An Introduction to Lean Construction

What is Lean Construction ?

Lean construction (LC) is a method of production aimed at reducing costs, materials, time and effort.

The five principles of lean construction

Customer value:

Traditional approach focuses on what to build ,whereas lean construction focuses on why and what to build. Truly understanding value from the customer’s point of view requires a different level of trust established very early in the planning phases of a project.

Lean construction brings together all stakeholders including the owner, architect, engineers, general contractor, subcontractors, and suppliers. The project team not only delivers what the client wants, but they provide advice and help shape expectations throughout the project.

Value chain:

Value chain refers to defining all the processes required to deliver the project satisfying the customer needs. In construction this relates to defining and challenging the end-to-end processes for a construction project with the aim of establishing processes that are efficient and waste-free.

Value flow:

The ideal principle in Lean construction is uninterrupted work, reliable and predictable.

Pull:

The aim is to ensure that all parties align to an agreed programme where work activities are closely integrated in terms of time and sequence, and activities being carried out only when needed to assist a subsequent activity. 

Perfection:

The continuous improvement and waste elimination are the heart of lean philosophy.

Benefits of Lean construction

• Improved project delivery performance 
• Alignment of all parties to deliver against an agreed set of project objectives
• Clarity of communication
• The foundation for collaborative working
• Clear decision making, target-setting, reviewing and improving

Resources :

https://www.buildingsguide.com/blog/introduction-lean-construction/

https://leanconstruction.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/C730-Lean-tools-hi.pdf

https://constructionblog.autodesk.com/lean-construction/