Analysis of the application of the earned value management (EVM) technique in lean construction projects

Abstract

The Earned Value Management (EVM) or Earned Value Analysis (EVA) is a performance measurement technique and a project control tool based on physical, financial and time progress, providing indexes of project outcomes as actual performance, performance delays and forecasting of project conclusion. However some papers describe problems and limitations of this technique like disregard of workflows and incompatibility for early stages of work progress forecasts. Thus, through a unique case study exploratory and descriptive, this paper aims to analyze the use of EVM technique on a construction project under the lights of Lean Construction. As result, this paper confirmed some problems surveyed by others researchers as well as enlarged the list of topics which EVM approach fails to support lean construction applications enabling a more in depth and a holistic understanding about the applicability of this technique on Building Construction, especially in Lean Construction Projects. Finally, the authors concluded that EVM is just an extension of the traditional approach of measuring physical and financial advances over time what may render their use incompatible in construction projects.