November 2024 - Elevate Constructionist

Juggling Multiple Projects! A Super’s Survival Guide

Posted on November 29, 2024November 29, 2024 by Danny Jiménez⁩

Read 7 min

The Ultimate Survival Guide for Superintendents Managing Multiple Projects

Managing multiple projects as a superintendent is a challenging reality for many in the construction industry. While it’s not ideal, it is often necessary. In this blog, we’ll dive into key strategies, actionable advice, and essential tools to help you thrive in this demanding role. Let’s transform the challenge into an opportunity for growth and success.

Why Managing Multiple Projects is Difficult:

Overseeing several projects stretches your focus and energy. Studies have shown that as the number of projects you handle increases, your effectiveness decreases due to context-switching and a lack of dedicated focus. When you’re juggling too many responsibilities, you risk losing the ability to create meaningful impact.

Strategies to Stay on Top:

Build the Right Team:

Whether you’re a superintendent or general superintendent, having a stable, disciplined team on-site is non-negotiable. Here’s how to structure your team effectively:

Ensure each project has a project manager, superintendent, and necessary support staff.
Treat trade partners’ foremen as part of your team when managing multiple projects directly.
Have reliable site personnel trained in OSHA, first aid, and basic project management to act as your eyes and ears on-site.

Use Visual Systems for Clarity:

Implement visual boards for each project to clearly communicate plans, track progress, and maintain alignment. These boards should include:

Instructions developed collaboratively with your team.
Clear updates that can be managed remotely, ensuring seamless execution when you’re not on-site.

Time Block Your Schedule:

Organize your week by assigning dedicated days or time blocks to specific projects. This minimizes context-switching and helps you maintain focus. For example:

Dedicate one day to project walkthroughs and planning for each site.
Group similar tasks to maximize efficiency and reduce unnecessary disruptions.

Prioritize Tasks with Discipline:

Focus on the most critical tasks each day. Follow these principles:

Eat the frog first: Tackle the hardest, most important task at the start of your day.
Delegate tasks to others whenever possible to stay focused on high-level responsibilities.

Limit Work in Progress:

Keep projects aligned and avoid overloading your team. A steady, even flow ensures that projects remain organized, clean, and safe.

Minimize Interruptions:

Set clear boundaries for communication by creating designated time blocks for calls and meetings. This ensures you can focus during critical planning sessions without constant distractions.

Communicate Effectively:

Follow a structured communication approach to keep everyone on the same page:

Build strong, decentralized teams that can execute plans independently.
Simplify goals and ensure clarity across all levels of your team.
Maintain regular, non-emotional, and goal-oriented communication.

Key Practices for Success:

To thrive as a superintendent overseeing multiple projects, adhere to these essential habits:

Set clear goals: Define weekly objectives and communicate them to your team.
Create visual clarity: Ensure all project instructions and plans are easily accessible through visual boards.
Encourage team ownership: Empower teams to develop and execute their plans while you provide guidance.

Final Thoughts:

Managing multiple projects is undeniably tough, but with the right approach, you can excel. Build strong teams, use visual systems, and maintain discipline in your work. By focusing on what matters most, you’ll not only survive but thrive in this demanding role.

If you want to learn more we have:

-Takt Virtual Training: (Click here)
-Check out our Youtube channel for more info: (Click here)
-Listen to the Elevate Construction podcast: (Click here)
-Check out our training programs and certifications: (Click here)
-The Takt Book: (Click here)

Discover Jason’s Expertise:

Meet Jason Schroeder, the driving force behind Elevate Construction IST. As the company’s owner and principal consultant, he’s dedicated to taking construction to new heights. With a wealth of industry experience, he’s crafted the Field Engineer Boot Camp and Superintendent Boot Camp – intensive training programs engineered to cultivate top-tier leaders capable of steering their teams towards success. Jason’s vision? To expand his training initiatives across the nation, empowering construction firms to soar to unprecedented levels of excellence.

On we go

Master Work Package Planning With These Non-Negotiable Rules

Posted on November 28, 2024November 28, 2024 by Danny Jiménez⁩

Read 6 min

In this blog, we’ll explore the concept of work packaging—not advanced work packaging, but my vision for a practical, effective approach. This method has been transformative and is one of the most exciting systems I’ve come across. Today, I’ll share insights on how we can master this process and leverage it to improve project outcomes.

