Momtazi, S (2021) Reducing cost overruns in construction projects using lean methodology. DEng thesis, George Washington University, USA.
Abstract
Cost overrun has emerged as one of the most frequently reported problems facing projects in the construction industry. The problem of cost overruns is experienced more in publicly funded projects, such as New York City capital projects. Traditional cost control measures have failed to solve the problem of cost overruns in construction projects. This research includes applying nine lean construction principles: supply, people involvement, planning and scheduling, quality, standardization, transparency, waste elimination, continuous improvement, and customer focus. Throughout the construction process, these principles will reduce the element of waste and non-value adding activities, and they will be applied through twenty-five selected sub-principles, which are specific techniques that reduce various forms of waste in the construction process. To investigate the effectiveness of the above lean construction principles in controlling project cost, the research adopted a quantitative approach executed through an online survey involving the managers of the various projects listed in the New York City projects database and nationwide. The study results will show which Lean Construction Principles (LCPs) critical factors will significantly reduce average cost overruns in construction projects. This research proposes a practical model called Lean Principles in Construction Management (LPCM) that can help engineering managers improve overall project performance by reducing major waste factors.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Blackburn, T |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | continuous improvement; cost overrun; effectiveness; construction project; cost control; lean construction; project cost; scheduling; standardization; project performance |
| Index terms: | continuous improvement, cost overrun, lean principles in construction, database, critical factor, standardization, capital project, effectiveness, project performance, construction industry, transparency, lean construction, manager, scheduling, New York, survey, project cost, construction process, methodology, construction project, cost control |
| Subjects: | financial and cost management, risk assessment, data collection methods, data management, industry analysis, performance measurement, performance management, economics, project management theory and practice, professional development, operations research, strategic project management, practitioner, building construction, research methods, lean construction, Geography, production management |
| Topics: | Cost Management, Business Strategy, Information Management, Research Practice, Roles and Professions, Digital Applications, Time Control, Site Management, Geographical Context, Project Management, Risk Management, Quality 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