25th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction - Heraklion, Greece - 2017

https://doi.org/10.24928/2017/0052

Lean Opportunity Assessment of Contractor's Supply Chain in South Africa

Fidelis Emuze1, Tebatjo Masoga2 & Cornelius Sebetlele3

1Associate Professor and Head, Department of Built Environment, Central University of Technology, Free State, Private Bag X20539, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa Tel: (051) 507 3089 Fax: (051) 507 3254, E-mail: [email protected]
2B. Tech Graduate, Department of Built Environment, Central University of Technology, Free State, Private Bag X20539, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa Tel: (051) 507 3082 Fax: (051) 507 3254, E-mail: [email protected]
3B. Tech Graduate, Department of Built Environment, Central University of Technology, Free State, Private Bag X20539, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa Tel: (051) 507 3082 Fax: (051) 507 3254, E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Although lean construction is now widely known and practiced by contractors in the developed world, contractors in developing countries such as South Africa are either unaware of it or just beginning its implementation. However, the application of lean construction practices is reported to occur with a gap between training/teaching and the actual reality of a company. To bridge this gap, a lean opportunity assessment (LOA) is usually used as a start. This paper is about LOA that was conducted among five contractors in the Free State province of South Africa. The aim of the multiple case study research design was to perform the LOA so that areas in which lean practices are in need of enhancement can be established and motivated. The study adopted an LOA protocol from the “lean supply chain and logistics management” book by Paul Myerson and then conduct further interviews to obtain more views on the LOA variables. The variables include internal communication, visualisation and workplace organisation, operative flexibility, continuous improvement, mistake proofing, quick changeover, quality of inbound and outbound materials, supply chain, balanced flow of work, total productive maintenance (TPM), pulling tasks on site, and standardized work. The data suggest that the five contractors have to address weak continuous improvement, physical construction activities, mistake proofing, and performance measurement practices in their companies.

Keywords

Assessment, Contractors, Construction, Lean, Supply Chain

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Reference

Emuze, F. , Masoga, T. & Sebetlele, C. 2017. Lean Opportunity Assessment of Contractor's Supply Chain in South Africa, 25th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction , 789-796. doi.org/10.24928/2017/0052

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Founded in 1993, the IGLC is an international network of researchers from practice and academia in architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) who feel that the practice, education, and research of the AEC industry have to be radically renewed in order to respond to the global challenges ahead.

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