Lean Construction in Practice: An Assessment of Its Adoption, Benefits, and Challenges in the Construction Industry

Louise Ellis¹, Sergio Rodriguez¹, M. K. S. Al-Mhdawi¹

1. Teesside University

Published in Proceedings of the International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Built Environment (SASBE 2024), edited by Ali GhaffarianHoseini, Amirhosein GhaffarianHoseini, Farzad Rahimian and Mahesh Babu Purushothaman. Springer Nature, Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, volume 591, 2025, pages 1085 to 1098. DOI 10.1007/978-981-96-4051-5_104.

Abstract

Lean construction is an emerging approach in the ever-evolving construction industry, based on the initial manufacturing principles from the Toyota Production System. Lean construction is known best to maximise value while minimising waste, elevating project efficiency, collaboration, and enhancing the overall project performance. However, adapting these Lean principles has gained unique challenges within the industry. To this end, this review aims to emphasise the adoption and implementation of Lean Construction within the building industry in the UK. To achieve this, prior work from 2018 to 2024 was examined. Based on the adopted methodology, the authors identified a total of 36 papers on Lean Construction relevant to the aim. This study contributes to the body of knowledge by helping construction practitioners and researchers to better understand the adoption and implementation of Lean Construction. Furthermore, it offers valuable insights for future research and practical implementation in the dynamic landscape of the construction industry.

Keywords

Session

Presented in Track M, Saturday 9 November 2024, 16:15 to 18:15, room WA 224 A, Auckland University of Technology. Session chair Dr Esther Aigwi.

How to Cite

Ellis, L., Rodriguez, S., & Al-Mhdawi, M. K. S. (2025). Lean Construction in Practice: An Assessment of Its Adoption, Benefits, and Challenges in the Construction Industry. In A. GhaffarianHoseini, A. GhaffarianHoseini, F. Rahimian, & M. B. Purushothaman (Eds.), Proceedings of the International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Built Environment (SASBE 2024) (Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, Vol. 591, pp. 1085–1098). Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-96-4051-5_104

About the Conference

Presented at SASBE 2024, the International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, held in Auckland from 7 to 9 November 2024 and chaired by Professors Ali and Amirhosein GhaffarianHoseini, founders of GDI Academy. The version of record is published by Springer Nature; this page is the conference archive record kept by GDI Academy.