WORKSHOP DAY
Please find your allocated workshop here.
Pavilion 2 | Morning (10.00-12.30) and afternoon (14.00-17.30)
How emerging technology can achieve kaizen in a human-centred cyber-physical built environment.
Pavilion 3 | Morning (10.00-12.30) and afternoon (14.00-17.30)
The ‘Flow Walk’ and IRMA 360 - new ways to collaboratively identify and deal with risks (opportunities and threats) to create and maintain flow.
Pavilion 5 | Morning (10.00-12.30)
Lean or not? Match-making of lean concepts in Automation in Construction.
Pavilion 4 | Morning (10.00-12.30)
Enhancing lean construction through the language action perspective.
Pavilion 6 | Morning (10.00-12.30)
Lean Quality - the need for an integrated approach.
Pavilion 1 | Afternoon (14.00-17.30)
The Value of Lean Construction with LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®.
Pavilion 5 | Afternoon (14.00-17.30)
Ethical, Safe, and Responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Construction: Balancing Innovation and Accountability.
Pavilion 4 | Afternoon (14.00-17.30)
Enhancing visual management in construction.
The IGLC33 Organising Committee is very happy to have received many proposals for the Workshop Day, and we are proud to announce the following workshops:
The value of lean construction with LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®.
This workshop uses the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® method to explore "The Future of Construction" and "The Value of Lean Construction in that Future." Participants will engage with their deeper thoughts and values through model building and sharing, discovering commonalities beyond differences. The workshop promotes cross-cultural learning and collaboration through psychologically safe dialogue. Participants will use LEGO bricks to express future visions and barriers to common challenges such as labor shortages and work regulations, and together we will think about what we can do for a better future and how Lean Construction can be contributed there.
N.B. Japanese-English interpretation will be provided.
Workshop holders
Koichi Ishikawa, Takenaka Corporation
Satomi Yokoyama, Takenaka Corporation
Supported by:
Hiroaki Yamasaki, Takenaka Corporation
Shojiro Taira, Takenaka Corporation
Masako Sho, Slalom
Miki Yuzawa, Slalom
Chisato Takahashi, Slalom
Jun Kano, Slalom
Mari Umatani, Interpreter
Other information
Duration: Half day
Maximum participants: 35.
Suitable for: Anyone from lean construction beginners to experts.
How emerging technology can achieve kaizen in a human-centred cyber-physical built environment
This workshop brings together industry experts, researchers, and students to explore how digital, physical, and cyber-physical technologies can revolutionise ‘kaizen’ — the lean principle of continuous improvement — within a human-centred, sustainable built environment and Society 5.0. Through an interactive lean-based game, hands-on prototype demonstrations, and dynamic discussions, participants will experience Artificial Intelligence, IoT, and robotics in action, uncovering their potential to enhance productivity, efficiency, and sustainability. By engaging directly with emerging technologies, participants could challenge conventional thinking, exchange insights, and co-create forward-thinking solutions that merge lean methodologies with cutting-edge advancements, shaping the future of industry and society.
Workshop holders
Dr. Tsukasa Ishizawa, Project Associate Professor, University of Tokyo, Japan
Supported by:
Dr. Ming Shan Ng, Professor, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Japan
Zhong Wang, University of Alberta, Canada
Dr. Vicente A. Gonzalez, University of Alberta, Canada
Other information
Duration: Full day.
Maximum participants: 70.
Suitable for: Everyone interested in the topic of Society 5.0 or in technology in architecture and construction is welcome to participate; no prerequisite skills are required.
The ‘Flow Walk’ and IRMA 360 - new ways to collaboratively identify and deal with risks (opportunities and threats) to create and maintain flow
In this hands-on, learn-by-doing workshop you will learn how to use the Flow Walk and other tools within IRMA 360 (an integrated risk management approach that is part of an ongoing PhD action-research) on your projects. The Flow Walk is a technique that uses the eight pre-requisite flows of lean to trigger ideas about risks. It forms part of a broader set of lean tools and techniques under the umbrella of IRMA 360 such as Boston Matrices, 3Cs (Concerns, Causes, Countermeasures), Fishbones, Elmo, and FMEA (Failure Mode Effect Analysis). These tools and techniques complement and enhance the Last Planner® System with a particular focus on the make-ready and learning functions.
