BIM as an Enabler of Lean Construction in the Public Sector

Several governments are mandating Building Information Modeling (BIM) for public construction worldwide. While this top-down approach can be effective in some contexts, the lack of a lean construction perspective within BIM project delivery might hinder the expected outcomes. This paper aims to unpack the interplay between lean principles and BIM adoption that support formal and informal lean construction implementation in the design phase of public construction projects. The study focuses on a Latin American country subject to a current BIM mandate. Qualitative data was collected through semi-structured interviews with senior public sector practitioners. The findings reveal that the BIM practices informally align with lean principles, as there is no explicit emphasis on lean implementation within the BIM mandate framework. Drawing on these insights, the discussion compares these results with previous studies and suggests the inclusion of BIM as a facilitator of lean practices in the Lean in Public Sector (LIPS) agenda. The conclusion highlights the current opportunities for leveraging the BIM public policy trend towards lean implementation in public construction projects.