Evaluating the Potential Benefits and Challenges of Lc Adoption in the Portuguese Construction Industry:a Survey Study

João Matias1 & Nuno Cachadinha2

1Graduate student, Departamento de Engenharia Civil, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, FCT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal, Phone +351 968702958, [email protected]
2Assistant Professor, UNIDEMI, Departamento de Engenharia Civil, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, FCT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal, Phone +351 212948 557, [email protected]

Abstract

As Lean Construction (LC) steadily grows all over the world, not much is heard about this new paradigm in the Portuguese Construction sector. Because LC has been embraced in other countries for its positive, cost-effective results, it is assumed that it can also greatly contribute to the Portuguese construction sector. This paper thus intends to analyze the ways in which LC can be beneficial in the Portuguese context. This article first seeks to identify the causes of delays and material losses in the Portuguese construction sector by analyzing three main phases in the construction process: the contract phase (CP), the planning phase (PP) and the production phase (PrP). Secondly, this work intends to assess how to improve those areas of difficulties using Lean Construction solutions and how to bring out the full potential of these solutions in the Portuguese construction context. Through these findings, this work seeks to foster the acceptance and use of Lean Construction and reveal its benefits to the Portuguese construction sector. The goal is to alert planners to the importance of ―stopping the line‖ according to LC principles, thereby stopping the small problems and wastes from becoming bigger and costly in the future.

Keywords

Lean Construction, Waste, Material losses, Project control, Portugal

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Reference

Matias, J. & Cachadinha, N. 2010. Evaluating the Potential Benefits and Challenges of Lc Adoption in the Portuguese Construction Industry:a Survey Study, 18th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction , 285-295. doi.org/

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