A series of case studies where IRMA 360 and the Flow Walk have been applied in the UK, Middle East, Brazil and the USA.
Two rounds of Charlie Dunn’s Flow State simulation with a particular focus on information management.
A simulated Flow Walk using recent data collected from two live projects in the UK and US. The UK example is vertical (Curo Construction London building projects). The US example is horizontal (Mortenson civil engineering project with excavation, grading, underground utilities and a road network for a large data centre campus).
Breakout discussions to explore the UK and US data from the lens of a Japanese general contractor i.e., what’s normal practice in Japan compared to the UK and USA.
Workshop holders
Paul Ebbs, Curo Lean and Integrated Production System (CLIPS) Director, Curo Construction, United Kingdom
Prof. Zofia Rybkowski, Presidential Impact Fellow, Texas AM University, United States of America
Supported by:
Dr. Emmanuel Manu, Assistant Professor, Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom | Not attending in person.
Marcus Fireman & Bernardo Etges, Climb Group
Charlie Dunn, Manager of Lean, Mortenson, USA | Not attending in person.
Nozomi James Hirata, Predoctoral Fellow, Penn State University, USA | Not attending in person.
Other information
Duration: Full day.
Maximum participants: 40.
Suitable for: This workshop is suitable for novice or more experienced lean practitioners, coaches, researchers and academics who are interested in creating flow by leveraging various risk management, make-ready and learning techniques. The workshop is also suitable for those who specialise in planning, scheduling and risk management practices.
Lean or not? Match-making of lean concepts in automation in construction
The workshop aims to explore how lean can be applied in tomorrow’s automation in construction to facilitate full automation, human-robot collaboration and adaptive robotic implementation. How is value added in terms of productivity, efficiency, cost-effectiveness and profit, and waste reduced (such as material waste, waste of time, waste of human resources and CO2 emission etc). The workshop ‘breaks the ice’ by starting with an interactive game introducing lean terminology, followed by a focus group lean-based brainstorming session to elaborate on lean concepts for solving existing challenges in a real-world smart mobile factory situation. The exploration is based on a real scenario and the results will effectively help in real-world implementation and contribute to science. The key takeaway from this workshop includes knowledge exchange in lean and robotics to co-create ground-breaking technologies and management for innovations in tomorrow’s construction.
Workshop holder
Rongbo Hu, Kajima Corporation
Dr. Ming Shan Ng, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Japan
Other information
Duration: Half day.
Maximum participants: 70.
Suitable for: The workshop suits for everyone who is interested in lean and automation in construction.
Ethical, safe, and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in construction: Balancing innovation and accountability
The workshop is a two-hour panel discussion designed to bring together global experts from academia, industry, and government. The session aims to explore the integration of AI into the construction sector while ensuring ethical, safe, transparent, and trustworthy implementation aligned with Lean Construction principles. As AI-driven tools become increasingly integrated into decision-making, design optimization, project management, and automation in design, construction, and management of projects, it is imperative to examine their ethical implications. Through expert presentations, an interactive panel discussion, and case studies drawing insights from Japan’s advancements in construction automation and the Toyota Production System (TPS), This workshop will provide discussions on bias in AI models, accountability in AI-driven decision-making, data privacy concerns, and the future of labor in AI-powered construction environments and advocate for solutions that align with equity, sustainability, and Lean efficiency goals.
The session will foster cross-disciplinary dialogue on how AI-driven innovation can be balanced with Lean principles, ethics, and sustainability to create a more resilient and future-ready construction industry.
Workshop holder
Dr. Saiedeh Razavi, Professor and Chair in Heavy Construction, McMaster University
Supported by:
Dr. Yelda Turkan, Associate Professor, School of Civil and Construction Engineering, Oregon State University, USA | not attending in person
Dr. Burcin Becerik-Gerber, University of Southern California (USC), USA
Dr. Ming Shan (Charmaine) Ng, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Japan
Dr. David Gerber, University of Southern California (USC), USA
Dr. Swati Mishra, McMaster University, Canada | not attending in person
Other information
Duration: 2-3 hours.
