Lean Construction: Where Are We and How To Proceed?

Abstract

This paper is written in the light of the papers for the 12th annual conference in the International Group for Lean Construction. It tries to establish a brief overview of the development over the past twelve years and to establish the state of the art. From this its primary objective is to open a discussion of the future effort within the Lean Construction environment. The paper proposes that a change in the underlying paradigm is happening and that a new research agenda should be established with an outset in the lean understanding of the construction process as it is known from the construction sites and with a complex systems understanding of the nature of this process. Elements in this agenda are outlined and areas for research identified within the areas of maximizing value for the client, minimizing waste in delivering this value, and managing the project delivery.