Kitting

What is Kitting?

Kitting is the process of sorting, grouping, and packaging separate but related items into a single, organized unit. It allows workers to be provided with all the miscellaneous pieces, parts, and components in a structured way, reducing time spent searching for materials and allowing greater focus on assembly.​
​
By assembling kits off-site or in an onsite yard, kitting streamlines job site operations, enhances productivity, and supports lean construction principles.

Why Use Kitting?

Business Drivers

  • Streamline the onsite assembly process.
  • Less track and packaging on site.
  • Increase workflow reliability and on-site labor productivity.
  • Improve workers’ workplace utilization rate.
  • Planning and controlling material deliveries.

Benefits

  • Time savings during construction.
  • Cost savings organizing materials and managing packaging.
  • Increased efficiency and on-site labor productivity.
  • Reduces waste and rework.
  • Stabilize assembly work and increase workplace utilization.

How to Apply Kitting

The application of kitting should focus on finding common tasks and standard sets of components that can be pre-sorted into convenient containers or packaging. The kits are assembled off site or in an onsite yard to reduce unnecessary items from going to the field.

Kitting Overview

Kitting Overview
The diagram illustrates the kitting process flow, showing the movement of materials, information, and finances between suppliers, the staging area, and construction sites. This​ allows material to be organized off-site, reducing worker time spent searching by combining task-specific materials and components into a well-organized kit of parts.

Best Practices

  • It requires smooth information flow between operations.
  • It requires centralized material logistics.
  • Adopt kitting when implementing takt production.
  • Look for ways to consolidate parts.

Do

  • Use the JIT (Just-in-Time) principle to send kits to job sites to avoid material piles, which can limit worker mobility and cause delays.
  • While maintaining the standard format, customize each kit based on the project-specific requirements.

Don’t

  • Neglect to identify the right components for the kitting combination.

Dive Deeper into Lean Methods

Industry Leader Example