Maximum participants: 50.
Suitable for: This workshop is tailored for construction professionals, researchers, policymakers, and technology developers who seek to engage in meaningful discussions about the ethical and responsible use of AI in the AEC industry. Attendees with interests in Lean Construction, digital transformation, and regulatory frameworks will gain insights into ethical AI implementation, international best practices, and lessons from case studies across different regions.
Lean quality — the need for an integrated approach
In the lean quality workshop we will focus on what it takes to create reliability, reliable processes and reliable products. We will look at how collaboration across the entire supply chain provides the critical underpinning for the development of reliable systems, optimal solutions and continuous improvement. We will also look at the organisational and cultural implications of the shift from ISO 9000 based quality to a Lean Quality approach. Using case studies from a western construction company and a Japanese construction company, we will contrast different management approaches and their effect on the quality of the products being delivered. Finally, through an interactive session with representatives of Asanuma, we will compare these western and Japanese approaches. People will leave the workshop with insights that participants can use in their daily practices.
N.B. Asanuma will explain how quality is managed on their projects and offer the possibility to observe their practice during a site visit on Wednesday 4 June 2025.
Workshop holders
Marton Marosszeky, Chairman, BCRC (and co-author of two books on lean and quality in construction
Rafaella Broft, Managing Director, BlueDot MGT, Dubai, UAE / PhD student, University College London, UK
Supported by:
Richard Breur, Coordinator Quality and Development, Strukton
Okita Minoru, Project & Quality Manager, Asanuma
Other information
Duration: Half day, and an optional site visit on Wednesday 4 June 2025.
Maximum participants: 20-28.
Suitable for: Practitioners, academics (professors and students) and policy makes in the fields of lean and safe construction.
Enhancing lean construction through the language action perspective
In the domain of effective coordinated action, language is not merely a tool for communication — it is the foundation upon which we build trust, commitment, and the capacity to coordinate action. This Essential Conversations Workshop is designed to cultivate a new understanding of how we speak, listen, and generate possibilities within our organisations and teams with moods and trust in the background of everything we do. Grounded in the ontological and linguistic insights of the Language Action Persepective (LAP), this workshop is not about learning to exchange information more effectively. Instead participants will learn fundamental skills to have more effective conversations, secure reliable promises, how to listen for concerns, build and repair trust and generate new possibilities for projects by developing deeper relationships and coordinating our actions effectively in conversation.
Workshop holder
Jason Klous, Principal, Midion.
Other information
Duration: Half day.
Maximum participants: 35.
Suitable for: This workshop is suitable for individuals at all levels. The focus is on effective coordination through conversations, building trust, and managing moods which applies to (project) leaders at all levels.
VM Game - Enhancing visual management in construction
This workshop will introduce participants to the Visual Management (VM) Game, a serious game designed to facilitate a deeper understanding of VM principles in construction projects. VM is a key strategy in Lean Production that enhances process transparency, communication, and collaboration. The workshop will explore conceptual refinements of VM by engaging participants in interactive gameplay and structured reflection. Drawing on insights from recent field observations of VM practices at construction companies and job sites in Japan, the session will highlight distinctive approaches and compare them with strategies adopted in Latin America and Europe. This multicultural perspective will enrich participants’ analysis of VM practices, helping them understand how local contexts influence implementation. Through this experience, attendees will evaluate the effectiveness of various VM strategies and gain both theoretical insights and practical knowledge for improving production systems. The session emphasizes sustainability, continuous improvement, and collaborative problem-solving — key themes that resonate with the goals of IGLC33 and Expo 2025 Osaka—ensuring an engaging and forward-thinking learning experience.
Workshop holder
Fernanda Marisa Pasinato Brandalise, Ph.D.
Other information
Duration: 2 hours.
Maximum participants: 20-30.
Suitable for: Researchers, practitioners, Lean facilitators, and construction professionals interested in Visual Management, Lean thinking, and experiential learning tools.
EXPECTATIONS
Participants to the Workshop Day can enjoy a full-day event at one (or two) of the pavilions at Expo 2025 Osaka. Registration includes the entrance to the Expo 2025 site, and access to venue. This ticket will be shared via e-mail a few days before the event.