Value Stream Mapping as a Lean Tool for Construction Projects

Abstract

Based on lean thinking which developed from the Toyota industry, seek to wastes elimination, increase the value added to the product from customer point of view and reduce lead time are the main contributes in manufacturing industrial environment. Some adaptations have been applied in construction industry by using a Value Stream Mapping as a lean construction tool. VSM was adapted to reduce the high percentage of non-value-added activities and time wastes during each construction stage. Moreover, a cost estimation model was developed during current state and future state to calculate the cost of underground pipeline construction. Therefore, this paper aims to propose improvements in the construction industry process using Value Stream Mapping. Therefore, the research methodology adopted was the illustrative case study. The results suggest that the construction of underground pipelines process lead time could be potentially reduced by 30.7 % and cost reduction of 20.8 % between current and future states. 