Enhancing Cost Reliability in Construction: the Synergistic Impact of BIM and Lean Principles

Effective cost management is critical in construction projects, where budget variability often threatens cost reliability and financial performance. Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Lean Construction Principles (LCP) offer complementary approaches to enhance decision-making, optimize resource allocation, and mitigate financial risks. Despite their proven potential, the integration of BIM and LCP remains underutilized, limiting their impact on cost predictability and reliability. Existing research highlights the synergies between BIM and LCP for reducing variability and waste; however, applications in real-world projects often lack comprehensive probabilistic analysis. This paper explores the impact of BIM-LCP integration on cost management and cost reliability using advanced probabilistic methods—Monte Carlo, Importance Sampling, and Latin Hypercube. These techniques provide robust insights into the effects of variability, process standardization, and waste reduction on cost outcomes. Findings underscore the importance of standardizing processes, coordinating disciplines, and minimizing waste to achieve cost reliability. This study offers actionable strategies for construction professionals to enhance financial predictability, optimize contract management, and reduce risks across project lifecycles, aligning with industry demands for improved cost management practices.