Continuous Improvement
Teams regularly reflect on performance, learn from both successes and failures, and make adjustments to improve the system. Improvement is ongoing and embedded in everyday project work.
Focus on Flow
Work is planned and managed so that activities move smoothly from one team to the next without interruption. Reliable workflow improves productivity, reduces delays, and stabilises project delivery. Details: Focus on Flow | Lean Construction Institute
Remove Waste
Teams identify and eliminate activities that do not create value, such as waiting, rework, overproduction, and unnecessary handoffs. Reducing waste frees up time and resources for productive work.
Generate Value
Projects focus on delivering what truly matters to owners, users, and communities. Teams work to understand stakeholder needs and ensure the project delivers meaningful outcomes, not just completed tasks.
Respect People
Lean construction recognises that the knowledge and experience of the people doing the work are critical to project success. Teams collaborate openly, support one another, and create environments where everyone can contribute to improving outcomes.
Optimise the whole
A Lean principle: make decisions to improve overall project outcomes (cost, schedule, value, quality) rather than maximising performance of one discipline, package, or organisation.See also: Shared risk / shared reward, Business case, Cost to complete forecasting
Daily Huddles
Short, frequent coordination meetings (often daily) to surface blockers, confirm near-term commitments, and trigger rapid problem-solving.See also: LPS, Network of commitments, Daily check-in, Visual management, LCI Resources: Daily Huddle | Lean Construction Institute
A3 Thinking
A3 Thinking is a structured problem-solving method that uses a single A3 page to clearly define a problem, analyse root causes, develop countermeasures, and align a team around actions. It builds shared understanding, disciplined thinking, and continuous learning. Details: A3: Thinking, Reports & Templates | Lean Construction Institute
Choosing By Advantages
Make decisions easier, more transparent, objective, and effective, using the ‘Choosing By Advantages’ method. See: Choosing By Advantages (CBA) | Lean Construction Institute
Big Room
A structured collaboration environment (physical or virtual) where key disciplines plan, coordinate, solve constraints, and make decisions quickly — reducing latency and serial handoff waste.See also: Co-location, Relatedness, IPD, Visual management