Enhancing infrastructure project delivery through lean construction: opportunities, challenges and implementation strategies

Purpose Over the past two decades, the construction sector has experienced a surge in projects fueled by substantial government investment in infrastructure. However, amid this growth, the industry grapples with persistent challenges. Meeting project deadlines and budgets remains a struggle, impacting the industry’s credibility. Therefore, this research intends to investigate the idea of lean construction in the construction sector and look at the obstacles facing the construction industry in implementing lean construction strategies. Design/methodology/approach The insights presented here result from content analysis performed on 206 articles, while the metadata analysis is based on 891 publications. Findings This study highlights numerous important characteristics that influence an organization’s capacity to accomplish lean construction using a systematic literature review approach. Research limitations/implications For forthcoming research seeking validation, utilizing a mixed-method approach could prove advantageous. Yet, it is crucial to recognize the constraints of the present study, primarily centered on the scope of the literature review. Practical implications This assessment will enhance comprehension of the lean construction concept, potentially encouraging the adopting of lean construction practices. Moreover, it could provide insights into effectively applying these methods in practice. Originality/value The literature review highlights the necessity for organizations to identify and address potential challenges they might encounter in implementing lean construction. An essential step in overcoming these obstacles involves exploring the concept of lean construction within the sector and assessing the hurdles constraining the implementation of lean construction strategies in the construction industry.