Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Identification of Critical Barriers in Implementing Lean Construction Practices in Indian Construction Industry

  • Research Paper
  • Published:
Iranian Journal of Science and Technology, Transactions of Civil Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to identify the critical barriers in implementing Lean construction practices in the Indian construction industry. This study incorporates ISM (Interpretive structural modeling) and MICMAC (Cross-Impact Matrix Multiplication Applied to Classification) for data collection and analysis, respectively. The method comprised conducting interviews in person with experts from four construction companies who have implemented Lean practices in their projects in India. The experts with an experience between 5 and 15 years were selected for the interview to examine the contextual relationship among the 12 barriers which were identified through various literature reviews and via a survey of 20 construction professionals from the Lean-implemented companies. The data was collected through a row and column questionnaire for the pairwise comparison of the barriers. The results were analyzed by MICMAC and the barriers are divided into four clusters: autonomous, driving, linkage and dependent, from which the most driving barriers identified are insufficient government support and lack of top management involvement and the linkage barriers are Low awareness, Absence of knowledge and Inadequate training on Lean Concepts. The developed ISM model depicts the hierarchies of inter-relationships among the identified barriers. Further, comparative studies on barriers in implementing Lean construction in small, medium, and large-scale industries in India are much recommended to find out if any other barriers exist that potentially influence in preventing the construction stakeholders from implementing it in their projects.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abdelnaser O, Abdulsalam A (2015) Barriers to prioritizing lean construction. Acta Tehnica Corviniensis 1998:1–4

    Google Scholar 

  • Abdullah S, Razak A, Bakar A, Hassan A & Sarrazin I (2009a). Towards producing best practice in the Malaysian construction industry: the barriers in implementing the lean construction approach. Building September 2014 1–15. http://eprints.usm.my/16097/

  • Abdullah S, Razak, A, Bakar A, Hassan A, & Sarrazin I (2009b) Towards producing best practice in the Malaysian construction industry: the barriers in implementing the lean construction approach. Int Conf of Constr Ind 1–15. http://eprints.usm.my/16097/

  • Abu F, Gholami H, Saman MZM, Zakuan N, Streimikiene D, Kyriakopoulos GL (2021) An sem approach for the barrier analysis in lean implementation in manufacturing industries. Sustainability (switzerland) 13(4):1–18. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13041978

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ahmed S, Hossain MM, Haq I (2021) Implementation of lean construction in the construction industry in Bangladesh: awareness, benefits and challenges. Int J Build Pathol Adapt 39(2):368–406. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJBPA-04-2019-0037

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aigbavboa C, Oke A, Momoti T (2016) Drivers and barriers of lean construction practice in South African construction industry. In: 2016 International conference on innovative production and construction, February 2017 195–201. https://ujcontent.uj.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/uj:21132

  • Alarcon L (1997) Tools for the identification and reduction of waste in construction projects. Lean construction. Taylor & Francis, Abingdon, pp 365–377

    Google Scholar 

  • Alinaitwe HM (2009) Prioritising lean construction barriers in Uganda’s construction industry. J Constr Dev Ctries 14(1):15–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Alves TDCL, Milberg C, Walsh KD (2012) Exploring lean construction practice, research, and education. Eng Constr Archit Manag 19(5):512–525. https://doi.org/10.1108/09699981211259595

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amade B, Nnamdi Ononuju C, Obodoh D, Ejimnkonye Okorie C (2019) Barriers to lean adoption for construction projects. Pac J Sci Technol 20(1):153

    Google Scholar 

  • Archana M (2017) Identification and analysis of lean techniques inindian construction projects. IOSR J Mech Civ Eng 14(02):62–69. https://doi.org/10.9790/1684-1402046269

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Attri R, Dev N, Sharma V (2013) Interpretive structural modelling (ISM) approach: an overview. Res J Manag Sci 2319(2):3–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Ayarkwa J, Agyekum K, Adinyira E, Osei-Asibey D (2012) Perspectives for the implementation of lean construction in the Ghanaian construction industry. J Constr 5(1).

