Development of Deployment Framework to Overcome the Challenges in Sustaining Lean Implementation in Construction Projects—A Company’s Multi-site Case Study

Implementing Lean in construction projects is challenging for many project teams, but sustaining them is even more challenging, as the projects involve more human dynamics (different stakeholders). This paper describes a company’s multi-site case study in understanding the challenges to sustaining Lean in its projects and developing a deployment model to overcome the same. A survey was conducted on eight projects, and a total of 22 practitioners (Lean Mentors, Champions, and Facilitators) from each project attended it and revealed the challenges and the critical success factors (CSF) to overcome the challenges in Lean sustainment. The findings show that lack of awareness and knowledge of Lean among the stakeholders, more implementation period, and lack of coordination between the participants of the projects are the primary areas the team should work on to sustain Lean Implementation. In addition, consistent top and mid-management support, training for project’s stakeholders, frequent meetings (daily and weekly) with project participants, technology-based approaches, and reward/incentive schemes were revealed as the CSF.