Lean Principles Implementation in Construction Management: A One Team Approach
Abstract
"Lean in construction is a relatively new approach in delivering construction projects.
The Lean approach has been introduced to tackle the phenomenal construction projects
delays and budget overruns. This paper shall be discussing how the implementation
of the Lean approach in construction management processes can improve construction
projects’ delivery. The paper argues that the Lean approach in the construction industry
context revolves around people rather than processes as in the manufacturing industry
context. Therefore, the cornerstone of the Lean approach in construction is creating
a One Team out of the multiple typical rivals in the construction industry: Owner,
architect / engineer, operator and contractor with all taking into consideration the end
user. While the ‘Lean’ concept is manufacturing tackled processes to achieve the ‘Lean’
goal; in construction the ‘Lean’ approach is tackling the interaction between people and
entities. The interaction between people is addressed by the ‘Lean construction’ planning
tool: The last planner system; while the interaction between entities is addressed by
contractual forms of agreement with the most influential being: Alliance contracting.
The paper uses a major infrastructure project ‘Sydney Desalination Plant’ which started
in June 2007 and completed in January 2010 as a successful example of Lean approach
implementation, although the term ‘Lean’ was never used then by the parties involved in
the project. The paper draws on the first-hand experience of the author in the construction
industry including the participation in the delivery of the ‘Sydney Desalination Plant’
used as example of a Lean project."
Collections
- Theme 1: Construction Management and Process [27 items ]