Two Major Ways to Speed Up a Project:

Speeding up a project often boils down to two main strategies:

Rezoning the Project:
Breaking down your project into smaller, manageable zones can significantly reduce the project timeline. For example, if a two-zone project is restructured into four zones, you can complete it faster without compromising quality or overburdening your team.
Minimizing Takt Time:
Shortening your Takt time (e.g., moving from a three-day to a two-day Takt time) allows for faster project execution. However, this can only be achieved by designing, fabricating, and delivering the work package to meet this new timeframe.

Designing to the Installation Work Package:

Achieving shorter Takt times without pushing or disrespecting trade partners requires a thoughtful approach. This involves engaging trade partners to explore what changes in design, fabrication, and delivery would enable faster execution.

For example, imagine prefabricating cabinet bases and using specialized tools that save time during installation. By addressing specific challenges, such as substituting screws or upgrading equipment, we can collaboratively develop work packages that streamline processes while respecting everyone’s capacity and constraints.

The Lean Process vs. Standard Process:

Traditionally, project planning follows this sequence:

Concept Design and Schematic Design.
Design Development (selecting systems).
Construction Documentation.
Construction Manager/GC develops the plan for execution.

The lean process flips this model into a pull system:

During concept and schematic design, break down the project into zones and Takt plans while defining work packages for each scope. Collaboratively determine zoning strategies and work package needs with trade partners. Use this input to guide design development, ensuring systems, prefab elements, and specifications align with the work package requirements. This approach not only accelerates timelines but also ensures quality and efficiency throughout the project lifecycle.

Key Components of an Installation Work Package:

A well-prepared installation work package includes:

Drawings and Layouts (e.g., lift and installation drawings).
Specifications and necessary tools/materials.
Installation Instructions.
Safety and Quality Requirements.

By consolidating this information into a clear, actionable package, crews can execute tasks more efficiently, hitting takt times consistently.

The Impact of Mastering Work Package Planning:

What if every crew had all the design details, prefabricated components, installation instructions, and preparation requirements they needed? This level of clarity could accelerate schedules by 5–20%, saving time and resources.

Mastering work package planning is not just a technical skill—it’s a transformative approach that fosters collaboration, innovation, and respect for the people doing the work.

If you want to learn more we have:

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Real Lean vs. Fake Lean: What Is The Difference?

Posted on November 27, 2024November 27, 2024 by Danny Jiménez⁩

Read 7 min

Real Lean vs. Fake Lean: Understanding the Difference

In this blog, we’re diving into a complex yet crucial topic in the construction industry: Real Lean versus Fake Lean. The difference is vital for anyone aiming to adopt lean principles effectively and ethically. If you’re ready to distinguish between genuine lean practices and pretenders, you’re in the right place.

What Is Real Lean?

Real lean is grounded in the right vision, purpose, and direction. Even when not executed perfectly, genuine lean efforts demonstrate respect for people and resources, foster continuous improvement, and aim for stability and flow in processes. Mistakes made during an honest attempt to implement lean are part of the learning journey and are not to be labeled as “fake lean.”

What Is Fake Lean?

Fake lean, on the other hand, misuses lean terminology and practices for ulterior motives. It includes:

Classical Management in Disguise: Command-and-control approaches masquerading as lean while disrespecting people.
Disconnected Leadership: Leaders removed from the reality of boots-on-the-ground workers, prioritizing profit and control over collaboration and growth.
Wasteful Practices: Bureaucratic processes that add complexity and hinder efficiency.

Fake lean disrespects the essence of lean principles, focusing instead on optics or outdated management methods.

Classical Management vs. Lean Leadership:

Classical management often prioritizes rigid processes, profit, and control, characterized by excessive bureaucracy and a disconnection from the workforce. In contrast, lean leadership emphasizes:

Respect for people.
Safe, organized work environments.
Collaboration and adaptability. Leaders in lean engage directly with teams, fostering a culture of trust, learning, and continuous improvement.

Defining Lean in Construction:

Lean in construction incorporates six essential principles:

Respect for People and Resources: Foundation of all lean practices.
Stability: Clean, safe, and organized projects.
One-Piece Flow: Trade-by-trade progression in defined zones.
Flowing Together: Achieving synchronized speed and rhythm among teams.
Visual Systems: Providing transparency and clarity for all team members.
Continuous Improvement: Building on a stable foundation to enhance processes.

Key Insight: Continuous improvement is impossible without first achieving respect, stability, and flow.

