Jacobs, G F (2010) Review of lean construction conference proceedings and relationship to the Toyota production system framework. PhD thesis, Colorado State University, USA.
Abstract
The objective of this study was to align the International Group of Lean Construction (IGLC) conference proceedings against the Toyota Production System (TPS) to determine how well research themes in construction studies align with the TPS framework. Factories around the world that have implemented the TPS framework have experienced impressive production outcomes. Content analysis was chosen as the methodology in conducting the study of IGLC conference proceedings from 1996 through 2009. A total of 592 IGLC research studies were analyzed. The analysis revealed that lean research in construction did not align exclusively around the TPS framework. From 592 studies, 241 (40%) were classified within the four overarching TPS categories having the 14 TPS principles; 351 (60%) were classified outside the framework as fitting in one of 15 other important proxy lean related research categories. The findings were reflective of IGLC research studies between 1996 and 2009 and did not reflect lean research contributions outside this database. This study has particular implications in knowledge, practice, and teaching. Lean researchers are encouraged not to confine their research to a specific construction sector but rather conform to a broader research platform including the building, heavy, and civil engineering sectors so that these sectors can benefit from future lean research. Critical discussion on the preconditions for, and limits of, lean research initiatives promise to contribute to a stronger body of lean knowledge in the industry concerned with developing the built environment.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Folkestad, J and Glick, S |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | built environment; civil engineering; content analysis; lean construction; teaching |
| Index terms: | built environment, conference, database, platform, construction sector, methodology, content analysis, lean construction, production system |
| Subjects: | industry analysis, infrastructure and transport systems, data management, data analysis and analytics, building construction, digital design, research methods, manufacturing engineering, research dissemination and communication |
| Topics: | Engineering Principles, Digital Applications, Urban Studies, Site Management, Research Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
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