MEP systems are complex system representing a considerable portion of commercial and industrial projects, comprising 25%-40% of the total project cost and covering more than 50% of the total duration of the project. The layout design of MEP system is generally based on client and system requirements, space limitations, interference within the system as well...

Construction projects around the world currently use the Last planner system (LPS) with different approaches. In this paper, we compare the Indian and Norwegian industry because of their contrasting cultural settings, in order to gather experiences and formulate possible improvements to their LPS approaches. A general literature study regarding LPS and its components was carried...

Lean construction (LC) is a production system with the potential to deliver exceptional performance within any organisation. LC is possible solution to the many problems faced by construction Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). However, Construction SMEs lack the needed resources which constraint their lean implementation efforts. A conceptual framework for capability and capacity building of...

Buffers in the form of extra capacity, time, or inventory can help stabilizing construction workflow. From a lean construction perspective, however, buffers are recognized as waste. It presents a dichotomy in the use of buffers that calls for the establishment of a balance between the theoretical goals and the practical norms. This paper presents a...

The descriptive approaches, like case study, interview, survey, observation and document analysis, widely used by the lean construction community to investigate managerial problems in the construction industry, typically provide explanations of problems and not solutions to them, leaving a gap between theory and practice. Two prescriptive approaches-design science research and action research-are therefore recommended.