An application of lean construction techniques to MEP systems in Indian building construction projects

Lean construction' is becoming a very popular paradigm in the construction industry globally. This paper attempts to analyze whether lean concepts can be applied to Indian construction sites with particular emphasis on above-false-ceiling building services. 'Lean'techniques, such as, the dependency structure matrix (DSM) and value stream analysis (VSM) have been applied to represent and manage the complexities inherent in the design and execution of above false-ceiling building services. Data was collected from four construction projects. A component-based design interface matrix was developed for reducing repetitive component routing iterations in the creation of coordination drawings. In order to improve material and information flow in execution of above false ceiling building services, a value stream analysis was performed. This analysis showed that process re-engineering could lead to a 50% reduction in construction time. The results show that 'Lean' tools and techniques can greatly benefit Indian construction.