Real-World Examples of Fake Lean:

Here are three scenarios that highlight how classical management practices often disguise themselves as lean:

Incoherent RFPs: Companies boasting about their lean credentials while issuing unclear and overly bureaucratic proposals.
Prescriptive Proposals: Organizations dictating how lean coaches should operate, stifling innovation and disrespecting expertise.
Command-and-Control Requirements: RFPs that demand adherence to rigid, outdated practices, leaving no room for true lean principles.

In these cases, the misuse of lean terminology reflects a lack of genuine commitment to its values.

What Fake Lean Is NOT:

Fake lean is not:

People making honest mistakes while learning lean.
Missteps during early implementation.
Misunderstandings stemming from lack of experience.

These instances are part of the growth process and reflect genuine lean efforts.

The Path Forward:

This blog is a call to action:

Demonize Classical Management: Reject wasteful, disrespectful, and disconnected practices.
Support Real Lean Practitioners: Embrace and guide those making honest efforts to learn and grow.

By fostering a culture of collaboration and respect, we can promote real lean and move the construction industry forward.

If you want to learn more we have:

Discover Jason’s Expertise:

On we go

The Shocking Truth About Sandbagging In The Construction Industry

Posted on November 26, 2024November 26, 2024 by Danny Jiménez⁩

Read 10 min

In this blog, we’re diving into the term “sandbagging” and its implications in the construction industry. You’ve probably heard of sandbagging, but what does it really mean? Why is it harmful to the construction process? And why does it happen in the first place? Let’s explore these questions in detail, using concrete examples to show why sandbagging isn’t the practice you want to see on your projects.

What Is Sandbagging in Construction?

At its core, sandbagging refers to underrepresenting one’s true abilities or overestimating the time it takes to complete a task. In construction, this often manifests as inflating the duration needed to finish work, despite knowing it should take less time.

It’s important to note that there’s a difference between sandbagging and using buffers. Buffers in work packages or takt cycles are essential for absorbing variations and ensuring smooth transitions. There’s nothing wrong with incorporating reasonable buffers to accommodate variations in workflow. However, sandbagging is dishonest—it’s when someone intentionally misrepresents how long something will take, often as a way to cover themselves or avoid responsibility.

Think of sandbagging like putting extra weight in a seemingly light bag. The bag may appear harmless, but the added weight packs a much stronger punch. This metaphor works perfectly for construction sandbagging: it’s about misrepresenting the reality of work time to make things seem harder or more time-consuming than they truly are.

Why Does Sandbagging Happen in Construction?

The root cause of sandbagging in construction often lies in a toxic environment of mistrust between parties, especially between general contractors and trade partners. When a general contractor creates an atmosphere of high pressure, poor communication, and unhealthy accountability practices, trade partners may feel the need to protect themselves. As a result, they may add extra time to their work durations to ensure they’re not punished for potential delays or unrealistic expectations.

It’s a cycle of tug-of-war where one side pulls and the other pulls back, and the mistrust breeds inefficiency. Sandbagging becomes a response to this toxic environment, a way for individuals to cover their bases when they feel unsupported.

A Normal Takt Plan vs. Sandbagging

In a healthy construction environment, Takt planning (or Time by Location planning) helps ensure that every task has an accurate and fair duration, leading to a smooth flow of work. Trade partners and contractors collaborate to align expectations, and buffer time is built into the plan to absorb variations. When trust is present, everyone can accurately represent how long tasks will take, and the entire project stays on track.

However, when sandbagging takes place, the timeline is manipulated. Trade partners who feel unsafe or unsupported may intentionally overstate their durations. This disrupts the flow, causes inefficiencies, and increases the overall project cost.

The Effects of Sandbagging on Other Trade Partners

Sandbagging isn’t just detrimental to the individual doing it—it has a ripple effect across the entire construction project. If one trade partner adds unnecessary time to their task, it delays the next trade’s work. This creates a gap in the workflow and causes inefficiencies. Even worse, if the next trade moves forward before their area is fully ready, it leads to variation and further disconnects the supply chain.

This can snowball into a significant project delay, increasing costs, and causing friction between trade partners. The result? A fragmented, inefficient project that ultimately impacts everyone involved.

How Sandbagging Affects Your Own Work

Let’s also consider how sandbagging impacts the individual who engages in it. Imagine that your team is ready to move faster, but the sandbagging practice holds things back. The result? Inefficiencies, wasted resources, and unnecessary downtime. The workers are still being paid, but they’re standing around instead of contributing to actual work.

