Aslam, M; Gao, Z and Smith, G (2021) Development of lean approaching sustainability tools (LAST) matrix for achieving integrated lean and sustainable construction. Construction Economics and Building, 21(3), pp. 176-197. ISSN 2204-9029
Abstract
Challenges exist across the three dimensions of construction sustainability (economic; social and environmental) due to low productivity, waste, safety, and environmental hazards attributed to existing construction management practices. Lean construction (LC) has been widely accepted as a robust philosophy to enable sustainable construction (SC) practices. However, the existing literature is more inclined toward defining the integration between LC and sustainability through LC practices and techniques. Little research tackles the challenges of achieving sustainable goals within the current practices. Therefore, this paper aims to present a strategy that can help the construction industry overcome the challenges of SC in the traditional construction management practice by using LC. The challenges of SC are identified through a systematic literature review approach with metadata analysis. Compared with LC principles, tools and techniques, the strategy focused on identifying (1) the power and potential of LC principles and (2) the best LC practices/techniques that help in overcoming these SC challenges. The study results showed 20 out of 32 challenges identified can be overcome by using LC integrated with SC. Finally, a Lean Approaching Sustainability Tools (LAST) matrix is developed to provide guidelines to the construction stakeholders for the selection of LC practices/tools/techniques in overcoming the top 15 most important challenges.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | integration; lean construction; sustainability; sustainable construction |
| Index terms: | construction industry, systematic literature review, dimension, philosophy, sustainable construction, environmental hazard, strategy, lean construction, traditional construction, integration, management practice, productivity |
| Subjects: | management, sustainable construction, research evaluation and metrics, environmental health, philosophical studies, building construction, health monitoring assessment and metrics, organizational analysis, heritage and conservation, industry analysis |
| Topics: | Health and Safety, Sustainability, Site Management, Research Practice, Organizational Design, Business Strategy, Design Practice |
| 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