Assessing The Impact of Lean Construction Principles on Improving The Environmental and Performance of Earthwork Operations in Vietnam

The construction industry is scrutinized and criticized for its impact on environmental degradation. Nowadays, while the lean construction philosophy and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to alleviate the adverse environmental effects of the construction industry, their synergies remain unclear and ambiguous. Therefore, this study aims to explore the synergies between lean construction principles and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their combined efficacy in mitigating the environmental footprint of the construction industry. In the study, a comprehensive three-step methodology, involving a literature review, focus group discussions, and quantitative Delphi technique analysis, was employed. The analysis uncovers that SDGs (ensuring clean water and sanitation, promoting clean energy, fostering economic growth and decent work, improving infrastructure and innovation, building sustainable cities and communities, promoting responsible consumption and production, conserving oceans, and preserving terrestrial ecosystems) have 63 extremely important linkages and 251 very important linkages with lean construction principles. The analysis results indicate that the synergies are categorized under economic (39%), environmental (42%), and social (19%) factors. Moreover, the strategic triad of lean principles, i.e., “Reducing non-value-adding, focusing on all processes, and continuous improvement”, emerged as key in fostering extremely important interactions. This study’s novelty lies in its integrating of Koskela’s lean principles with the 17 SDGs and 169 targets of Agenda 2030, offering strategic insights for aligning construction processes with the broader 2030 agenda for enhanced sustainability in the construction industry. The findings contribute to finding out the how lean construction principles serve the SDGs.

PurposeThis research seeks to evaluate the impact of applying lean construction principles on the performance of reinforcement operations using a discrete-event simulation (DES) approach.Design/methodology/approachProcess mapping of reinforcements operations was first established through field observation and interviews with construction managers involved in the selected project. Subsequently, quantitative data were gathered and then used to identify the best probabilistic density functions for each activity duration based on the fit-quality tests. Upon testing the validity of the real-world model, a lean simulation model was developed, using ARENA software, to investigate the impact of lean construction principles on the performance of such processes.FindingsLean principles are effective in enhancing the performance of the selected construction process. Output performance measurements for real-world model and lean model revealed that lean construction principles led to 41% improvement in process productivity, 14% enhancement in process efficiency and 17% reduction in cycle time.Research limitations/implicationsThe statistical findings only represent the process under study (reinforcement process) and cannot be generalized to other construction activities. In order to draw generalizable conclusions, future works are needed to extend this study to different project sizes and more complex construction processes (e.g. bricklaying process and concrete pouring operations). Moreover, there are other factors such as labor skills, rework and uncertainty, site conditions that require further analyses for leaner construction projects.Originality/valueThe methodology and the techniques presented in this work can be used for decision making by analyzing various lean construction scenarios and evaluating their impacts on performance outcomes of any construction process prior to real-world implementation.

One of the problems that often arise in housing projects is time delay, which may results in an increase in construction costs. This delay can be attributed to deficiencies in site management, ineffective communication strategies, and a lack of coordination between stakeholders. Lean construction is a method that can be used to improve the construction management system. The basic concept of this method is to reduce activities that do not add value and increase the value. The purpose of this study is to explore the implementation of lean construction principles at housing projects in order to improve project management so that delays can be minimized. The objectives of this research are; (1) to identify waste in the construction process, (2) to find barriers in applying lean construction principles, and (3) to recommend strategies for implementing lean construction principles in housing projects. A comprehensive literature review is conducted to achieve the aims and objectives of this study. The results show that the implementation of lean construction principles in housing projects can provide several benefits, such as minimizing waste, reducing construction time, improving building quality, and providing better benefits to contractors.

The main objective of this study is to apply Lean Construction principles combined with a discrete event simulation tool, namely EZStrobe, to improve the performance of earthworks in construction projects on offshore islands. Based on the observation of the real-world construction process and the collection of data on each activity, a simulation model of the digging and hauling operations of coral sand is established and validated. The analysis results of the real model indicate problems of resource shortage as well as congestion in the construction process that caused delays and poor productivity. Subsequently, the three Lean Construction principles are applied to the simulation model to enhance the construction process. The analysis results from the Lean model, when are compared with the real model, show that the waiting time of construction equipment is reduced by 70.2%, the cycle and total construction time are reduced by 34.2% and 33.9%, respectively. As a result, productivity is significantly enhanced with an increase of 51.3% and a savings of 16.8% in cost. Lean Construction principles, when combined with the simulation tool, have demonstrated their effectiveness in reducing waste and improving construction processes. This approach helps managers effectively manage their plans and make informed decisions to enhance construction productivity.