When workers or trades are delayed, they may need to be demobilized or moved to another part of the project, which disrupts their productivity and wastes valuable time and resources.

The Ripple Effect: Sandbagging Hurts Everyone

So, what happens when everyone participates in sandbagging? Well, you get a project that’s running at a slower pace than it should. The inefficiency gap widens, and workers are either standing idle or forced to adjust to an unproductive pace.

In contrast, when everyone works honestly and fairly, trust is built, tasks are completed efficiently, and the project moves forward smoothly. Everyone wins when you avoid sandbagging.

Conclusion

Sandbagging in construction is a harmful practice that results from a lack of trust. It leads to inefficiency, project delays, and increased costs. Whether you’re a general contractor, trade partner, or subcontractor, it’s essential to recognize the detrimental effects of sandbagging on your work and your relationships.

Creating a culture of trust and clear communication will ensure that all parties can represent their true work durations without fear of repercussions. This will improve efficiency, reduce project overruns, and keep everyone working together toward a common goal.

If you’re tired of sandbagging slowing down your project and want to ensure things run more smoothly, it’s time to have an honest conversation and establish a culture of trust on your next construction project.

If you want to learn more we have:

Discover Jason’s Expertise:

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How To Approach The Construction IDF Room

Posted on November 26, 2024November 26, 2024 by Danny Jiménez⁩

Read 6 min

How to Approach the Construction of an IDF Room

Constructing an Independent Distribution Frame (IDF) room—or Main Distribution Frame (MDF) room—is a critical task for any project. These rooms, dedicated to communications, structural cabling, and low-voltage systems, play a pivotal role in the overall production plan and project schedule. In this blog, I’ll share tips and tricks to ensure your IDF room is built effectively and efficiently, providing maximum value to your project.

The Role of IDF Rooms in Project Success:

IDF rooms are integral to the smooth operation of a building’s systems. From facilitating internet connectivity to enabling the building management system (BMS) to communicate with HVAC components, these rooms are essential. The construction of the IDF room directly impacts the ability to:

Blow hot and cold air throughout the building during commissioning.
Connect controls cabling to air handlers and HVAC systems.
Fit out racks for communications and structural cabling.

Tips for Constructing an IDF Room:

Prioritize IDF Room Construction:
During the roughing stages of your project, prioritize building the walls, fire caulking, and any pads required for the IDF room. This work should be completed as quickly as possible, even if reshores are present for the structure. Progressing vertically through the building ensures the IDF rooms on each floor are ready to support the project timeline.
Secure the Room:
To protect sensitive equipment, the IDF room must be fully secured. This involves:

Installing sheathing on the walls.
Adding backboards, painting, and applying fire caulking.
Setting up easy passes and sleeves through the floors and ceilings.
Ensuring the room is lockable with a functioning door.

Prepare for Rack Installation:
Once the room is built and secure, it’s time to focus on making it ready for the owner to install racks. Key considerations include:

Adequate lighting and temperature control.
Proper power connections.
Ensuring the floor is sealed, clean, and protected.

Collaborating with the Owner:

Stay closely connected with the owner and their facilities representatives throughout this process. Understand their specific requirements to ensure the room meets expectations. A well-prepared IDF room includes:

Walls built and painted.
Fire caulking applied.
Backboards installed.
Easy passes and sleeves in place.
Proper cabling ready to be landed.
Clean and secure conditions.

Why Getting the IDF Room Right Matters:

An effectively constructed IDF room enables seamless vertical connections for HVAC control cabling, point-to-point setups, and internet activation throughout the building. This directly supports commissioning operations and ensures the building’s systems can function as intended.

If you want to learn more we have:

Discover Jason’s Expertise:

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Room Kitting 101: Revolutionize Your Construction Efficiency!

Posted on November 26, 2024November 26, 2024 by Danny Jiménez⁩

Read 7 min

Welcome to this blog, where I’ll introduce you to the transformative process of room kitting—a concept I like to call the “magic art” of construction efficiency. While prefabrication often brings to mind spools, assemblies, pods, or modular construction, there’s another powerful option: pre-cutting and pre-packaging materials to streamline installation and eliminate the waste and inefficiency of traditional stick-building methods.

Room kitting has been a game-changer for me on multiple projects throughout my career as a superintendent. Today, I’m excited to share how it works and why it’s a strategy worth considering.

