Adaptability of lean concept to reduce plumbing waste in high-rise building construction in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The waste generation due to the plumbing work substantially influences the total waste. Waste management is one of the most critical processes to achieve effective and productive construction projects successfully. Lean is a philosophy that is adopted in several sectors to mitigate waste. Thus, this paper intends to identify the adaptability of lean concepts to reduce plumbing waste in high-rise building construction in Sri Lanka. Data collection was done through two Delphi round interviews. The collected data were analysed using manual content analysis. As a result, comprising a total of twenty-seven barriers were identified under five sets of barrier groups for implementing lean concept to reduce plumbing waste in high-rise building construction in Sri Lanka. The strategies to successfully overcome each challenge and barrier were identified. Conducting CPD programmes, training programmes, showing the benefits of lean implementation and providing knowledge about lean through universities and other higher education institutes are the most common strategies to overcome the barriers to lean application. This study paves the path to lean professionals to align their strategy with lean practices by understanding and identifying the major obstacles.