Study on the construction workforce management based on lean construction in the context of COVID-19

Journal article


Jiang, L., Zhong, H., Chen, J., Cheng, J., Chen, S., Gong, Z., Lun, Z., Zhang, J. and Su, Z. (2022). Study on the construction workforce management based on lean construction in the context of COVID-19. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management. 30 (8), pp. 3310-3329. https://doi.org/10.1108/ecam-10-2021-0948
AuthorsJiang, L., Zhong, H., Chen, J., Cheng, J., Chen, S., Gong, Z., Lun, Z., Zhang, J. and Su, Z.
Abstract

Purpose
The construction industry is facing challenges not only for workers' mobility in the pandemic situation but also for Lean Construction (LC) practise in responding to the high-quality development during the post-pandemic. As such, this paper presents a construction workforce management framework based on LC to manage both the emergency goal in migrant worker management and the long-term goal in labour productivity improvement in China.

Design/methodology/approach
The framework is created based on the integrated culture and technology strategies of LC. A combination of qualitative and quantitative methods is taken to explore factors influencing the mobility of construction workers and to measure labour productivity improvement. The case study approach is adopted to demonstrate the framework application.

Findings
For method application, a time-and-motion study and Percent Plan Complete indicator are proposed to offer labour productivity measurements of “resources efficiency” and “flow efficiency”. Moreover, the case study provides an industry level solution for construction workforce management and Lean Construction culture shaping, as well as witnesses the LC culture and technology strategies alignment contributing to LC practise innovation.

Originality/value
Compared with previous studies which emphasised solely LC techniques rather than socio-technical system thinking, the proposed integration framework as well as implementation of “Worker's Home” and “Lean Work Package” management models in the COVID-19 pandemic contribute to new extensions of both the fundamental of knowledge and practise in LC.

KeywordsLean construction; Workforce management; Covid-19
Year2022
JournalEngineering, Construction and Architectural Management
Journal citation30 (8), pp. 3310-3329
PublisherEmerald Publishing Limited
ISSN0969-9988
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1108/ecam-10-2021-0948
Web address (URL)https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/ECAM-10-2021-0948/full/html
Publication dates
Online14 Jul 2022
Publication process dates
Accepted29 May 2022
Deposited19 Aug 2024
Accepted author manuscript
License
File Access Level
Open
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