BARRIERS TO IMPLEMENTATION OF LEAN CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES IN GUJARAT CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Abstract

Lean construction technique has been arisen from endeavouring and applying Japanese lean manufacturing philosophy to the construction industry. Large research is being done recently and an ongoing process to adopt lean principles to the construction industry to enhance the efficacy, amelioration of waste. The success of the lean technique is evident, but some major reports indicated that major challenges are related to the Mis-conceptualisation of lean thinking, and some case studies have ascertained that the lean technique was either applied partially or erroneously. The purpose of this paper is to elucidate the lean concept, wastes in construction, features of lean project delivery, lean principles and the barriers to implementing the lean technique in the Gujarat construction industry. A compendious review of the literature had been done with the perspective of reaping pertinent data needed for the paper and to make a questionnaire. To check the reliability of data Cronbach’s alpha was used. Followed by a statistical analysis of data by Relative Important Index (RII) and ranks were given. Further analysis discovered that only nine of these barriers were determined significant, where dominant factor was Resistance to change and culture with an RII value of 0.63. The results of this study could be used to help researchers, practitioners and companies in the Gujarat construction industry to fasten their attention on the suggestive issues to the prosperous implementation of the lean concept. Lean construction technique has been arisen from endeavouring and applying Japanese lean manufacturing philosophy to the construction industry. Large research is being done recently and an ongoing process to adopt lean principles to the construction industry to enhance the efficacy, amelioration of waste. The success of the lean technique is evident, but some major reports indicated that major challenges are related to the Mis-conceptualisation of lean thinking, and some case studies have ascertained that the lean technique was either applied partially or erroneously. The purpose of this paper is to elucidate the lean concept, wastes in construction, features of lean project delivery, lean principles and the barriers to implementing the lean technique in the Gujarat construction industry. A compendious review of the literature had been done with the perspective of reaping pertinent data needed for the paper and to make a questionnaire. To check the reliability of data Cronbach’s alpha was used. Followed by a statistical analysis of data by Relative Important Index (RII) and ranks were given. Further analysis discovered that only nine of these barriers were determined significant, where dominant factor was Resistance to change and culture with an RII value of 0.63. The results of this study could be used to help researchers, practitioners and companies in the Gujarat construction industry to fasten their attention on the suggestive issues to the prosperous implementation of the lean concept.