The practical relationships between lean construction tools and sustainable development: A literature review

Abstract

The construction industry is considered among the largest consumers of natural resources (non-renewable materials, fossil fuels, water...). It is also an important source of generation of solid waste and greenhouse gas emissions. In addition to its negative impacts on the environment, most construction projects are characterized by the non-respect of the triptych (Cost, Time, Quality) and a high accident rate compared to other sectors. Lean construction (LC) is a new production philosophy which has the potential of bringing innovative improvements in the construction sector. It is a systemic approach to meeting customer expectations by maximizing added value and reducing all forms of waste. Based on international standards (AFNOR, GRI, UNEP, ISO 26000...) and recent researches published in the most reliable databases, this study aims at exploring the concept of sustainable development in the context of the construction industry and examines how the LC tools (Prefabrication, Value Stream Mapping, Poka-Yoke, visual Management, and 5S) can have an impact on the three dimensions of sustainable development (environment, economy, society). This work brings a new reflection by constructing an interaction matrix between the Lean Construction tools and sustainable development.