Lean Construction in Germany – Empirical Findings on the Current State of Practice

In recent years, Lean Construction has gained notable popularity in Germany and is now used by companies in all areas along the supply chain in the construction industry. This study provides an overview of the current state of Lean Construction practice in Germany. Using a three-phase approach, 451 companies that use Lean Construction were first identified through a comprehensive industry analysis. Subsequently, 15 interviews with experienced practitioners were conducted to understand the common Lean Construction practices and their perceptions of the industry. The insights derived informed a survey, which was sent to the identified companies. A total of 97 participated. Findings reveal that Lean Construction is still predominantly applied during the execution phase, although an increasing number of companies are gaining experience in the planning phase. However, the adoption remains limited across the industry, with only a few companies achieving high maturity while most use Lean Construction on a small scale. Primary barriers to company-wide integration include a lack of expertise and the substantial time commitment required. Thus, success depends on the “right” application, which, when achieved, generally leads to positive project outcomes.