Additive Manufacturing as an Enabler of Lean Construction: A Systematic Literature Review

Additive manufacturing (AM) has been increasingly explored in the construction sector for its potential to improve productivity, reduce waste, and enable design flexibility; however, reported outcomes remain inconsistent, and the relationship between AM and Lean Construction (LC) principles is not yet clearly established. This study addresses this gap through an exploratory, theory-building systematic review of 12 peer-reviewed research articles published between 2021 and 2025, examining AM technologies applied in construction, their associated application contexts, Lean principles, performance indicators, and implementation barriers. A mixed quantitative and qualitative analysis was conducted, combining descriptive bibliometric mapping with thematic synthesis to answer three research questions related to AM applications, Lean impacts, and performance measurement. Given the emerging nature of AM–LC integration and the limited number of eligible studies, the review prioritizes conceptual synthesis over empirical generalization. The results suggest that AM contributes primarily to waste reduction, process efficiency, standardization, and built-in quality when integrated with complementary digital and automation technologies. Nevertheless, significant technical, economic, socio-organizational, and regulatory barriers persist, limiting scalability and performance consistency. Based on the synthesized evidence, the study proposes a conceptual framework that interprets AM adoption as a Lean-oriented production system, where barriers act as system-level constraints and enablers function as Lean improvement mechanisms. This study further conceptualizes AM implementation as a Kaikaku-driven transformation that requires Kaizen-based stabilization through established LC tools. These insights contribute to advancing theoretical understanding of AM–LC integration and guide more effective and systematic implementation in construction projects.