Application of lean principles in the South African construction industry

Date
2021-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa is a developing country that invests billions of rands annually in the construction industry. This industry consumes resources, and inevitably, waste is generated during the process. Although numerous approaches have been developed to improve quality, efficiency, and effectiveness in this industry, lean principles offer the ability to minimise and eliminate non-value adding work thus increasing value for the client. The research was carried out in three stages which are literature review, lean construction framework development and lean construction framework validation and verification through case studies. In the literature review section the thesis discussed concepts of lean, lean thinking principles, lean production methods to reduce waste, lean construction, benefits of lean construction, lean construction tools currently used worldwide, barriers to lean construction, drivers of lean construction practice in the South African construction industry, waste classification in this industry and controllable waste in construction. The research study then used the systematic literature review methodology to systematically analyze applications of lean principles in the construction industry, and identified tools that will be used to be implement lean construction in the South African construction industry (electrical and mechanical engineering services). The results of the systematic literature were used to develop a lean construction implementation framework. The framework was then implemented and refined using two local case studies focusing on electrical and mechanical engineering services in the South African construction industry. The refined lean implementation framework is made out of four segments which are focusing on culture and behaviour, implementing lean construction practices, lean construction drivers, and using lean project management strategies.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMIMNG: Suid-Afrika is 'n ontwikkelende land wat jaarliks miljarde rande in die konstruksiebedryf belê. Hierdie bedryf verbruik hulpbronne en onvermydelik word afval tydens die proses gegenereer. Alhoewel daar talle benaderings ontwikkel is om kwaliteit, doeltreffendheid en effektiwiteit in hierdie bedryf te verbeter, bied maer-beginsels die vermoë om nie-waardetoevoegende werk te minimaliseer en uit te skakel, wat die waarde vir die kliënt verhoog. Die navorsing is in drie fases uitgevoer, naamlik literatuuroorsig, ontwikkeling van ‘n maer-konstruksie-raamwerk en validering en verifikasie van die raamwerk deur gevallestudies. n die literatuurstudiesegment bespreek die proefskrif konsepte van maer-denkbeginsels, maer-produksiemetodes om afval te verminder, maer-konstruksie, voordele van maer-konstruksie, maer-konstruksieinstrumente wat tans wêreldwyd gebruik word, hindernisse vir maer-konstruksie, drywers van maer-konstruksiepraktyk in die Suid-Afrikaanse konstruksiebedryf, afvalindeling in hierdie bedryf en beheerbare afval in konstruksie. Die navorsingstudie het vervolgens die stelselmatige literatuuroorsigmetodologie gebruik om toepassings van maer-beginsels in die konstruksiebedryf stelselmatig te ontleed, en instrumente geïdentifiseer wat gebruik sal word om maer-konstruksie in die Suid-Afrikaanse konstruksiebedryf te implementeer (elektriese en meganiese ingenieursdienste). Die resultate van die sistematiese literatuur is gebruik om 'n skraal konstruksie-implementeringsraamwerk te ontwikkel. Die raamwerk is toe geïmplementeer en verfyn deur gebruik te maak van twee plaaslike gevallestudies wat fokus op elektriese en meganiese ingenieursdienste in die Suid-Afrikaanse konstruksiebedryf. Die verfynde raamwerk vir maer-implementering bestaan uit vier segmente wat fokus op kultuur en gedrag, die implementering van maer-konstruksiepraktyke, maer-konstruksie-drywers en die gebruik van strategieë vir maer-projekbestuur.
Description
Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2021.
Keywords
Lean principles, South African Construction industry, lean construction tools, drivers of lean construction, lean construction implementation framework, concepts of lean, lean construction, UCTD, Lean manufacturing, Construction industry -- South Africa, Waste minimization
Citation