Purpose– As with many other procurement management concepts, the early contractor involvement (ECI) strategy provides an opportunity to tap on contractors’ specialist knowledge in the design stage, in order to address and forestall problems before moving onto the construction stage. Such practices have been shown to be quite successful, and are also advocated in the lean construction practice. Following this benefit, the purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships between the operations of ECI and the principles of lean construction for productivity enhancement.Design/methodology/approach– Based on the literature review of 11 principles of lean construction and ECI, various relationships were proposed seeking to integrate the two domains. A questionnaire survey was conducted with different stakeholders in Singapore’s construction industry to measure the strength of the relationships. Interviews were also conducted to gain an understanding of the constraints, reluctance, and possible methods for implementing ECI in Singapore with a convergence with lean construction principles.Findings– The results revealed that, when employing lean construction principles as a yardstick, ECI does contribute to elevating the productivity outcomes of some lean construction principles – in particular, for reducing variability, reducing cycle time, minimizing steps, and increasing output flexibility.Research limitations/implications– It is promising to marry ECI with lean construction, and that the former does appear indeed able to aid in the productivity improvements of a construction project by embracing the latter. However, it requires the building professionals to raise their awareness of both lean and ECI, so that the implementation of ECI can be carried out in a more effective manner.Originality/value– In the context of the Singapore construction industry’s push for improvements in productivity, this study posits that productivity benefits in particular can be realized through establishing the linkage between ECI and lean construction principles. The lessons from this study can likewise be adopted by other countries.

Purpose In the modern era, the concept of sustainability has become pervasive, permeating various sectors, including the construction industry. Driven by growing environmental concerns, construction organizations are increasingly compelled to seek operational excellence while realigning their practices towards environmental sustainability goals. Hence, this paper investigates the capability of lean construction (LC) principles in enhancing environmental performance (EP) within the construction industry using a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach. Design/methodology/approach The study employs SEM to explore the relationship between LC components and environmental performance factors in the construction context. This methodology integrates both empirical and qualitative analyses within a structured framework to explore the relationship between LC components and EP factors in the construction context. By collecting and statistically testing data from 307 Moroccan construction companies, the study evaluates the impact of five LC principles – process transparency and standardization, continuous improvement, waste elimination, planning and scheduling and material flow and pull – on four environmental performance indicators: material use, energy consumption, non-product output and pollutant releases. Findings The analysis reveals that, among the five LC principles – process transparency and standardization, continuous improvement, waste elimination, planning and scheduling and material flow and pull – the principles of waste elimination and planning and scheduling significantly contribute to environmental improvements. These practices were shown to impact positively four environmental performance indicators: material use, energy consumption, non-product output and pollutant releases. Originality/value This research fills a critical gap in empirical studies on the beneficial effects of LC practices on environmental sustainability in the construction industry. It provides theoretical insights and practical recommendations for managers and practitioners to effectively implement LC principles, thereby promoting more efficient and sustainable practices, particularly in developing countries.

Simulation models are well known to be one of the most effective tools that are used in the development of the construction industry. One of the newly introduced terms in this industry is the term Construction. It was inspired from Lean production, which had been long known in the production field for its ability to reduce waste in different process and to deliver higher value to the clients while using less of everything. The outstanding results of applying Lean production principles and tools motivated researchers in different fields to try to import the main principles of Lean production to different fields. The aim of this research is to use computer simulation as tool for assessing the impact of applying lean principles to design process at construction consultancy firms. A comprehensive model for the design process was built, before the principles of Lean construction were depicted in the model. Through a detailed case study it was concluded that applying the Lean construction principles to the design process significantly helped in improving the process efficiency.

Performance of the construction projects have been criticized for many years due to their low productivity rates and cost overruns as well as significant delays. Increasing number of dissatisfied customers compel practitioners to reform conventional practices of construction management. Lean construction has emerged as a result of these efforts in the industry. However, there are limited number of studies that demonstrate the practical benefits of lean construction applications. The aim of this paper is to untangle practical applications of lean construction and to reveal their benefits. A methodology was developed to compare the lean and non-lean scenarios of a residential building project by means of Monte Carlo simulation. Simulation models were generated through regular meetings held with construction planning experts. Research findings demonstrate that application of lean construction principles have a potential to improve the performance of projects by reducing both the total project duration and its expected variation. In addition, the study re­vealed that utilization of practical lean construction principles may result in a considerable amount of time reduction in wall construction and plastering activities of residential building projects. Although the findings of this study cannot be generalized, they are expected to encourage practitioners to adopt lean construction principles.

Lean production theory-based simulation of modular construction processes

Lean construction principles have been successfully adopted in a variety of industries to increase project management quality. This paper addresses maintenance planning in Sweden and analyses its effectiveness in the framework of lean construction principles. To investigate the status and improvement potential of maintenance contractors’ performance, the study focuses on the detailed planning process, which is mainly the responsibility of contractors. A literature review, a data analysis and interviews were used to reveal the possible barriers to the adaptation of lean principles to the maintenance industry. The study presents a developed theoretical framework for the analysing maintenance processes in the perspective of lean construction principles. We found that the application of lean principles has the potential for improvements in the planning process, but there are some barriers to effective implementation, including a lack of knowledge about lean principles at contractors’ sites.

