Lean Production and Construction Principles, Assessment Brief

Assessment task details and instructions

The Concept of the Assessment.

The assessment has been developed as an integral part of the module and as one of the principal drivers to learning. The assessment has been designed to align to the learning materials in being innovative and related to the student’s workplace and/or profession. In all assessment activities, students are encouraged to apply what they have learnt to their own (project or business) organisation (if available). The assessment will be on the basis of the extent to which a student has been able to apply subject material to gain new insight and create or envisage the start of new innovations within the organisation or profession. 

It is the intention of the module team that as much flexibility should be allowed within the specification of a project to allow students to negotiate a project brief that meets the academic requirements of the module. These negotiations should take the form of a discussion between the student, Module Tutor and, where appropriate, the student’s employer. 

Specification of the project

Background- The Toyota Production System and derivative approaches such as lean production have contributed towards sustainable competitive advantage for their adopters. New understanding and practices for designing, controlling and improving integrated design and production processes are at the heart of the Toyota Production System.

Scenario- In relation to your own workplace and a project, with which you are familiar, identify a specific process. If you have no access at the moment to a work context, please use scenarios given by the tutor as the starting point – you can modify and expand these scenarios in such ways that the application of lean principles can be considered in more depth. The process could be the requirements capture process, the design process, the process of structuring and managing the production system, or some other process system that is clearly identifiable within your business. For the identified process system conduct a critical evaluation of the process with the particular emphasis of lean principles and prepare a report for senior management that addresses the following issues:

• Rehearsal of the lean principles
• Critical evaluation of the current process Assessment Information/Brief 2024/25 3
• Development of a target process / system based on consideration of alternative approaches
• (Alternatively, you may wish to evaluate a current or recent policy initiative in your business or project organisation. In this case please consult with the Module Tutor.)

Format

• The assignment is to be submitted in report format and as such should have a formal structure and layout.
• The report should be structured as a management report in three main sections linked to the issues above.
• All submissions should have a cover/title page and should be clearly structured by using relevant numbered chapters and sections. The cover/title page should include the following
information: your programme (PMC), your study mode (FT/PT/DL) the module name, the date, your roll number, and the total number of words included in the main body of the
report (I.e., word count).
• A table of contents and a reference list should be included.
• It should be submitted as a single document. The report is to be individually prepared; this is NOT a group submission.
• Students are required to acknowledge all sources from which they obtain information, by including in-text citations and references in the APA 7th (Harvard) Style of referencing (see guidance on blackboard).

Report basic structure example:

- Report cover/title page with all requested information
- Table of contents
- Section 1- Rehearsal of the Lean Principles
- Section 2 – Critical Evaluation of the Current Process
- Section 3 – Development of a target process / system based on consideration of alternative approaches
- Reference List (APA 7th Harvard Style)

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

1. Critically appraise the foundational concepts underlying traditional and Lean managerial methods.
2. Critically appraise Lean production and construction principles. 

Practical, Professional or Subject Specific Skills

3. Identify opportunities in construction and project organisations for lean improvement.
4. Convey lean production and construction principles to construction and project organisations.
5. Produce reports identifying and discussing the benefits of lean approaches in construction.
6. A high level of problem solving and analytical skills.
7. A high standard of appreciation and understanding of lean production and lean construction.