  • Aziz RF, Hafez SM (2013) Applying lean thinking in construction and performance improvement. Alex Eng J 52(4):679–695. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2013.04.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bajjou MS, Chafi A (2018a) Barriers of lean construction implementation in the Moroccan construction industry. AIP conference proceedings, 1952 (April). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5032018a

  • Bajjou MS, Chafi A (2018b) Lean construction implementation in the Moroccan construction industry: awareness, benefits and barriers. J Eng Des Technol 16(4):533–556. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEDT-02-2018-0031

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Balkhy WA, Sweis R, Lafhaj Z (2021) Barriers to adopting lean construction in the construction industry—the case of jordan. Buildings 11(6):1–17. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings11060222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ballard G, Howell GA (2003) Lean project management. Build Res Inf 31(2):119–133. https://doi.org/10.1080/09613210301997

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barlish KC, Nihas S, Kashiwagi DT (2015) Implementation of best value in india. August.

  • Bashir AM, Suresh S, Oloke DA, Proverbs DG, Gameson R (2015) Overcoming the challenges facing lean construction practice in the UK contracting organizations. Int J Archit Eng Constr 4(1):10–18. https://doi.org/10.7492/ijaec.2015.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bayhan HG, Demirkesen S, Jayamanne E (2019) Enablers and barriers of lean implementation in construction projects. IOP Conf Ser Mater Sci Eng 471(2):022002. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/471/2/022002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cano S, Delgado J, Botero L, Rubiano O (2015) Barriers and success factors in lean construction implementation-survey in pilot context. Proceedings of IGLC 23-23rd Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction: Global Knowledge-Global Solutions, 2015-January (100), 631–641

  • Dehdasht G, Zin R (2018) Barriers of sustainable lean construction implementation: hierarchical Model. Int J Adv Res 6(9):1094–1101. https://doi.org/10.21474/ijar01/7618

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Devaki MP, Jayanthi R (2014) Barriers to implementation of lean principles in the Indian construction industry. Int J Eng Res Technol 3(5):1189–1192

    Google Scholar 

  • Dulaimi MF, Tanamas C (2001) The principles and applications of lean construction in Singapore. Proceedings of the 9th international group for lean construction conference, 1–14

  • Enshassi A, Zaiter MA (2014) Implementation of lean tools on safety in construction projects in palestine. 22nd annual conference of the international group for lean construction: understanding and improving project based production, IGLC 2014 1205–1218

  • Enshassi A, Ayyash A, Choudhry RM (2016) BIM for construction safety improvement in Gaza strip: awareness, applications and barriers. Int J Constr Manag 16(3):249–265. https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2016.1167367

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Enshassi A, Saleh N, Mohamed S (2021) Barriers to the application of lean construction techniques concerning safety improvement in construction projects. Int J Constr Manag 21(10):1044–1060. https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2019.1602583

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans JD (1996) Straightforward statistics for the behavioral sciences. Pacific Grove

  • Forbes L, Ahmed S (2004) Adapting lean construction methods for developing nations. Proceedings of the 2nd Latin American and Carribean, June http://www.laccei.org/LACCEI2004-Miami/papers - PDF/ET089_Forbes.pdf

  • Gupta S, Ahmadi MA, Kumar L (2020) Identification of the barriers of lean construction implementation in construction projects—a review. Int J Innov Res Comput Sci Technol. https://doi.org/10.21276/ijircst.2020.8.3.27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heravi G, Aryanpour D, Rostami M (2021a) Developing a green university framework using statistical techniques: case study of the University of Tehran. J Build Eng 42:102798. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2021.102798

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heravi G, Kebria MF, Rostami M (2021b) Integrating the production and the erection processes of pre-fabricated steel frames in building projects using phased lean management. Eng Constr Archit Manag 28(1):174–195. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-03-2019-0133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hines P, Rich N (1997) The seven value stream mapping tools. Int J Oper Prod Manag 17(1):46–64. https://doi.org/10.1108/01443579710157989

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holweg M (2007) The genealogy of lean production. J Oper Manag 25(2):420–437. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jom.2006.04.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hussain SMAM (2016) Barriers to implement lean principles in the Indian construction industry. Int J Innov Res Adv Eng 3(01):2–7

    Google Scholar 

  • Jamil AHA, Fathi MS (2016) The integration of lean construction and sustainable construction: a stakeholder perspective in analyzing sustainable lean construction strategies in Malaysia. Procedia Comput Sci 100:634–643. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2016.09.205

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johansen E, Walter L (2007) Lean construction: prospects for the German construction industry. Lean Constr J 3(1):19–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Warfield J (1979) History and applications of Interpretive structural modeling. Can Oper Res Soc Annu Meet file:///C:/Users/user/Downloads/Warfield_27_40_A1b.pdf

  • Kenchey G, Mamillapalli RS, Venkatesan R (2017) A study on adaptability of lean techniques in small construction projects in India. Indian lean construction conference.

