23rd Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction - Perth, Australia - 2015

Lean Design Versus Traditional Design Approach

Thea S. Munthe-Kaas1, Hallgrim Hjelmbrekke2, Jardar Lohne3 & Ola Lædre4

1M.Sc., Dept. of Civil and Transport Engineering, NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway, +47 924 80 494, [email protected]
2Research scientist, Dept. of Architectural Design and Management, NTNU - Norwegian University Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway, +47 932 43 142, [email protected]
3 Research scientist, Dept. of Civil and Transport Engineering, NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway, +47 934 44 930, [email protected]
4 Associate Professor, Dept. of Civil and Transport Engineering NTNU - Norwegian University Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway, +47 911 89 938, [email protected]

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to determine if lean design can enhance value for the customer in the construction industry based on an examination of the design phase. Resent research from Statistics Norway shows a reduction of 9 % in the Norwegian construction industry’s productivity from 1992 to 2012. The paper also discusses if lean design can have an overall positive effect on the productivity. A case study has been carried out, comparing two projects using a qualitative approach. The projects use different methods in the design phase; lean design vs. traditional design approach. Implementing lean design can increase value for the client. Lean design might enable a productivity growth in the Norwegian construction industry similar to the growth observed until the 1990s. Similarities are found between classic project execution and projects where lean design is implemented, particularly the focus on planning and control. The originality lies in comparison of the recently implemented lean design and the classic project execution model. This permits an in-depth analysis of the novelty and effects of certain lean design features. Lean design seems to have reduced waste in the process, but the total value concept was rarely considered.

Keywords

Value, lean design, productivity, lean construction, waste

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Reference

Munthe-Kaas, T. S. , Hjelmbrekke, H. , Lohne, J. & Lædre, O. 2015. Lean Design Versus Traditional Design Approach, 23rd Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction , 578-588. doi.org/

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Founded in 1993, the IGLC is an international network of researchers from practice and academia in architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) who feel that the practice, education, and research of the AEC industry have to be radically renewed in order to respond to the global challenges ahead.

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