Framework for lean implementation in construction processes

Abstract

Framework for Lean Implementation in Construction Processes Non Value Adding Activities (NVAAs) generated in a construction process are recognized as one ofits major weaknesses since they adversely affect its performance and efficiency and produce unwanted cost. Activities that do not add value to the final product are merely a waste and need to be minimized or eliminated altogether. The major reason for our inability to minimize NVAAs is our failure to recognize them. Most ofthe NVAAs are intangible and invisible. Only a few attempts have so far been made to minimize the NVAAs in construction processes. Lean construction is one of the attempts made to apply lean production principles to the construction industry to minimize NVAAs in its construction processes management approach which is linked closely to the overall life of a project to ensure its success. Lean construction is still new to many in the construction industry in the world. There is no minimize NVAAs and this research aims to develop such a framework for implementing lean techniques in the construction industry in the country in order to minimize its non-value adding activities. It will also propose a tool for determining the lean maturity of a construction project by assessing the extent to which lean techniques have been applied in that project. A detailed literature review was carried out to investigate lean implementation in construction processes towards developing a conceptual framework by identifying the research gap and the approach that has to be used to fill the gap by implementing lean techniques. This conceptual framework was improved through an opinion survey. Quantitative research techniques were adopted to collect data from three different surveys. Findings of the first survey revealed with examples, the existence of non-value adding activities in construction processes in the construction industry in Sri Lanka with the second survey revealing their level of implementing the lean techniques. The findings of the third survey map non-value adding activities against lean techniques and emphasize the need for developing a framework for implementing lean techniques that will minimize NVAAs in the construction processes. Based on the data collected from the three surveys, a framework for implementing lean techniques and a tool for assessing lean maturity of a construction project were developed. The framework and the tool were thereafter validated through an expert survey. The study concludes by identifying the significance of implementing the most suitable lean techniques in different stages of construction processes that will make them lean with minimum waste thereby ensuring their long term sustainability