Niveau : Ph.D.

A proposed framework for integrating Lean Construction with Digital Twins

Abstract

Over the years, AEC industry stakeholders have developed strategies to address the low productivity issue in construction. These efforts have been focused in two main directions or approaches – the technological and the managerial-. To the date, the Digital Twin (DT) concept and the Lean Construction (LC) theory represents each one, the most promising methods from each one of those two approaches. Despite advances in implementing those strategies, productivity in construction remains to be below those of other industrial sectors. To booster productivity, some authors propose create synergies between these two approaches in which DT acts as technological support to the implementation of LC methods which guides construction management functions. However, to the date these propositions remains in abstracts concepts and conceptual models, therefore this research work proposes a framework to promote a more practical integration of DT and LC from a maturity or performance perspective. This reasearch work uses Design Science Research (DSR) methodology to develop a framework allowing the practical integration of the DT concept with the LC theory from a maturity perspective.

Résultats du projet

This research aims to address the lack of structured approaches for operationalizing the integration of Digital Twins (DTs) and Lean Construction (LC) in construction projects. Existing DT applications that support construction management functions or LC implementation are often developed using ad hoc technological architectures, without explicitly aligning or balancing digital capabilities with Lean Construction requirements. The absence of an artifact that conceptualizes this integration in a balanced manner may lead to overinvestment or underutilization of digital solutions, increasing uncertainty regarding the benefits of DTs, limiting scalability, and hindering the strategic alignment between technological and managerial objectives. As a result, the practical deployment of DT–LC initiatives remains fragmented across both academic research and industry practice.

Contributions du projet

On the one hand, this research contributes to academic literature by developing a conceptual framework that explicitly links Digital Twin capabilities to the progression of Lean Construction maturity. The research introduces a maturity-based integration model that aligns the progression of Lean Construction implementation with the evolution of Digital Twin technological capabilities. This model contributes to the theoretical understanding of how managerial practices and digital technologies co-evolve in construction project management. On the other hand, the proposed framework provides construction practitioners with a structured roadmap for implementing Digital Twin technologies in alignment with Lean Construction objectives. This roadmap supports organizations in progressively integrating digital tools while maintaining coherence with Lean management practices. By clarifying the relationship between digital capabilities and Lean management requirements, the framework can help organizations avoid overinvestment in digital technologies or underutilization of existing systems. This alignment supports more efficient and strategically guided digital transformation in construction projects.

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