PurposeBuilding information modeling (BIM) and lean construction are two practices that are developed in order to increase productivity, efficiency and quality in construction by implementing various procedures. However, the practical execution of both BIM and lean is mostly limited with the tasks performed in the office environments in the design phase. The purpose of this paper is to examine the benefit realizations in terms of lean interactions resulting from mobile BIM processes through a framework by focusing on digital transformations performed on the construction site.Design/methodology/approachThis paper examines the benefit realizations in terms of lean interactions resulting from mobile BIM processes through a framework by focusing on digital transformations performed on the construction site. To describe the case, BIM project management processes during construction phase have been explained by a participatory research. With a comprehensive literature review, interactions between site BIM processes and lean principles have been defined and the case has been evaluated accordingly.FindingsBy focusing on the mobile BIM delivery of project information via tablets to construction site, it has been identified that through the use of technology enabled by BIM practices, lean construction principles are also simultaneously accomplished. This achievement is not only realized with technology but also with the strategic implementation and transformation of organization with the proper BIM practices.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is focused on mobile BIM processes applied on-site to enhance traditional project management processes. With the findings of this paper, practitioners may identify research questions to resolve real-life implementation challenges.Practical implicationsThis research will enlighten construction practitioners regarding site BIM application capabilities and lean achievements with the utilization of improved project management processes enabled by BIM.Originality/valueThrough the implementation of project management processes enabled by BIM practices on construction site, lean principles are achieved and bottlenecks are identified.

Lean philosophy introduces a new approach for maximizing value while minimizing waste, facilitating sustainable practices at the same time. Companies have become aware of these improvements and are demanding students well formed in Lean concepts. However, to meet this demand, universities must adapt their curricula to include courses that use alternative teaching methods to connect to real contexts. This paper seeks to analyze the benefits of lecture- and game-based learning for developing students’ understanding of Lean Construction Principles. A case study is carried out in the “Lean Construction” course of the Master of Planning and Management in Civil Engineering of the Universitat Politècnica de València. A combination of a traditional lecture and three simple games is applied. Descriptive statistics, the Mann–Whitney U-test, and the Wilcoxon test are performed to analyze the impact of each activity on the understanding of each Lean Construction Principle. Results highlight the importance of combining the lecture class with multiple games to effectively impart knowledge about Lean principles and their application in the construction industry. In addition, they emphasize the importance of selecting the game according to the Lean principle to be taught.

Purpose This study explores the role of the Internet of Things (IoT) as an enabler for Lean Construction principles and tools in construction projects. Design/methodology/approach In response to the scarcity of studies about IoT functionalities in construction, a two-round systematic literature review (SLR) was undertaken. The first round aimed to identify IoT functionalities in construction, encompassing an analysis of 288 studies. The second round aimed to analyze their interaction with Lean Construction principles, drawing insights from 43 studies. Findings The outcome is a comprehensive Lean Construction-IoT matrix featuring 54 interactions. The highest levels of interaction were found in the Lean Construction principle “flow” and the functionality of “data transfer and real-time information sharing”. Research limitations/implications The study focuses on the role of IoT as an enabler for Lean Construction. Future work can cover the role of Lean as an enabler for advanced technology implementation in construction. Originality/value The Lean Construction-IoT matrix serves as a resource for researchers, practitioners, and decision-makers seeking to enhance Lean Construction by leveraging IoT technology. It also provides various examples of how advanced technology can support waste elimination and value generation in construction projects.

Simulation modelling and Lean principles have both been applied in the construction industry to improve work processes. The outcomes from their implementation are outstanding and have motivated construction researchers to seek means by which other aspects of construction production could benefit from this development. Therefore the aim of this research is to use computer simulation as a tool for assessing the impact of applying Lean principles to design processes in construction consultancy firms to aid in decision making at early stages of construction projects. A comprehensive model for the design process was built before the principles of Lean construction were depicted in the model. Through a detailed case study, it was concluded that applying Lean construction principles to the design process significantly helped to improve process efficiency, in terms of reduced process durations and increased resource utilisation.

Nowadays, the construction industry is significantly driven by the objective of achieving sustainable development. It creates a necessity to implement lean principles within the construction industry, as lean construction greatly contributes to sustainability. Despite lean construction's potential to achieve sustainable development, numerous barriers hinder its implementation. Consequently, the concept of Society 5.0 can be utilised as a transformative framework that integrates advanced technologies with a human-centric approach to overcome these issues. The aim of this research is to investigate how lean construction can be utilised along with society 5.0 to drive sustainable development in construction. To address this objective, a comprehensive literature review was conducted, and the content was analysed to align with the research objective. The findings of this research indicated that lean construction principles can be an effective application in any part of the construction process to prioritise sustainable outcomes. Moreover, the research revealed 95 barriers for lean integrated sustainable construction, categorised under political/government barriers, economic/financial barriers, technical barriers, social barriers, and other barriers. The research highlighted the necessity to integrate lean construction and Society 5.0 to overcome the barriers and drive sustainable development in construction. These research findings are paving the way towards conducting further research on the area of Society 5.0-enabled lean construction to drive sustainable development in construction.