An investigation of the status of the Malaysian construction industry

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to understand the production processes utilized by the Malaysian construction industry (MCI). Design/methodology/approach: The paper follows an earlier work published in this journal in which the authors analyze the global construction industry focusing on the evolution of lean production systems. Findings: The future of construction is exciting. International markets, innovations in technology, and techniques of construction project management, new relationships across disciplines are all avenues of development. To make the best use of their opportunities, the MCI must invest in research and development (R&D), undertake public education about the field and develop new methodologies to improve operational performance in construction. Originality/value: This paper provides a detailed analysis of the MCI, it's impact on the economy, key success factors, struggles and problems that the industry currently faces. Analysis of key functional areas like operations management, R&D, and occupational safety and health administration provide insights into improvement.