A Proposed Framework for Integrating LCI’s Learning Resources to Support Lean Education in Accreditated Design and Construction Programs

Lean is practiced by the design and construction industry for two decades, but it is not a part of the mainstream curriculum in US-based universities. This is the first gap. The Lean practitioner community affiliated with the Lean Construction Institute (LCI) produces many resources each year that can be used for Lean education and training. However, academia is not always aware of the resources produced by the LCI’s practitioner community. This is the second gap. In this study, both gaps are addressed while fulfilling each other. This study identified potential integration points for Lean in the design and construction programs by providing examples of mapping between existing LCI’s learning resources to their respective student learning outcomes (SLOs) and curriculum guidelines. By looking into different accreditations such as ACCE, ABET, and NCARB, we found that Lean can be integrated with design and construction curriculums in three ways. One addresses project-related Lean implementation areas; two addresses specific Lean Construction systems or methods; and three addresses Lean Construction courses. Selection of the most suitable approach will depend on the program at the US universities and how their classes are designed or structured towards graduation, both at the graduate and undergraduate levels.