Cork 2023: Core strength helps Clancy keep ahead of the times
Having more than 75 years under its belt, the Cork construction firm has shown itself to be able to adapt to changing times and circumstances
In the construction industry, traditional practices are giving way to modern approaches that are reshaping how we build. Clancy Construction is at the forefront of this momentum, according to associate director, Des Riordan.
Clancy has been in operation for 75 years and has experienced sustained growth over the last decade, largely due to its focus on innovation, collaboration and stringent adherence to core values.
The company recently opened new offices in Grand Parade, Cork, with the formal launch imminent. Clancy has strengthened its regional presence, with Cormac Smith joining the leadership team this year.
“Cork has always been a very important region for us, which we are in the process of expanding”, said Riordan. “This is driven by long-standing relationships with clients like Lyonshall, the HSE and Cork city and county councils, to name a few.”
Des grew up in Cork and started his career in the manufacturing industry there but went overseas in 1996. He returned in 2018 to his native county. “I have worked all over the world but still rank Clancy as the best that I have worked for without question,” he said.
“The Clancy business epitomises what can be achieved when attitudes, approaches and ingenuity are aligned with innovative insight, focused persistence and a collaborative framework.
“We continue to invest heavily in targeted training and development programmes across all levels. We launched a sustainability strategy in 2021 and created a thriving Centre of Excellence for Innovation in 2022.
“We formed a strategic alliance with Enterprise Ireland to further strengthen our expertise in digitisation initiatives, platforms, and Clancy’s leading insight and aptitude towards Lean construction in all its facets but with particular reference to the Last Planner system.”
Clancy Construction employs a full-time Lean Champion, supported by our external consultant Crystal Lean which specialises in Lean training and collectively drives improvement, undertakes monthly audits and provides yellow and green belt training to all management staff to help unlock barriers to planning, communication, collaboration, workflows and ultimately certainty of delivery.
“The construction programme for one of our flagship projects, Bandon Road, Cork consisted of over 11,000 activities with a myriad of links and dependencies,” said Riordan.
“The Last Planner system demystifies such intricate programmes, enables inclusivity, reaches all stakeholders, and creates a platform of empathy, collaboration and communication which, when performed consistently well, generates a certainty on the delivery of all key metrics. The benefits are tangible, leading to substantial buy-in from the entire supply chain.”
This system can be tailored to all projects but has been particularly effective when dovetailing offsite Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) with onsite installation.
Clancy Construction is passionate about MMC and its ubiquitous potential. The firm is a founding member of MMC Ireland and just completed a promotional video in one of its prestigious housing schemes in Kilkenny.
Riordan said anyone interested in the transformational changes permeating through the industry could view the video on the Clancy website to gain valuable insight.
“Bandon Road was a phenomenal success due to a robust suite of strategies tailored to our client’s needs by a team of experts who were carefully selected with the predefined skill sets to excel,” he said.
There were challenges: 19 weeks were lost on the programme due to Covid, yet the scheme was still delivered on budget and ten days before the enrolment of the students for the scholastic year.
“The manner in which the challenges were acknowledged, approached and overcome is what created our legacy and the proud affirmation that we remain ‘Built on Partnership’ in every way.”
The Clancy brand espouses a passion for delivering sustainable buildings for people to work in, live in and enjoy. “Everything we do is governed by our core values, which provide consistency across all our projects and are central to our success.
“Regular team building excursions, management workshops facilitated by motivational speakers like Gerry Duffy, supported by knowledge sharing across all teams, define us and strengthen our ability to retain our exceptional workforce and attract new staff as we continue to grow and evolve.”
Although cognisant of the global instability and inflation exerting additional pressures on market confidence, Clancy Construction is confident about the future. Riordan said that “by continuing to embrace innovation, new technologies and fostering a culture of collaboration and respect, we can unlock potential and achieve our ambitious targets”.
“We strive to maintain and build on our position as one of the more forward-thinking and innovative main contractors in Ireland. We are doing this by listening to our clients, engaging with new ones, collaborating with like-minded specialists within the industry and beyond.
“The future is bright. Clancy aspires to make the building industry a more collaborative, productive and engaging arena to drive growth, fulfil clients’ needs in an efficient, lean and effective manner and re-engineer confidence and value into the industry.
“The construction industry in Ireland is on the cusp of much-needed transformation with Clancy equipped to be your trusted partner of choice in delivering that change.”
