Lean Construction: more efficient construction sites thanks to software?

Lean Construction Management (German: lean construction management) adorns the covers of countless bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral theses, but what is the truth about this seemingly revolutionary system for the construction sector? Supporters see it as the future of construction, while critics see it only as an opportunity for consultancies to make even more money.

As often happens, the truth lies in the middle, because lean construction management is not a guaranteed success and requires a lot of discipline. Furthermore, there is no SINGLE method for more agile construction sites, but rather a whole mix of methods. But one thing can be said: if you really manage to use all the advantages of lean construction, you will save so much time and resources that the budget will easily be enough for a consultation by a corresponding consultancy company.

Common problems in construction site planning

To better understand the added value that lean construction can have, one should first examine the common problems of larger construction projects. The first thing that comes to mind for all of us is the construction of Berlin Airport (BER), the opening of which was postponed several times from 2011 to 2020. But these phenomena are not the product of modern times: the construction site of the Cologne Cathedral, for example, remained dormant for almost 300 years until its completion in 1880.

Most of the problems associated with large construction projects arise in the areas of financing, communication and ultimately also the management of expectations. If opening dates are simply set without consulting all interested parties, it is very likely that these cannot be met. The lack of communication also has a particular impact on the procurement of materials and daily life on the construction site, when individual activities have to expect each other.

The objectives and methods in brief

Overall, lean construction management aims to make all processes surrounding a construction site more efficient and transparent, ideally on a reproducible basis that can be continually refined and reapplied. Lean Construction wants:

• Reduce materials, working hours and travel distances
• Involve all stakeholders in the planning process (owners, architects, engineers, foremen, etc.)
• Clearly define all objectives and make them measurable
• Identify and resolve issues in the ongoing process promptly

It’s not easy to really summarize what exactly Lean Construction is, but the most concise thing is probably agile working with regular meetings and constant re-evaluation of the set objectives. For this purpose, daily morning meetings and periodic meetings have been established for a 6-week plan to be able to respond optimally to short and medium-term challenges. In meetings, the visualization of the construction site plan (analogue with sticky notes or digital) also plays an important role, so that no information is lost.

Cycle planning / Lean construction explained simply – Source: © WeLean GmbH / youtube.com

Advantages and disadvantages of lean construction

As already mentioned, the principle of Lean Construction Management is not a sure success because it is not something that can be done easily, in the same way that one can, for example, lay a foundation or lay electrical cables. The introduction of this set of methods first of all entails disadvantages. Only when the concept is consolidated and is truly experienced by all those involved will the first advantages be seen.