The Story Behind Room Kitting:

The idea of room kitting emerged for me on a $120 million research laboratory project. This high-end, complex build featured a basement, multiple adjoining buildings, and laboratory systems—all in a remote location. During a prior proposal for an emergency department expansion, my competitors pitched prefabricated pods for bathrooms and exam rooms. However, budget constraints ruled out pods, leaving me searching for a creative alternative.

Drawing from lean construction practices, we developed the concept of room kitting. The self-perform team already excelled at ordering pre-cut drywall and assembling headers. We expanded this approach by having electricians, plumbers, and other trades pre-kit components, complete with instructions, to bring directly into each room. This method drastically reduced waste and sped up installation times.

Although we lost the emergency department project, the idea was too good to leave behind. On the research lab, we embedded room kitting into the contract and collaborated with trade partners to make it a reality. The results were astonishing.

The Results of Room Kitting:

The benefits of room kitting on the research lab project were undeniable. Coordination was so precise that we had just one incident where a fixture had to be moved—a far cry from the typical chaos of “drywall Gremlins” cutting unnecessary holes. We avoided costly rework, completed the project on schedule, and delivered a polished final product.

Trade partners later took the concept even further, incorporating barcoding and advanced tracking for kits, which enabled even faster assembly. This process has since become a go-to strategy for many of the teams involved.

The Room Kitting Process:

Implementing room kitting starts with thorough planning and coordination:

Collaborative Discussions with Trade Partners:
Early meetings ensured all trade partners understood and agreed to the room kitting approach.
Incorporating Room Kitting into Contracts:
It’s crucial to include room kitting in contracts to ensure accurate pricing and buy-in from all stakeholders.
Full Building Information Modeling (BIM) Process:
We used BIM tools to model priority walls, prefabricated spools, and other components. This ensured accurate plans for rough-ins and minimized conflicts.
Creating Wall Elevation Packages:
Using the Revit model, we produced detailed wall elevation sheets for critical rooms. These sheets provided clear layouts for every wall, including fixtures, electrical points, and piping.
Phased Reviews with Trade Partners:
Instead of tackling everything at once, we reviewed each floor in phases. Trade partners collaborated to identify conflicts, mark adjustments, and finalize coordinated plans without generating dozens of RFIs.
Finalizing Plans with Architects and End Users:
Architects addressed outstanding questions, and end users reviewed final layouts to confirm alignment with their needs.
Laminating and Posting Drawings On-Site:
Laminated coordination drawings were posted on walls at the construction site. Inspectors signed off on these drawings, which later became part of the as-built documentation.

This process required a modest investment of time and resources but paid off by reducing rework, minimizing waste, and ensuring a smoother construction timeline.

Why Room Kitting Works:

Room kitting integrates seamlessly into existing workflows. BIM modeling, trade coordination, and layout reviews are already standard practices on many projects. The added steps of creating detailed wall sheets and pre-kitted components are relatively simple but yield significant returns.

If modular construction or prefabricated pods aren’t feasible for your project, room kitting is an innovative and effective solution to improve efficiency.

If you want to learn more we have:

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The Right Way To Do A Field Walk

Posted on November 26, 2024November 26, 2024 by Danny Jiménez⁩

Read 5 min

How to Make Field Walks More Effective and Impactful

Field walks are a cornerstone of successful project management. However, when approached casually, they risk becoming unproductive and failing to drive meaningful improvement. This blog will show you how to transform your field walks into structured, impactful evaluations that provide actionable insights.

The Problem with Unstructured Field Walks

Too many field walks are informal strolls where feedback is limited to vague praise or random observations. While acknowledging good work is important, this approach often misses the opportunity to address critical project elements. A structured method is essential to ensure field walks are thorough, focused, and impactful.

Why Checklists Are Essential

Checklists provide a framework for evaluating your site against specific criteria. They help you avoid distractions, focus on the essentials, and ensure that nothing important is overlooked. Key areas that checklists can cover include:

Cleanliness.
Support systems.
Respect.
Quality.
Temporary lighting.

Using a checklist turns your field walks into a systematic process, much like a heart surgeon or pilot relies on a checklist to ensure safety and precision.

How to Conduct a Structured Field Walk:

Prepare Laminated Checklists:
Equip yourself with laminated checklists before starting your walk. These reusable tools can be written on with a dry-erase marker, making them perfect for field use.
Evaluate Floor by Floor:
Systematically walk through each area of the project, evaluating specific criteria. For instance, check the condition of temporary lighting rather than relying on memory or vague observations.
Document and Discuss:
By the end of the walk, you’ll have detailed notes and feedback ready to share with your team. This allows for meaningful discussions and actionable plans to address any issues.

