Lean and BIM implementation in Colombia; interactions and lessons learned

Abstract

Construction projects are afflicted by cost and time overruns, primarily due to inadequate information sharing among the project participants that causes productivity reductions in the Architectural, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. Therefore, by working on different areas of its value chain, it is possible to increase the construction process productivity. Building Information Modelling (BIM) emerged as a digital platform through which project teams can share and manage project information efficiently, and Lean construction practices address the issue of improving coordination within a project team, smoothing workflow in construction projects through features that reduce waste and increase value. The present research is an applied study that comprises the analysis of the integration of Lean practices and BIM through a real-life implementation in a residential project. This paper contributes to knowledge on BIM and Lean adoption by showing how lean practices reduce coordination-related issues within the project construction, and BIM adoption makes the benefits of Lean principles more visible. Additionally, the literature still lacks specific examples of simultaneous implementation of BIM and Lean for the first time in medium-sized construction companies. The purpose is to report the experiences, opportunities for improvement, and lessons learned from the implementation. Findings show that independent implementation only solves a part of the problem. However, simultaneous implementation exposed the team to more exceptional experiences and opportunities for improvement. © 27th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction, IGLC 2019. All rights reserved.