Application of Lean Production Techniques: a Survey of Large Construction Firms in Kenya

Abstract

Construction practitioners have focused their attention on conversion processes, with little attention given to now activities, leading to uncertain flow processes, expansion or non value-adding activities and waste. This paper surveys the practices of lean construction techniques .In large construction firms in Kenya. Data was collected Via questionnaires targeting 30 respondents. A quantitative approach was adopted for this research utilizing the results of a questionnaire survey involving over 50 variables that relate to lean construction practice. This research has found no empirical evidence within construction practice to match lean practices and the empirical evidence showed that these were extremely scattered and poorly integrated in construction practice. The paper illustrates the key waste categories, the key waste cause variables and leads the contractors to focus their attention on these issues in order to reduce the incidence of non value-adding activities during the construction process. Project controls have traditionally been focused on after-the-fact detection of variances. This study proposes a control system, the Last Planner system, that causes the realization of plans, and thus supplements project management's concern for management of contracts with the management of production. There is need for further researtti in the area of developing appropriate ways for introducing this holistic thinking and implementation of lean production principles among managers and workers in the construction sector. It is important that customized, practical and cost effective in-house quality management systems for implementation by construction, companies is developed to enable them;satisfy their customer requirements and continuously seek improvements in their operations processes.