Gao, S and Low, S P (2015) Implementing Toyota way principles for construction projects in China: A case study. International Journal of Construction Management, 15(3), pp. 179-195. ISSN 1562-3599
Abstract
The Toyota Way has evolved from an advanced production system to a socio-technical model in manufacturing. Many organizations are trying to replicate Toyota's success with the Toyota Way in their respective business and industry environments. This paper examines construction projects in China which, despite rapid progress in recent years, are still under enormous pressure to reduce costs while increasing productivity, reliability, and quality. The Toyota Way style of management seems to be appropriate and significant for construction firms in China to address these pressing issues. This paper identifies the similarities of the current project management practices of large Chinese construction firms in order to compare them with the principles of the Toyota Way. Using a case study, the paper analyses the challenges (i.e. lack of integration in implementation, low awareness of Toyota Way principles), opportunities for implementation where the Toyota Way has not been fully adopted, and outcomes (i.e. cost saving and ahead of schedule) for better implementation of the Toyota Way.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | case study; implementation; large Chinese construction firms; Toyota way |
| Index terms: | productivity, socio-technical, construction firm, project management practice, implementation, China, production system, cost saving, integration, construction project, case study |
| Subjects: | project management theory and practice, economics, manufacturing engineering, data collection methods, contractual arrangements, research methods, Geography, production management, organization, management, organizational analysis |
| Topics: | Geographical Context, Business Strategy, Procurement, Research Practice, Organizational Design, Engineering Principles, Cost Management, Project Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here