krieger. 


PROCEDURE FOLLOWED IN THE PROJECT 

SCHÖNBERG DISTRICT KOHLHECK 

Phase 1 

Phase 2 

Phase 3 

Phase 4 

Phase 5 

Preparation and 

Sensitization 

by visiting a Best-Practice-company 

Planning and Project Execution: 

Developing a lean project execution 

process with milestones 

and task packages relating to the 

project House 1 

Implementation: 

Cycles, controls and visualization of 

House 1 

Design of a lean construction 

site 

Process Improvements and 

Coaching 


»I hope that other medium-sized 

construction companies 

will choose this path as well. 

To be able to network with them is 

very important to me. 

And I'm seeking employees 

who can get excited about this 

« 

new kind of collaboration 

at the construction site. 

Matthias Krieger, Owner of the Krieger + Schramm Group 

KRIEGER + SCHRAMM 

The Krieger + Schramm Group was founded in 1992 and developed 

from a pure construction company to a high-performance 

housing specialist with more than 1,500 satisfied 

customers. 

In addition to the company headquarters in Dingelstädt 

in Thuringia, the company is represented with additional 

branch offices throughout Germany. 

In 2018, Krieger + Schramm generated revenue of around 

50 million euros, with a staff of approximately 118 employees. 


ABOUT STAUFEN 

Inside every company there is an even better one. 

This has been the conviction behind the Staufen AG consulting 

and qualification services offered to 

companies and employees for more than 25 years. 

320 

Employees 

13 

locations 

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languages 

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seminar participants every year 

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BestPractice Partner 

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M. € revenue 

PUBLISHER 

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Blumenstrasse 5 

73257 Köngen, Germany 

+49 7024 8056 0 

www.staufen.ag 

kontakt@staufen.ag 

CONTACT PERSON 

Christoph Heine 

Director Sales 

c.heine@staufen.ag 

+49 7024 8056 169 

INSIDE EVERY COMPANY 

THERE IS AN EVEN BETTER ONE.

Lean-Based Construction: Krieger+Schramm a Success Story by Staufen AG

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