Prospects and Challenges of Lean Construction Practice in The Building Industry in Nigeria: Architects’ Perspective
A. B. Sholanke1, S. J. Chen2, A. A. Newo3, C. B. Nwabufo4
1Anthony, B. Sholanke. Department of Architecture, College of Science and Technology, Covenant University Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria.
2Sonter, J. Chen. Department of Architecture, College of Science and Technology, Covenant University Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria.
3Ayomide, A. Newo. Department of Architecture, College of Science and Technology, Covenant University Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria.
4Chukwudubem, B. Nwabufo. Department of Architecture, College of Science and Technology, Covenant University Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria.
Manuscript received on 02 June 2019 | Revised Manuscript received on 10 June 2019 | Manuscript published on 30 June 2019 | PP: 667-673 | Volume-8 Issue-8, June 2019 | Retrieval Number: H6776068819/19©BEIESP
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© The Authors. Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: Lean construction is a new practice of designing and managing building projects to reduce project time and manage resources to eliminate waste, thereby giving the client maximum value for money spent. Globally, the implementation of lean construction has been on the rise as a result of waste and it is being strongly advocated for by building professionals. Some studies have identified some prospects and challenges of its adoption. However, the findings of such studies usually emanated from the researchers’ evaluation of the lean construction practice and not based on the perception of practicing professionals of the building industry, particularly in Nigeria. Consequently, this study examined the principles and techniques of lean practice in literature and investigated the perception of practicing registered architects in Nigeria on the possibilities and constraints of implementing lean construction techniques in the building industry in the country. This was done in order to identify the unquestioned challenges and harness the potentials of implementing its principles and strategies, towards making contributions on how to achieve better building project delivery in Nigeria. Both qualitative and quantitative methods of research were adopted for the study. Qualitative data were gathered from relevant literature by textual analysis and analysed using content analysis procedure. Quantitative data were obtained via questionnaire administered to a sample size of 270 registered practicing architects in the study area. The quantitative data were analysed with statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 21 and the result presented descriptively with the aid of charts and tables. The findings revealed that 89% of the respondents are well informed of the lean construction techniques. Last planner technique has the highest adoption rate with 33%. The challenges of its implementation revolve around corruption, funding, remuneration, poor leadership and fear of unfamiliar practices. However, its prospects are very high, based on the responses of the respondents. Among the recommendations of the study is that periodic training programmes should be organised by professional bodies to equip professionals on the technical skills and benefits lean construction practice offers towards achieving better building project delivery.
Keyword: Lean Construction, Prospects, Challenges, Architects Perspective and Nigeria.
Scope of the Article: Building and Environmental Acoustics.