A LEAN APPROACH TO INDUSTRIALIZED AND MODULAR HOMEBUILDINTG: IDENTIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT OF WASTES IN MASS-HOUSING PROJECTS

摘要

Construction processes always encounter various wastes including unnecessary use of materials, rework, waiting time, etc. Lean production principles are considered an effective management tool since they focus on eliminating wastes and delivering value to the customers. However, processes of construction are quite different from those of production. Industrialized homebuilding bears a strong resemblance to production. Industrialized or modular homes are referred to as buildings consisting of sections which are manufactured in a factory and then transported to the project site and finally assembled. In this research three industrialized systems are examined namely, Lightweight Steel Frames, Insulating Concrete Forms and steel frames with Bolt and Nut connections. The purpose of this research is to identify, assess and rank different wastes in industrialized home building projects based on an opinion survey completed by experts who are involved in such projects in Iran. The wastes are identified, evaluated and prioritized throughout the project life cycle and finally some recommendations are presented in order to eliminate or at least decrease the identified wastes. The findings of this paper could be used by contractors and project managers concerned with mass housing projects to utilize a more effective management approach.