Development of a BIM and LEAN construction process protocol for the construction industry in Kuwait: from a client perspective

Abstract

In Kuwait, there are substantial development plans for the construction industry; however,this is not without obstacles, as it suffers from problems and faces many challenges that haveled to poor performance in the industry. This research focuses on the public sector as a sectorthat could bring innovation to the government and support the aim Kuwait’s vision for 2035for the construction industry. Moreover, it could help to introduce advanced methods thatenable the digitisation of the industry. This study investigates the most common problemsfacing the Kuwaiti construction industry, identifies an appropriate solution to resolve theseissues, and thus, improve the industry.Lean Construction (LC) and Building Information Modelling (BIM) have demonstrated theireffectiveness in improving the construction industry in many countries around the world. LeanConstruction is a management philosophy to minimise waste and add value for the customer,whereas BIM is a process that manages information through the project lifecycle, fromplanning and designing through to project completion. Since there is a lack of awareness ofLean Construction and Building Information Modelling in Kuwait, it is essential to considerthese two resources when exploring ways to improve the efficiency of the constructionindustry.Mixed methods research is applied in this study, starting with a survey that explores thechallenges and examines the possible solutions applied in construction projects in Kuwait.Subsequently, two case studies are selected to obtain in-depth information on the challenges,project management practices, and adoption of advanced technologies, such as BIM and LeanConstruction, in construction projects in Kuwait.Delays, a lack of communication and coordination between stakeholders, poor planning andcontrol, and change in orders by the client have been noted as the main risks in the industry.Yet, public construction organisations can also adopt project management approaches thatare ineffective and need improvement. In addition, there is a lack of awareness of LeanConstruction, while BIM has been improperly implemented in the industry. In short, theconstruction industry in Kuwait needs to be developed and modernised to keep pace withother developing countries in terms of its performance and productivity.Therefore, this research will propose the development of a framework based on LeanConstruction principles and utilising Building Information Modelling to address the challengesidentified in the Kuwaiti construction industry and improve the industry’s performance andeffectiveness in terms of time, cost, and quality. The outcome of the study will help to buildknowledge for the implementation of BIM using the new International BIM Standard (ISO19650) with principles of Lean Construction in the construction industry