The book presents a mixed research method adopted to assess and present
the Toyota Way practices within construction firms in general and for
firms in China specifically. The results of an extensive structured
questionnaire survey based on the Toyota Way-styled attributes
identified were developed and data collected from building professionals
working in construction firms is presented. The quantitative data
presented in the book explains the status quo of the Toyota Way-styled
practices implemented in the construction industry, as well as the
extent to which these attributes were perceived for lean construction
management. The book highlights all the actionable attributes derived
from the Toyota Way model appreciated by the building professionals, but
alerts the readers that some attributes felled short of implementation.
Further findings from in-depth interviews and case studies are also
presented in the book to provide to readers an understanding how these
Toyota Way practices can be implemented in real-life projects.
Collectively, all the empirical findings presented in this book can
serve to enhance understanding of Toyota Way practices in the lean
construction management context. The readers are then guided through to
understand the gaps between actual practice and Toyota Way-styled
practices, and the measures that they may undertake to circumvent the
challenges for implementation. The book also presents to readers the
SWOT analysis that addresses the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities
and threats towards the implementation of the Toyota Way in the
construction industry. The book prescribes the Toyota Way model for use
in construction firms to strategically implement lean construction
management. The checklist presented in the book enables readers to draw
lessons that may be used additionally as a holistic assessment tool for
measuring the maturity of firms with respect to their Toyota Way
implementation. Consequent to this, management would then be in a better
position to develop plans for Toyota Way implementation by focusing on
weak areas, strengthening them, and thus increasing the likelihood of
success in the implementation of the Toyota Way. In a nutshell, this
book provides a comprehensive and valuable resource for firms not only
in the construction industry but also businesses outside of the
construction sector to better understand the Toyota Way and how this
understanding can translate to implementation of lean
construction/business management to enhance profitability and
survivability in an increasingly competitive global market place.
