Reducing Over-processing Construction Waste by Using Lean Construction Tools in The Malaysian Construction Industry

Abstract

Abstract The construction industry is one of the most important industries for social and economic growth, as well as a source of wealth. Unfortunately, the construction industry has considerable costs, time, and quality issues, necessitating being resolved. This problem also happened in the Malaysian construction industry, mostly to meet the demands of infrastructure projects. Furthermore, over-processing refers to extra work done during the construction process that increases the likelihood of a project failing. This over-processing is caused by the consultant teams’ slow response time when a problem develops, as well as the site’s poor management system implementation. Lean construction (LC) is the alternative in resolving this non- physical construction wastes. LC is a constant enhancement to the construction processes in sustaining the organisation’s growth and profitability. This research aims to develop an LC tools framework that beneficial to future LC practitioners. This paper seeks to identify the most generated over-processing construction waste and the most LC tools to reduce over-processing construction waste on the site. This research uses a quantitative method approach, and the questionnaire survey has been sent to 310 G7 contractors registered with the Construction Industry Development Board Malaysia (CIDB) in Malaysia. A total of 116 questionnaires were returned, with a response rate of 37.4%. The findings revealed that the long approval process was the source of the majority of the site’s over-processing construction waste. Hence, management contracts, standard forms, total quality management, concurrent engineering and teamwork were the five most implemented LC tools by the LC practitioners in reducing over-processing waste. It is hoped that the outcomes of this research, able to help the LC practitioners deliver their projects. Thus, it would develop the future’s construction productivity towards a better quality of life.