  • Kilpatrick J (2003) Lean principles. In: Transportation, Vol 2003

  • Koskela L (1997) Lean production in construction. Automation and Robotics in Construction X: Proceedings of the 10th International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction (ISARC). doi:https://doi.org/10.22260/isarc1993/0007

  • Kumar RU, Karthikeyan P (2017) A study on civil engineers career skill requirements and organization culture change for practicing lean techniques in construction projects. Indian lean construction conference.

  • Mahashabde V (2016) Comparison of lean construction in India and United States of America. 8–14

  • Mathew A (2017) Lean implementation at godrej construction. Indian lean construction conference.

  • Nahmens I, Ikuma LH (2012) Effects of lean construction on sustainability of modular homebuilding. J Archit Eng 18(2):155–163. https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)ae.1943-5568.0000054

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nwaki W, Eze E, Awodele I (2021) Major barriers assessment of lean construction application in construction projects delivery. CSID J Infrastruct Dev 4(1):63. https://doi.org/10.32783/csid-jid.v4i1.206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ohno T (1998) The toyota production system: beyond large-scale production. Productivity Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Olamilokun O (2015) Investigating facilitators and barriers for adopting lean construction principles in the nigerian building consulting firms. Int J Innov Res Dev 4(12):234–239

    Google Scholar 

  • Pillai K, Shukla M (2016) Application of principles of lean management in construction industry, a technique in the Indian construction industry. Int J Recent Adv Eng Technol (IJRAET) 4(4):83–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Porwal V, Fernández-Solís J, Lavy S, Rybkowski ZK (2010) Last planner system implementation challenges. Challenging lean construction thinking: What do we think and what do we know?—18th annual conference of the international group for lean construction, IGLC 18 July 548–556

  • Potdar J, Khare V, Kamlesh K, Lahori Y (2017) Collaborating to create value implementing lean construction at godrej infinity. Indian lean construction conference

  • Raghavan N (2017) Lean-the many splendored thing. Indian lean construction conference

  • Ramaswamy KP, Kalidindi SN (2009) Waste in indian building construction projects. Constr Res Congr

  • Sage AP (1977) Methodology for large-scale systems. McGraw-Hill

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Sarhan JG (2018) Development of a lean construction framework for the Saudi Arabian construction industry. Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Sarhan S, Fox A (2013) Barriers to implementing lean construction in the UK construction industry. Built Hum Environ Rev 6:1–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Shah R, Ward PT (2007) Defining and developing measures of lean production. J Oper Manag 25(4):785–805. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jom.2007.01.019

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shang G, Sui Pheng L (2014) Barriers to lean implementation in the construction industry in China. J Technol Manag China 9(2):155–173. https://doi.org/10.1108/jtmc-12-2013-0043

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Small EP, Al Hamouri K, Al Hamouri H (2017) Examination of opportunities for integration of lean principles in construction in Dubai. Procedia Eng 196(June):616–621. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2017.08.049

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thakkar H, Shah VA (2021) Barriers to implementation of lean construction techniques in Gujarat construction industry. Int J Eng Technol Manag Res 8(4):17–24. https://doi.org/10.29121/ijetmr.v8.i4.2021.905

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Viola P, Jones MJ (2004) Robust real-time face detection. Int J Comput vis 57(2):137–154

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yadav M, Patil S, Moorthy G (2017) Implementation and scaling up of lean construction practices at AFCONS. Indian Lean Constr Conf

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. URC Construction (P) Ltd, Erode, Tamilnadu, India

    Ragavi Prabaharan

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, Coimbatore Institute of Technology, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India

    S. Shanmugapriya

Authors
  1. Ragavi Prabaharan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Shanmugapriya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ragavi Prabaharan.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Prabaharan, R., Shanmugapriya, S. Identification of Critical Barriers in Implementing Lean Construction Practices in Indian Construction Industry. Iran J Sci Technol Trans Civ Eng 47, 1233–1249 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40996-022-00959-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40996-022-00959-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation