Lean Project Management And AI Transform Construction

InnovationTransportationLean Project Management And AI Transform ConstructionBySabbir Rangwala,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write about perception, sensors, autonomy, AI and computingFollow AuthorJun 01, 2026, 08:00am EDTHudson Yards, US largest private real estate development under construction in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, United States, April 27th 2016. Upon completion, 13 of the 16 planned structures will sit on a platform built over the West Side Yard, a storage yard for Long Island Rail Road trains. The first of its two phases comprises a public green space and eight structures that contain residences, a hotel, office buildings, a mall, and a cultural facility. The second focuses on residential space, along with an office building and a school. (Photo by Wojtek Laski/Getty Images)Getty ImagesConstruction projects like Hudson Yards, are massive, multi-billion $, decade-long initiatives, employing hundreds of companies and thousands of people. Delays due to factors like site conditions, materials availability, supplier churn, labor and equipment issues, and new regulatory requirements create delays, design changes and scope pivots - all very expensive, resulting in significant cost and schedule overruns. The Hudson Yards project in New York City was impacted by a shortage of steel and other building materials due to market demand, tariffs and production issues. This led to billions of $ of cost overruns and delays in project completion. Other examples include the Big Dig project in Boston, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai and the Bay Bridge Extension project in San Francisco.Semiconductors and lean manufacturing philosophies factor in supply chains, process && regulatory constraints, and manufacturing cost at every step of the design phase. DFM (Design for Manufacturing) and DFR (Design for Reliability) are embedded into the entire design activity, typically through a gate...