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

https://doi.org/10.24928/2025/0252

Devising Visual Systems for Quality Management in Construction

Mauricio Neyra1, Sulyn Gomez2, Carlos T. Formoso3 & Kevin Ronceros4

1MSc Student, Postgraduate Program in Civil Engineering (PPGCI), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil, [email protected], orcid.org/0009-0007-7379-5798
2Senior Quality Engineer, DPR Construction, San Francisco, CA, USA, [email protected], orcid.org/0000-0003-2367-9880
3Professor, Building Innovation Research Unit (NORIE), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil, [email protected], orcid.org/0000-0002-4772-3746
4Graduate Researcher, National University of Engineering (UNI), Lima, Peru, [email protected], orcid.org/0009-0005-1205-3833

Abstract

Construction projects face common challenges, including poor communication, distrust between managers and workforce, ineffective decision-making, and unfulfillment of quality requirements, often related to information management. To address these issues, this study explores the design and first run study of the implementation of Visual Management (VM) systems as a strategy to enhance process transparency and influence quality management practices in 2 building constructions in Peru. The VM systems implemented followed the underlying principle of process transparency and consisted of three levels: facilitation, discipline and engagement. First, enhancing process transparency facilitated early defect detection, as well as reducing hidden defects and common errors. Second, it focused on fostering discipline among craftworkers to engage in correct procedures. Third, it promoted ownership of delivered work from craftworkers, as well as trust and communication between project staff and craftworkers. The VM systems implemented presented an initial supportive strategy for quality management with low process control but enhanced integration and collaboration. VM systems require iterative refinement to address site-specific conditions and quality challenges. Recommendations for future research include the assessment of the effectiveness of the implementation of VM systems on quality management, as well as quantitative studies with causation analysis to evidence positive impact on quality.

Keywords

Lean Construction, Visual Management, process transparency, quality, information systems.

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Reference in APA 7th edition format:

Neyra, M., Gomez, S., Formoso, C. T. & Ronceros, K.. (2025). Devising Visual Systems for Quality Management in Construction. In Seppänen, O., Koskela, L., & Murata , K. (Eds.), Proceedings of the 33rd Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC 33) (pp. 1081–1092). https://doi.org/10.24928/2025/0252

Shortened reference for use in IGLC papers:

Neyra, M., Gomez, S., Formoso, C. T. & Ronceros, K.. (2025). Devising Visual Systems for Quality Management in Construction. IGLC33. https://doi.org/10.24928/2025/0252

 

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