A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT BASED ON LAST PLANNER SYSTEM AND ITS IMPLEMENTION IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

S M Abdul Mannan Hussain, T.Seshadri Sekhar, Asra Fatima

Abstract: Lean Construction Management is a Continous Improvement System that has been around in the construction business since 1993 (Koskela, Theory-based 33), but initial resistance seems to have prevented companies from introducing the system. This research was performed so that Lean or other Continous Improvement Systems can be implemented in a more effective and smooth way so that future implementing companies and people can learn from past mistakes and successes.The Last Planner System is a product planning system with the purpose to produce a better flow of planning, production, and continuous improvement. Existing resistance of Lean Construction Management mainly originated from subcontractors and foremen who did the actual field work. Therefore, the greatest challenge to overcome is to understand their needs and wants. Consistent themes to overcome resistance were; having a worker in a leader position that knows the system well and is passionate about the implementation of it, using the Last Planner System as a first gradual step into becoming Lean mostly because of its benefits in improved collaboration, investing in conceptual training for foremen, and hiring people who know and care about what they are doing. The conclusion is that the implementation of Lean will create resistance, but by simply engaging foremen in the field the implementation will be successful.

Keywords: Continous Improvement System, Construction Management, Last Planner System, Master schedule, Lookahead schedule,Percent planned complete, Make work ready planning

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15623/ijret.2015.0413004