Lean Thinking: Practice at the Pre-contract Phase of Building Construction Projects in Ghana

by E. Zoya Kpamma

It is an increasing desire of clients, consultants, contractors and other stakeholders in the construction industry to maximise value and minimise waste in the construction project delivery process.The lean thinking philosophy which seeks to maximise value but minimise waste in the project delivery process has therefore become topical. This book is the outcome of a research carried out to establish the possibility of applying lean thinking in the construction industry of a developing country in Africa, Ghana. The book is divided into five chapters. Chapter one contains a background discussion of the work. Chapter two contains a review of various theoretical opinions on the concept of lean thinking. The procedure for data collection and analysis is outlined in chapter three. A discussion of the findings of the study is contained in the fourth chapter. The last chapter contains a summary of the findings, conclusion and recommendations. The content of this book should provide an insight into the lean thinking concept in the construction industry, and should particularly be useful to students, researchers and practitioners of architecture, construction management and engineering.

72 pages, Paperback

First published May 28, 2010

About the author

Zoya is a practising Architect and a Lecturer at the Building Technology Department, Sunyani Polytechnic, Sunyani, Ghana. He holds an MSc (Construction management) from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi. He worked on "The Practice of Lean Thinking at the Pre-contract Stage of Building Construction Projects in Ghana" for his MSc thesis. He had earlier on obtained a BSc (Architecture) and PGDip (Architecture) in 2001 and 2003 respectively, also from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi.

His teaching and research experience at the Sunyani Polytechnic started from 2004 to date. He contributed immensely to the preparation of the curriculum and mounting of the B-Tech (Building Technology) at the Sunyani Polytechnic. Zoya has also attended a number of seminars and training programmes including a "teaching and learning in higher education" training programme at the Technical University of Einhoven, The Netherlands in 2006.

His experience as an architect in professional practice spans 2003 to date. He worked as an architect (on part-time) for the Architectural and Engineering Services Ltd. (AESL), Sunyani (2003-2007), where he designed and supervised the construction of a number of public sector projects like schools, libraries, hostels, offices and houses. He currently provides private consultancy services for a number of private sector companies and individuals.

He is a member of the Ghana Institute of Architects (AGIA).