TY - CONF TI - Lean Construction Theory and Practice: An Irish Perspective C1 - Perth, Australia C3 - 23rd Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction SP - 496 EP - 506 PY - 2015 AU - Ebbs, Paul J. AU - Sexton, Paul AU - Greensmith, Dominic G. AU - Clare, Brian G. AU - Gibson, Vincent AU - Turner, Raymond AD - Lean Consultant, Umstot Project and Facility Solutions LLC, & The ReAlignment Group of California LLC, San Diego, United States, +1 619 322 3060, paul.ebbs@umstotsolutions.com AD - Managing Director, SCEG Ltd, Skerries, Co Dublin, Ireland, +353 87 202 8150, psexton@sceg.ie AD - Senior Project Manager, Intel Ireland, Leixlip, Co. Kildare, dominic.g.greensmith@intel.com AD - Lecturer, Researcher and Lecturer, Construction Innovation Lab, Dublin Institute of Technology, Bolton Street, Dublin 1, Ireland, +353 87 378 9135, briangclare@gmail.com AD - Lecturer, Researcher and Lecturer, Construction Innovation Lab, Dublin Institute of Technology, Bolton Street, Dublin 1, Ireland, +353 87 233 9360, vgmphil@gmail.com AD - Lecturer, Researcher and Lecturer, Construction Innovation Lab, Dublin Institute of Technology, Bolton Street, Dublin 1, Ireland, +353 85 864 1832, raymondturner@eircom.net ED - Seppänen, Olli ED - González, Vicente A. ED - Arroyo, Paz AB - Ireland is emerging from a deep recession following a 75% reduction in Architectural, Engineering & Construction (AEC) output, causing reduced demand, employee redundancies, workforce emigration and company closures. This paper proposes Lean Construction (LC) as an antidote. However, LC theory is not widely taught in Irish universities and field research and case studies are very limited – sector research is 0.002% of industry research expenditure. LC is in its early stages in Ireland and is gaining momentum thanks to the Lean Construction Institute Ireland (LCII) Community of Practice (CoP). This paper looks at professionals understanding of lean and LC and compares LC theory with current practice. Research was gathered through a literature review, three surveys (n=48; n=42; n=116), three focus groups (n=22) and eight interviews (six expert) and was analysed through NVivo Computer Aided Qualitative Data Analysis Software (CAQDAS). The main findings show that LC theory does not compare strongly to practice. However, lean tools in large companies (200+ employees) appear widespread. While LC is far from commonplace, practitioners are focused on “wins” and “proof” rather than the management philosophy that is LC. Future education, training and increased research will show a different perspective – practice relating more strongly to theory. KW - Lean KW - lean construction KW - theory KW - Community of Practice KW - thematic analysis PB - T2 - 23rd Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction DA - 2015/07/29 CY - Perth, Australia L1 - http://iglc.net/Papers/Details/1206/pdf L2 - http://iglc.net/Papers/Details/1206 N1 - Export Date: 23 April 2024 DB - IGLC.net DP - IGLC LA - English ER -