THE LEAN CONSTRUCTION INSTITUTE (LCI) http://www.leanconstruction.org/ LCI is a non-profit research organization, was founded in August 1997. LCI's purpose is to develop and disseminate new knowledge regarding the management of work in design, engineering and construction for capital facilities. LCI has developed the Lean Project Delivery System© (LPDS), and the Last Planner® System of production control. Lean Construction is a production management-based approach to project delivery - a new way to design and build capital facilities. Lean production management has caused a revolution in manufacturing design, supply and assembly. Applied to construction, Lean changes the way work is done throughout the delivery process. Lean Construction extends from the objectives of a lean production system - maximize value and minimize waste - to specific techniques and applies them in a new project delivery process extending from project definition through design, supply and assembly.

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Academic Forum Mission

The Academic Forum’s mission is to increase lean construction research and teaching activities in institutions of higher education. The forum will serve and advocate the discovery and exchange of knowledge concerning the theory, principles, and methods of lean construction systems in order to further and encourage lean construction education and training for professionals entering the architectural/engineering/construction industry (AEC).

The Academic Forum advocates systematic use of lean construction principles to deliver value to owners through simultaneous design of product and process, reliance on conformance-based versus deviation-based cost and time control methods, and optimization of construction performance at the project-level to achieve rapid, reliable, competitively superior, and time-certain completion of projects.

The Academic Forum will be the venue of choice for academics to learn about the Lean Construction Institute’s research and implementation efforts and for sharing lean construction pedagogical ideas. Academic Forum Strategic Priorities Achieving the goals and mission of the Academic Forum will involve the following: - Holding seminars, workshops, and symposia to promote lean construction integration in undergraduate and graduate curricula in architecture, civil engineering, and construction management programs.

- Soliciting involvement from public funding agencies in conducting research and educational programs

- Providing a forum for students pursing masters or PhD degrees in Lean Construction to report, discuss and exchange ideas and experiences regarding their ongoing research.

- Rewarding high achievement in research and teaching through an appropriate program of recognition.