Barriers to Adopting Lean Construction in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises-The Case of Peru

The competitiveness in the construction industry is leading companies to implement the Lean philosophy to improve project management and prepare to begin the adoption of Construction 4.0. However, this implementation generates several barriers, depending on the type of company and the country where it is implemented. For this reason, the following research aims to identify the barriers generated in implementing the Lean philosophy in Peru and SMEs. The following study began with a literature review, followed by a questionnaire, which six Lean experts evaluated. Then, 127 Peruvian professionals answered the survey, and the data were analyzed with RII and Exploratory Factor Analysis. As a result, the barriers to Lean Construction were grouped into four groups to analyze their impact on the industry: collaboration, education and implementation, organizational vision and system; Lean theory and philosophy; and Lean tools, coordination, and information flow. Barriers were also analyzed by project type, stage, and organization size to conclude that implementation barriers are directly related to company size. Finally, the obtained barriers are discussed, and Construction 4.0 is proposed to reduce their impact on construction projects. These results can be helpful for implementers to plan strategies, improve knowledge about Lean Construction implementation, and adopt new techniques that could help improve the construction industry's productivity.

Automated summary

Fierce competition in the construction industry has led companies to implement Lean philosophy and prepare for Construction 4.0 adoption. However, implementation barriers vary depending on the company type and country. This study aimed to identify the barriers of implementing Lean philosophy in Peru and SMEs. Through literature review and questionnaire, the barriers were grouped into different categories and analyzed for their impact on the industry.