Alliance Models and Lean Construction in Construction Projects

Abstract

Construction projects suffer from many pitfalls such as low productivity, cost overruns, delays, disputes. These issues mostly come as a result of the complexity of the project. As a result, productivity improvement initiatives have triggered a spike in interest due to the industry's importance and uniqueness. A successful construction project demands an innovative project delivery method that improves efficiency in work environments. Project alliancing has evolved as an innovative project delivery method in the construction sector throughout many countries. Additionally, construction projects have also adopted lean philosophy to improve productivity in the workplace. This thesis aims to analyze the correspondence between project alliancing and lean construction principles.

This study clarifies different practices of contractual agreements in the construction industry. Further, the study explains the concept of alliancing as a project delivery method and the impacts of lean principles in the construction industry. In order to analyse the current practice of alliancing, a web-based questionnaire is conducted. In addition, two case studies are included to examine the integration of alliancing and lean techniques in construction projects.

Based on the literature review, this research indicates that the concept of alliancing correlates with lean principles, specifically on organizational and commercial levels. Findings from the questionnaire show that the alliancing requires improvement in the workplace. In addition to that, the case studies outcomes reveal that a project could deliver significant results by linking alliancing with lean tools and techniques.

Keywords: Project Alliance, Lean Construction, Project Delivery Method, Construction Industry, Contractual Agreements