Abstract
With the rising impact of technological advancements within all sectors, there is an increase in interest among construction industry practitioners to integrate novel technologies collaborated with concepts. Lean is one such concept, which has received growing attention of construction companies. However, past researchers have identified many barriers for successful lean implementation in global construction context, where, technological approaches seem to be a success factor. Many experts have identified Internet of Things (IoT) as an enabler for the lean implementation in construction, which is undoubtedly lacking in the Sri Lankan context. Hence, this paper aims to investigate the drivers and barriers for using IoT for successful lean implementation in Sri Lankan construction industry. Seven semi structured interviews with experts in IoT and lean construction were conducted under the qualitative approach for data collection to achieve the research aim. Findings highlighted increased product and process quality; reduced unnecessary delays in construction process; reduced unnecessary costs; enhanced inventory management system; and increased site safety as key drivers, whereas, expensive devises and high cost of implementation; resistance to change; lack of internet coverage, IT facilities and compatibility issues; difficulties to adapt due to lack of knowledge and skills; security and privacy issues; and lack of innovative culture were identified as key barriers of using IoT for successful lean implementation in Sri Lankan construction industry. Findings revealed the several similarities in drivers and barriers of using IoT for lean construction implementation both in global and Sri Lankan context.
Highlights
Lean is a management approach, which focuses on process improvement, satisfying customer needs and achieving the best financial results for a particular business (Salah & Rahim, 2019)
According to Ghi and Rossetti (2016), many factors are driving the utilisation of Internet of Things (IoT) for successful lean implementation in construction industry, which are seeking the attention of contractors, several barriers are impacting the usage of IoT applications in successful lean construction implementation
The findings through the comprehensive literature review were referred to the experts through a semi structured interview guideline in order to identify the drivers and barriers impacting for the application of IoT for lean construction implementation
Summary
Lean is a management approach, which focuses on process improvement, satisfying customer needs and achieving the best financial results for a particular business (Salah & Rahim, 2019). Lean concept has been implemented by growing numbers of construction companies who intended to reduce the cost to meet high value of productivity and overcome the competitiveness while achieving the minimisation of seven types of wastes namely overproduction, over process, transportation, defects, motion, inventory and waiting (Salah & Rahim, 2019). Some barriers can be overcome through human approaches, the technological approaches seem to be important in order to reach successful implementation of lean concept in construction industry. Among large numbers of technological advancements, Louis and Dunston (2018) identified that Internet of Things (IoT) has the potential to enhance the implementation of lean construction. IoT has been growing widely by emerging with the lean construction as contractors are tending to spend their resources and efforts on technological tools in order to advance their work and win over their competitors (Zankoul, et al, 2018). According to Ghi and Rossetti (2016), many factors are driving the utilisation of IoT for successful lean implementation in construction industry, which are seeking the attention of contractors, several barriers are impacting the usage of IoT applications in successful lean construction implementation
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