33rd Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC 33) - Osaka and Kyoto, Japan - 2025

https://doi.org/10.24928/2025/0152

Lean Principles for Determining Generative Design Benefits

Diego Rojas Marinkelle1, Nelly P. Garcia-Lopez2 & Santiago Lara3

1PhD Student, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, INGECO research group, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia, [email protected], https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8425-9508
2Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, INGECO research group, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia, [email protected], https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9053-0897
3Masters Student, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, INGECO research group, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia, [email protected]

Abstract

Studies on generative design have increased over the past decade, particularly for enhancing design processes in AEC industry projects. While generative design has shown potential benefits across various applications, its role in value generation remains unclear. This paper seeks to better understand the advantages of generative design through the lens of Lean principles and practices. A literature review and content analysis were conducted to map the different uses of generative design and their associated Lean principles. The review identified ten distinct uses of generative design, which were linked to nine Lean practices categorized under three Lean principles: value generation, flow improvement, and waste reduction. The results show that generative design is a versatile, interdisciplinary tool, applicable across planning, design, and construction phases. By aligning generative design with Lean principles, this study highlights its substantial contributions to improving flow, generating value, and reducing waste in construction projects. However, the findings also reveal a lack of integration across systems and processes, with applications often focused on isolated project stages or disciplines. This fragmentation suggests a tendency toward local optimization, highlighting the need for future research on system-wide integration to fully align generative design with Lean principles.

Keywords

Generative Design, Generative Design benefits, Generative Design uses, Lean Principles, Lean Practices, Lean Design.

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Reference in APA 7th edition format:

Marinkelle, D. R., Garcia-Lopez, N. P. & Lara, S.. (2025). Lean Principles for Determining Generative Design Benefits. In Seppänen, O., Koskela, L., & Murata , K. (Eds.), Proceedings of the 33rd Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC 33) (pp. 13–24). https://doi.org/10.24928/2025/0152

Shortened reference for use in IGLC papers:

Marinkelle, D. R., Garcia-Lopez, N. P. & Lara, S.. (2025). Lean Principles for Determining Generative Design Benefits. IGLC33. https://doi.org/10.24928/2025/0152

 

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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