How Construction Flows Have Been Understood In Lean Construction K. Kraemer 1 , G. Henrich 2 , L. Koskela 3 and M. Kagioglou 4 1 Research Assistant, SCRI, University of Salford-UK. M5 4WT 2 PhD Candidate,SCRI, University of Salford-UK M5 4WT 3 Professor,SCRI, University of Salford-UK M5 4WT 4 Professor,SCRI, University of Salford-UK M5 4WT Email: K.M.Kraemer@salford.ac.uk Abstract: The flow concept emerged in construction nearly fifteen years ago. It considers production as a process of value adding activities (i.e. transformation) and non value adding activities, such as: waiting, transport and inspection. However, since the foundation of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC), where the flow concept has an established understanding, researchers have interpreted flow in the most different ways. Thus, this paper seeks to produce a content analysis of IGLC conference papers from 1993 to 2001 regarding construction flows. Doing this, the authors captured both historical and current understanding about construction flows and related concepts, which provide basis for future research on production management in construction. Keywords: Flow, Lean Construction, Theory of Production 1. Introduction The flow concept was first presented in the Koskela (1992) seminal work towards a new theory of production in construction “Application of the new production philosophy to construction”. After this was created the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC) in 1993 aiming at improve construction process through lean production techniques, by this date used just in manufacturing. Since the first IGLC conference many authors intend to improve production performance by suggesting the use of the flow concept. The consolidation of the flow concept was achieved with the TFV theory of production in construction (Koskela, 2000).