Coordinators
- Professor Patricia Tzortzopoulos (CIB Board Link) – Nottingham Trent University, UK
- Asso Professor Saeed Talebi (Leading Coordinator) – Birmingham City University, UK
- Asso Professor Mani Poshdar (Leading Coordinator) – Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand
- Professor Vicente Gonzales (Co-Coordinator) – University of Alberta, Canada
- Professor Zofia Rybkowski (Co-Coordinator) – Texas A&M University, USA
- Asso Professor Frode Drevland (Co-Coordinator) – NTNU, Norway
Background information
The Task Group TG128 on Lean Construction will serve as a focused yet integrative forum closely aligned with the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC) to consolidate, advance, and disseminate knowledge about Lean Construction theory and practice. Building on IGLC’s longstanding commitment to developing theory for Lean production management in construction, the group will connect Lean principles with broader built-environment research domains and policy agendas. Its work will emphasise the integration of Lean thinking with innovation, systems design, resilience, social value, and the transition toward human-centred built environments.
The Task Group will maintain the open, collegial, and reflective spirit of the IGLC community while extending this work through CIB’s global research network. It will strengthen the dialogue between Lean Construction and adjacent fields such as sustainability, digitalisation, and systems integration, ensuring that Lean knowledge is embedded within the wider international built-environment research landscape.
Objectives and Scope of Work
Objectives
- To foster inclusive global collaboration that amplifies Lean research by further connecting it with broader research agendas, promoting dialogue, integration, and shared learning across sustainability, digitalisation, and human-centred transformation.
- Synthesise international practice and evidence, analysing how Lean has been interpreted and adapted in diverse economic, cultural, and technological contexts.
- Foster reflective and collaborative practice through dialogues, case studies, and co-learning forums involving academia, industry, and policy.
- Support capacity building by engaging students and early-career researchers through mentoring, authorship, and leadership opportunities.
- Contribute to both IGLC and CIB outputs, reinforcing Lean Construction’s theoretical foundations while expanding its reach across CIB’s global network.
Scope
The group will operate at the intersection of research, theory, and practice, generating outputs that both deepen conceptual understanding and inform real-world transformation. It will maintain the open, collegial, and reflective spirit of the IGLC community while strengthening Lean Construction’s international position.
Planned Output
- 2026: Launch of TG128; commence regional workshops (UK and New Zealand); deliver webinars; publish a Whitepaper — Research Roadmap on Lean Construction: A Way Forward (CIB)
- 2027: Continue workshop and webinar programmes; publish a Special Issue on Lean Construction in a CIB-encouraged journal
- 2028: Complete workshop and webinar programmes; participate in CIB World Building Congress (China, May); publish a Literature Review — Future Directions in Lean Construction
Core Members
- Thais Alves
- Ehsan Asnaashari
- Glenn Ballard
- Emmanuel Daniel
- Emmanuel Manu
- Iris Denise Tommelein