Lean Construction

This book collates the main research developments around Lean Construction over the past 25 years with contributions from many seminal authors in the field. It takes stock of developments since the publication of Koskela’s (1992) Application of the New Production Philosophy to Construction and, in doing so, challenges current thinking and progress. It also crystallises theoretical conceptualisations and practically situated learning whilst identifying future research challenges, agendas and opportunities for global collaborative actions.

The contributors present the development of Lean Construction as a fundamental part of improving construction productivity, quality and delivery of value to clients and users of built infrastructure. In doing so, the book introduces the reader to the foundational principles and theories that have influenced the way we now understand Lean Construction and has provided very useful insights to students, practitioners and researchers on key junctures over the last 25 years. Highlighting the key contemporary developments and using global case study material the chapters demonstrate good practice but also help introduce new thinking to both lay readers and experienced practitioners alike.

This book is essential reading for undergraduate and postgraduate students, researchers and practitioners with an interest in Lean Construction and construction management, providing a general understanding of the area, current state of the art knowledge as well as providing an insight into areas for future research.

Patricia Tzortzopoulos is Professor of Integrated Design, Associate Dean for Research and Enterprise and Director of the Innovative Design Lab research centre at the School of Art, Design and Architecture, University of Huddersfield. She has developed a number of research projects examining the design process, including front-end design issues, requirements capture and management, evidence-based design, participatory design approaches, Building Information Modelling in the retrofit of existing social housing, adoption of code checking in healthcare design, among others. Patricia is an associate editor of the Brazilian Journal Ambiente Construido, and has been an active member of the International Group for Lean Construction since 1998.

Mike Kagioglou is Professor of Process Management and Dean of Art, Design and Architecture at the University of Huddersfield since 2013. Mike's career spans Engineering, Manufacturing, Creativity, Design, Architecture and the Built Environment, engaged in inter and multidisciplinary research at a global level. He was an Academic Director for the £11 million Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) funded interdisciplinary Innovative Manufacturing Research Centre (IMRC) in Health and Care Infrastructures Research and Innovation Centre (HaCIRIC) and was previously the Director of the £8 million EPSRC Salford Centre for Research and Innovation (SCRI) in the built and human environment. Mike has published more than 200 academic referred papers, many industrial reports and two books.

Lauri Koskela is Professor of Construction and Project Management at the University of Huddersfield. Since 1991, Lauri has been involved in research on Lean Construction. His research has focused especially on the theories of production management as well as project management, underlying Lean Construction. Lauri is a founding and continuously active member of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC). He was Director and Trustee at Lean Construction Institute – UK in 2010 to 2019. In recent years, he has also focused on the theory of design, and has actively participated in workshops and conferences organised by the Design Society in relation to this theme.