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Verification of lean construction benefits through simulation modeling: A case study of bricklaying process

  • Construction Management
  • Published:
KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering Aims and scope

Abstract

The construction industry includes a large number of specialized areas and disciplines, most of which are based on cyclical processes during the construction phase. With the introduction of the lean construction concept, researchers have begun to apply lean principles to construction processes. The research described in this paper applies lean principles to a construction operation using computer simulation. Simulation makes it possible to evaluate the effects of implementing lean principles into construction processes prior to real world application. A case study of the bricklaying process was conducted to quantify and evaluate the results of applying lean principles. Data required for constructing the simulation model were gathered from the construction site through work and time study techniques. Preliminary results show improvement opportunities exist in the bricklaying process due to a high share of non value-adding work. The results of lean principles implementation also reveal that lean principles can enhance the performance of the bricklaying process through more than 40% productivity improvement.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Civil Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran

    S. Alireza Abbasian-Hosseini

  2. Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM, Skudai, Malaysia

    Amin Nikakhtar

  3. School of Civil Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Narmak, Tehran, Iran

    Parviz Ghoddousi

Authors
  1. S. Alireza Abbasian-Hosseini
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  2. Amin Nikakhtar
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  3. Parviz Ghoddousi
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Correspondence to S. Alireza Abbasian-Hosseini.

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Abbasian-Hosseini, S.A., Nikakhtar, A. & Ghoddousi, P. Verification of lean construction benefits through simulation modeling: A case study of bricklaying process. KSCE J Civ Eng 18, 1248–1260 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-014-0305-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-014-0305-9

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