CE7025 LEAN CONSTRUCTION CONCEPTS AND METHODS
| Course Code: | 5627025 |
| METU Credit (Theoretical-Laboratory hours/week): | 3 (3.00 - 0.00) |
| ECTS Credit: | 8.0 |
| Department: | Civil Engineering |
| Language of Instruction: | English |
| Level of Study: | Graduate |
| Course Coordinator: | Prof.Dr. RİFAT SÖNMEZ |
| Offered Semester: | Fall and Spring Semesters. |
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:
1. Define the Lean Principles used by Toyota, which are adoptable by any Lean Enterprise
2. Understand the origins of the Lean Project Delivery System and Lean Construction
3. Define the term “value” and explain how to identify value from each stakeholder’s perspective
4. Identify activities that add value and learn to eliminate activities that do not add value
5. Define the term “waste” and explain how to identify waste from each stakeholder’s perspective
6. Learn to eliminate waste from all processes
7. Apply the following Lean concepts to construction enterprises: flow, pull, leveled workload, problem-solving, standardization, visual control, and reliability
8. Identify and apply Lean tools that aid in implementing Lean concepts
9. Explain the Last Planner System, including the five phases of planning, constraints analysis, reliable promising, and progress measurement
10. Understand the close connection between continuous improvement concepts (such as Plan-Do- Check-Act) and Lean concepts
Course Content
The class will introduce the basics of lean production management. Especially about how they are applied to the AEC industry. Introduction to lean construction. Class topics include but not limited to: Lean construction concepts and methods, Lean concepts and tools, Lean project delivery system, Process modeling, Mapping and systems engineering, Key concepts include Plan-Do-Check-Act, continuous improvement, pull systems and pull planning, Kanban, 5S, standardization, and the choosing by advantages decision making system.
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- Analyze lean construction principles, tools, and techniques to identify value-adding and non-value-adding activities in construction projects.
- Apply lean project delivery methods, including pull planning, Kanban, 5S, standardization, and continuous improvement techniques, to optimize construction processes.
- Develop process models and workflow maps using lean concepts to improve efficiency, collaboration, and resource utilization in construction enterprises.
- Evaluate project performance using the Last Planner System, including constraint analysis, reliable promising, and progress measurement.
- Integrate lean thinking, systems engineering, and decision-making methods such as Choosing by Advantages (CBA) to support effective project planning and execution.
Program Outcomes Matrix
| Contribution | |||||
| # | Program Outcomes | No | Yes | ||
| 1 | Conducts research to investigate and solve advanced civil engineering problems using appropriate scientific methods and acquires the fundamental knowledge to evaluate the results. | ✔ | |||
| 2 | Reviews and synthesizes relevant literature to identify the current state of the art. | ✔ | |||
| 3 | Engages in lifelong learning and professional development, and gains familiarity with emerging practices. | ✔ | |||
| 4 | Formulates and solves complex civil engineering problems by selecting and applying appropriate tools and techniques. | ✔ | |||
| 5 | Communicates effectively in written and oral forms, particularly in conveying research processes and outcomes to diverse audiences. | ✔ | |||
| 6 | Upholds professional and ethical responsibility in research, with an awareness of global, societal, environmental, and scientific contexts. | ✔ | |||