DEVELOPING A LEAN CULTURE INDEX IN CONSTRUCTION

Abstract

Metrics and indices have become commonly available for construction planners in general, and Lean practitioners in particular, to evaluate and control their projects' performance. Amidst the ample availability of such measures, the fight against specious Lean implementation in different construction firms has been the concern of many researchers. In order to address this issue, and in an attempt to provide practitioners with new methods to assess the Lean culture, this research develops a Lean Culture Index that can be used to measure Lean culture and the readiness of an organization to apply Lean. It presents a comprehensive model to assess Lean culture, and it can be used as a basis for future models of Lean implementation. It also provides practitioners with a diagnostic tool that measures where areas need further improvement. The paper utilizes a thorough literature review to identify features of Lean culture. Then, a survey is conducted to assess the derived features. Analysis of the data revealed that although surveyed construction companies showed some relation to Lean culture such as flexibility and consistency, there is still room for improvement in areas such as training and human focus. The study is capped with recommendations and conclusions.