Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri--Rolla, 2007. / Vita. The entire thesis text is included in file. Title from title screen of thesis/dissertation PDF file (viewed December 5, 2007) Includes bibliographical references (p. 56-62).

Homebuilding is widely regarded as the most analogous sector in the construction industry to automobile manufacturing. In the past decades, increasing interest from homebuilders has been seen to model the homebuilding process after manufacturing, particularly lean production, to improve productivity. However, differences inherent in the nature of the products prevent the direct implementation of lean principles and systems in the homebuilding industry. Project-oriented techniques used by the other sectors of construction are still dominant in homebuilding process planning and control. There is a clear need for an approach to integrate a lean production system into the homebuilding process and to overcome the challenges in lean implementation. The purpose of this research is to develop a lean production approach for the North American homebuilding industry. Specifically, this research intends to provide a framework and a set of guidelines that can help production homebuilders to improve their efficiency through lean transformation. This study first investigated the current homebuilding process and then conducted a comparative study between the homebuilding and automobile industries. Based on the analysis, a lean homebuilding model was developed, and key lean strategies were identified to support lean implementation efforts. Case study results revealed that a lean production system can be successfully applied to the homebuilding process, and lean strategies, such as continuous flow, pull system, production leveling, standardized work, investing in the people, and visual management were effective in improving a homebuilders operation performance in terms of construction cycle time, process stability and house quality. The major contribution of this dissertation is to provide production homebuilders a roadmap to developing their own lean production systems and lean implementation strategies. The research results are also anticipated to be a benchmark for future studies in the academic field and for the homebuilding industry. / Construction Engineering and Management

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 164-176). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Thesis (M.S.)--Florida State University, 2004. / Advisor: Dr. Joseph J. Pignatiello, Jr., Florida State University, College of Engineering, Department of Industrial Engineering. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed June 17, 2004). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI Company.

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Operations management is a broad subject that offers industry various planning and control philosophies and techniques on how best to manage all processes within an organisation. However, the macro environment in which companies are operating also affects the application of these techniques and philosophies. It is therefore important to understand the extent to which these tools can be applied by industry that is operating in an environment characterised by unpredictability. The manufacturing sector decision makers in Zimbabwe have been blaming the under performance and failures in the sector to the macro economic conditions which they claim is not conducive to business operations. Research has been conducted to investigate the challenges that this sector is facing and whether the application of operations management strategies and techniques could counter these challenges. This research is guided by the hypothesis that "The manufacturing sector's failure to strategically reposition itself in the current socioeconomic environment is the major contributor to its present distress. The methodology used is one consistent with the exploratory nature of the research and both quantitative and qualitative techniques were applied where data was obtained from personal interviews, questionnaires and articles on related topics. The findings of the research reveal that external factors (macro-economic conditions) are the reason for the under performance or failure of the manufacturing sector. These findings therefore rebut the initial hypothesis as false given the empirical evidence on the ground. It is recommended that companies in the manufacturing sector pursue investment strategies or form alliances with export earning companies internally and externally. Companies could also pool together financial resources to purchase equipment that produces a common output. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2006.