Field tests of the KanBIM™ lean production management system

The KanBIM™ system is designed to support lean work flow control on construction sites. It facilitates short-term work planning and monitoring, providing clear visualization of the maturity of tasks planned and the status of work under way. The goal of the KanBIM research is to determine whether a BIM based workflow information system can help construction personnel implement lean pull flow strategies. An early prototype of system, with field reporting interfaces, a central database and a building information model, was implemented and tested on a large residential construction site. Although PPC and other results were measured, the main significance of the results lie in the site personnel's positive experience with the system and their observations of the ways in which it could influence the behaviour and productivity of crews. These included recognition of the strong impact the system had in encouraging well-informed discussion and negotiation between crews concerning coordination of their work. The participants identified specific benefits a full implementation could bring to subcontractor trade managers, superintendents and various project management functions.