Just in time in construction: Description and implementation insights

Abstract

The construction industry has long been plagued with productivity and waste management issues on construction sites, unmet deadlines, and client dissatisfaction over the quality of the construction delivered. Having greatly aided the manufacturing industry, this paper investigates how the JIT philosophy could help with these difficulties. The paper illustrates four scenarios of JIT implementation in construction according to the level of coordination required, on-site management, and information sharing. The methodology which consists of a systematic literature review on JIT in construction confirms the need to adapt this philosophy for an adequate deployment in this industry. It also confirms the close ties between JIT, lean construction, and prefabrication for successful construction project management.