Challenges to the Implementation of Lean Construction Practices in the South African Construction Industry

Lean Construction (LC) aims at concentrating on improvement, reduction of waste, money value, focus of user, project quality management, supply management and improved communications. LC helps in reducing waste of materials, effort and time which, therefore, generates maximum possible value and provides a cohesive supply chain that reduces lead time. The Construction Industry performance is affected by waste. Such wastes are measured in materials, resources, time, movement, production and creativity. Hence, this study identifies the challenges of implementing LC practices in the South African Construction Industry (SACI). Data used for this paper were collected using well-structured questionnaire distributed to professionals within the SACI ranging from Quantity Surveyors, Architects, Civil Engineers, Project Manager, Construction Manager and Construction Project Manager. Findings emanating from the study revealed that poor work culture among project partners ranked highest followed by lack of good policies, complexity of lean construction process, poor organisation knowledge among others as the challenges facing the implementation of lean management in the SACI. It was concluded that the main significant aspect that lean construction evolves around is attitude, this, therefore, requires construction industry participants to have a complete attitude shift and practice lean construction on their everyday tasks.