Have you ever felt that your work could yield more with less effort? Then, you need to know about the Lean Construction methodology.

This concept brings a new way of thinking and executing activities on the construction site, with a total focus on efficiency, productivity, and the creation of real value.

In this content, you will understand what this approach is and why it could be the missing differential for your management to truly evolve.

Continue reading to check the details:

• What is Lean Construction?

• What factors influenced the adoption of this methodology?

• 7 reasons to adopt Lean Construction

• FAQ: frequently asked questions about Lean Construction

• Lean Construction and Reality Capture: with Visi, you get closer to the principles of this concept

What is Lean Construction?

Lean Construction, also known as Lean Building, is a management philosophy adapted from the Toyota Production System to the reality of Civil Construction.

It was introduced in the sector in 1992 by Finnish researcher Lauri Koskela, with a clear objective: to do more with less.

According to the article “Application of Lean Construction Principles in Civil Construction”, the goal is to use smaller quantities of everything compared to mass production, such as the reduction of:

• Space;

• Investment;

• Workers;

• Planning time, etc.

In Lean Construction, production is viewed as a continuous flow that begins with raw materials and ends with the final product. It goes through various stages such as: transport, waiting, processing, and inspection.

But not everything in this process adds value. Activities such as unnecessary movements, idle time, and rework are seen as waste and should be eliminated whenever possible.

What factors influenced the adoption of this methodology?

The adoption of Lean Construction methodology in Civil Construction is growing in response to the constant need for improvements, especially in a highly competitive market, marked by fluctuations in material prices and reduced investments.

7 reasons to adopt Lean Construction

The main reasons for implementing Lean Construction methodology in your daily routine are: reducing waste, costs, and deadlines, increasing efficiency and productivity, improving quality, flexibility, transparency, control, and creating value. Below, see each of these items in detail:

1. Reducing waste

One of the central principles of the methodology is to cut waste and avoid costs that do not bring a return. This involves reducing variability in processes, which often generates interruptions, rework, and other activities that do not add value to the work.

2. Reducing costs and deadlines (Lead Time)

By optimizing wait time (Lead Time), you can make faster deliveries and reduce the financial cost of the work. Studies have shown that applying Lean Construction methodology considerably reduces wait time for materials and equipment.

- Also read: Physical-financial schedule for works: what it is and how to create one

3. Increasing efficiency and productivity

The Lean Construction methodology aims to improve production performance, bringing more productivity and fewer expenses.

For this, managing the flow of activities is essential as it directly impacts the efficiency of the work.

Recently, the application of Lean Construction on sites has advanced significantly, with the principle of simplification gaining prominence.

This shows that teams are managing to work in a more practical and efficient manner.

4. Improving quality and reducing rework

With streamlined processes, errors decrease and results appear. Reducing variability means having more standardized deliveries, according to what was planned, without surprises or waste.

Tools like Visi, our remote work management software through reality capture, offer comparisons between the BIM project and the real execution, helping to detect deviations before they incur costs.

- Also read: BIM BR Strategy: what it is and what its goals are

5. More flexibility in the process

The Lean Construction methodology seeks to make the work more flexible, meaning more prepared to handle changes without straining the budget.

This means, for example, being able to adapt the project or what will be delivered to the client without significantly increasing costs.

How is this possible? Through strategies such as:

• Reducing cycle time (executing stages faster);

• Having a versatile team capable of performing different tasks;

• Leaving project customization for stages closer to delivery, avoiding rework;

• Adopting more adaptable construction processes that allow changes without major impacts.

With this, the production system becomes more resilient and responds better to unforeseen events or changes in demand, which is very common in construction.

6. More transparency and control from end to end

The clearer and more visible what is happening at the work site, the easier it becomes to control progress and implement improvements.

Transparency, in this context, means that everyone, from field teams to management, can see what is being done, how, by whom, and at what stage.

When the process is transparent:

• It becomes easier to identify errors as they arise (and correct them quickly);

• Information is accessible, which avoids noise in communication;

• The team feels more engaged because they better understand what is happening and where they can help improve.

On the other hand, a lack of transparency can lead to repeated errors, delays, and demotivation, because no one clearly knows what is going right or wrong.

Visi can help 

Our construction management software increases transparency on the work site by centralizing all information in one place (including 360° images and videos from drones, with date and plan linked, creation of Daily Reports, etc.), making it easy to access and monitor in real time.

With this clear and organized view, the team quickly identifies problems, avoids repeated errors, and improves communication among those involved.

7. Focus on creating value

Real value occurs when all stages of production transform materials into a final product that meets the expectations and needs of these clients.

Focusing on this avoids waste on things that do not add value and ensures that the final result is useful and satisfactory for those who will use or receive the work.

FAQ: frequently asked questions about Lean Construction

Check below the main questions about the methodology:

What is Lean Construction?

Lean Construction, or Lean Building, is a management philosophy adapted from the Toyota Production System for Civil Construction. Its objective is to do more with less, reducing space, investment, planning time, and labor without losing quality.

What is Lean Construction used for?

The methodology is used to increase efficiency, productivity, and quality in construction, cutting waste and reducing costs and deadlines. It also brings more transparency and control over the process, prepares the team to handle changes, and maintains the focus on creating value for the end client.

What are the 4 pillars of Lean Construction?

The four pillars of Lean Construction are value stream, continuous flow, pull production, and zero defects that together guide efficient delivery without waste.

Which companies use Lean Construction?

Today, companies of different sizes and segments in Civil Construction adopt Lean Construction, from builders and developers to companies specialized in construction management. In Brazil, for example, MRV Engenharia and Tecnisa have already applied Lean Construction principles to optimize processes, reduce costs, and deliver faster and more consistent results.

Lean Construction and Reality Capture: with Visi, you get closer to the principles of this concept

With Visi, you eliminate waste on the site, standardize processes, automate reports, and monitor the work with 360° images. All in real time, with data that helps you make quicker and more accurate decisions.

Schedule a free demonstration and see in practice how Visi can help you do more with less.