Short answer

Embrace additive manufacturing as a tool to achieve lean construction goals by focusing on its waste-reducing and standardization capabilities, while proactively planning to overcome implementation challenges.

Field: Commercial Production
Source: Buildings (2026)
Method: Systematic Literature Review
Sample: 12 articles
Evidence: Moderate effect

Integrating additive manufacturing (AM) into construction projects can significantly enhance lean construction (LC) by reducing waste, improving process efficiency, and enabling built-in quality, particularly when combined with digital and automation technologies. This commercial production research insight is drawn from a 2026 study published in Buildings. Using Systematic literature review with 12 articles, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Embrace additive manufacturing as a tool to achieve lean construction goals by focusing on its waste-reducing and standardization capabilities, while proactively planning to overcome implementation challenges.

Study

Commercial ProductionNew This WeekModerate effect

Additive Manufacturing adoption in construction drives Lean principles through waste reduction and process standardization.

Buildings · 2026

Key Findings

01Additive manufacturing primarily contributes to waste reduction, process efficiency, standardization, and built-in quality when integrated with complementary digital and automation technologies.
02Significant technical, economic, socio-organizational, and regulatory barriers limit the scalability and performance consistency of AM in construction.
03AM adoption can be conceptualized as a Lean-oriented production system, with barriers acting as system-level constraints and enablers as Lean improvement mechanisms.
04AM implementation can be viewed as a Kaikaku-driven transformation requiring Kaizen-based stabilization through established LC tools.

Application

Design takeaway

How to apply

When designing construction projects or processes, evaluate the potential for using additive manufacturing to reduce material waste, improve component precision, and streamline on-site assembly. Develop a plan to address potential technical, economic, and regulatory challenges associated with AM implementation.

Project actions

01When researching additive manufacturing applications, specifically look for studies that link it to lean principles like waste reduction or process flow.
02Consider how the 'buildability' of components using AM might impact on-site assembly and overall project timelines, a key aspect of lean construction.

Method & Evidence

AimHow can additive manufacturing be integrated into construction to support and enhance lean construction principles, and what are the key performance indicators and barriers to this integration?

MethodSystematic Literature Review

ProcedureA systematic review of 12 peer-reviewed research articles published between 2021 and 2025 was conducted. The review analyzed additive manufacturing technologies in construction, their application contexts, relevant Lean principles, performance indicators, and implementation barriers. A mixed quantitative and qualitative analysis, including bibliometric mapping and thematic synthesis, was employed.

Sample12 articles

ContextConstruction industry, Additive Manufacturing, Lean Construction

Variables

IV["Additive Manufacturing Technologies","Integration with Digital/Automation Technologies"]

DV["Waste Reduction","Process Efficiency","Built-in Quality","Construction Productivity"]

CV["Type of construction project","Specific AM technology used","Project scale","Regulatory environment"]

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of AM-LC integration.
+Offers a conceptual framework for understanding and implementing AM in a lean construction context.
+Identifies key barriers and enablers for successful adoption.

Limitations

The findings are based on a review of recent literature, meaning practical, long-term case studies might be scarce. The effectiveness of AM in achieving lean goals can vary significantly depending on the specific project context and scale.

Reliability & validity

The reliability of the findings is enhanced by the systematic review methodology, which aims to be comprehensive and reproducible. Validity is supported by synthesizing evidence from multiple peer-reviewed studies, though the limited sample size and focus on conceptual synthesis may affect generalizability.

Think critically

To what extent can the theoretical benefits of additive manufacturing in achieving lean construction be realized in practice, given the current technical, economic, and regulatory landscape?

Design Principles

"Leverage advanced manufacturing technologies to embed lean principles into construction processes for enhanced efficiency and quality."

This insight is crucial for construction firms looking to optimize their operations. By understanding how AM aligns with LC, companies can strategically implement these technologies to achieve greater productivity, minimize material waste, and improve overall project quality, leading to cost savings and enhanced competitiveness.

What This Means for Your Design

Using 3D printing (additive manufacturing) in building projects can make them more efficient and less wasteful, like in lean manufacturing. It helps build things better and with fewer mistakes, especially when used with smart technology. But, there are still problems to solve, like cost and new regulations.

How to use in your project

1.Cite this review when discussing the potential for additive manufacturing to reduce waste in your design project, linking it to lean construction principles.
2.Use the identified barriers as a basis for risk assessment in your design project's implementation plan.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

The integration of additive manufacturing (AM) into construction offers a significant opportunity to advance lean construction (LC) principles. Research indicates that AM can substantially reduce material waste, enhance process efficiency, and improve built-in quality, particularly when coupled with digital and automation technologies. While technical, economic, and regulatory barriers exist, conceptual frameworks suggest that AM adoption can be viewed as a lean-oriented production system, requiring strategic implementation and stabilization using established LC tools like Kaizen.

Source

Buildings

Additive Manufacturing as an Enabler of Lean Construction: A Systematic Literature Review

journal · 2026

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about additive manufacturing adoption in construction drives lean principles through waste reduction and process standardization?: Embrace additive manufacturing as a tool to achieve lean construction goals by focusing on its waste-reducing and standardization capabilities, while proactively planning to overcome implementation challenges. Evidence: Buildings (2026).
Why does "Additive Manufacturing adoption in construction drives Lean principles through waste reduction and process standardization." matter for design?: This insight is crucial for construction firms looking to optimize their operations. By understanding how AM aligns with LC, companies can strategically implement these technologies to achieve greater productivity, minimize material waste, and improve overall project quality, leading to cost savings and enhanced competitiveness.
How can designers apply this research?: Embrace additive manufacturing as a tool to achieve lean construction goals by focusing on its waste-reducing and standardization capabilities, while proactively planning to overcome implementation challenges.
What were the main findings?: Additive manufacturing primarily contributes to waste reduction, process efficiency, standardization, and built-in quality when integrated with complementary digital and automation technologies.. Significant technical, economic, socio-organizational, and regulatory barriers limit the scalability and performance consistency of AM in construction.. AM adoption can be conceptualized as a Lean-oriented production system, with barriers acting as system-level constraints and enablers as Lean improvement mechanisms.. AM implementation can be viewed as a Kaikaku-driven transformation requiring Kaizen-based stabilization through established LC tools.
What research method was used?: Systematic Literature Review with 12 articles.
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2026 journal from Buildings.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When designing construction projects or processes, evaluate the potential for using additive manufacturing to reduce material waste, improve component precision, and streamline on-site assembly. Develop a plan to address potential technical, economic, and regulatory challenges associated with AM implementation.
What are the limitations?: The review is based on a limited number of studies, and the findings prioritize conceptual synthesis over empirical generalization due to the emerging nature of AM-LC integration.