Lean and green production for the modular construction

Abstract

Lean production is a set of principles, methods and techniques aimed at improving industrial production processes, maximizing their value and reducing costs. In parallel, the pollution prevention and waste reduction, in order to improve the environmental performance, has led to the development of the concept of green production. So, the ever-increasing attention to economic, social and environmental aspects, suggests that the techniques introduced with both lean and green production reduce the business costs and improve the sustainability. Recently, lean concepts have also been introduced in the construction sector, using the term lean construction. The benefits of lean construction are oriented towards the flows improvement, the enhancement of productivity, the elimination of waste and the reduction of delays.While in theory the ideas of Lean and Green are very clear, it is necessary to study their combined applications. This paper covers this gap, considering an interesting case study relating to a company, operating in the telecommunications sector. Case considered highlights the benefits obtainable from the introduction of lean and green principles to increase the production efficiency and to requalify the energy.y. In particular, the case study deepens the concept of modular construction, a hybrid between production and construction, which lends itself to the application of lean sectors. The implementation in the industry of modular construction (prefabricated structures) of the principles of lean and green production is investigated.