The Role of Leadership in Field Walks:

Leaders like project executives, general superintendents, and field supervisors set the tone for effective field walks. By using a structured checklist process, you create clear expectations and provide your team with the tools they need to succeed.

Conclusion

Field walks don’t have to be a missed opportunity. With the right approach and tools, they can become a vital part of your project management strategy. Start using structured checklists today and experience the difference they make in your team’s performance and project outcomes.

If you want to learn more we have:

Discover Jason’s Expertise:

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Superintendent to Field Commander: The Leadership Leap

Posted on November 22, 2024November 22, 2024 by Danny Jiménez⁩

Read 8 min

Transitioning from a construction manager to a true field commander in construction is a powerful evolution. In this blog, we’ll explore how to lead projects with the precision and strategy of a military commander. Drawing inspiration from concepts in books like Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin, as well as other military frameworks, we’ll discuss how to bring leadership principles from the battlefield to the construction site.

Let’s dive into actionable strategies that will help you approach your project like a field commander.

The Rules of Combat Applied to Construction:

The rules of combat, as outlined in Extreme Ownership, offer an excellent framework for construction leadership:

Cover and Move.
Simplify.
Prioritize and Execute.
Decentralized Command.

These principles help overcome leadership dilemmas, particularly the balance between overseeing the project and staying connected to the team on the ground. Let’s break these down.

How to Overcome the Dilemma of Command:

In military operations, the dilemma of command is choosing between staying at headquarters to strategize or leading from the front lines. Similarly, in construction, superintendents face the challenge of splitting their time between office-based planning and field-based leadership.

The solution? Balance. Spend half your time planning and preparing in the office and the other half in the field.

Office Work: Use visual planning tools to strategize. Think of your office as a war room where you lay out “field maps” like master plans, takt plans, and lookahead schedules.
Field Work: Be present on the site, walking with crews and observing operations firsthand. This allows you to guide teams effectively and ensure alignment across all scopes of work.

Managing Construction Crews Like Military Units:

Each construction crew functions as an independent unit, similar to military squads. As a superintendent, your role is to align and unify these crews toward a common mission.

Field Commander’s Toolbox:

- Visual War Room: Strategize with tools like master schedules and crew boards to ensure clarity.
- Battle Perch: Find a high vantage point to observe the entire project site, just as generals survey battlefields. This could be a safe climb up a tower crane or another elevated area.
- Field Walks: Spend time on the ground, walking the site to ensure alignment and coordination among crews.

These practices allow you to maintain situational awareness and ensure that everyone is working cohesively.

Applying the Rules of Combat:

Cover and Move:

This principle is about teamwork. Crews must have each other’s backs, just like soldiers do in combat. Your role as a field commander is to build trust among teams. Unite office staff, foremen, and crews into one cohesive group through morning huddles and collaborative planning.

Simplify:

Complex projects demand clarity. Simplify your plans by breaking them down into digestible pieces. Use crew boards to communicate each team’s role in the overall strategy. Ensure your planning documents, from takt plans to lookahead schedules, are clear and actionable.

Prioritize and Execute:

Detach from the chaos of the project and identify the most critical tasks. Allocate resources to address the most significant bottlenecks first—whether it’s a trade-specific issue, a zone-level constraint, or the project’s overall limiting factor. Stay focused and act decisively.

Decentralized Command:

Empower crews to take ownership of their work. When teams are involved in planning and understand their role in the bigger picture, they feel accountable. This alignment fosters collaboration and ensures that every crew contributes to the success of the whole project.

How to Be a Great Field Commander:

To excel as a field commander, embrace the following habits:

Education and Training: Continuously improve your leadership skills, just as military leaders do.
Use Technology: Leverage planning tools and digital resources to stay organized.
Field Essentials: Maintain a clear crystal ball (future planning), a battle perch (site overview), and boots-on-the-ground engagement.

By combining these elements with the principles of combat, you’ll not only lead your project to success but also elevate your leadership game.

If you want to learn more we have:

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The Non-Negotiables Of Look-Ahead Planning For Project Success

Posted on November 21, 2024November 21, 2024 by Danny Jiménez⁩

Read 5 min

The Non-Negotiables for Look-Ahead Planning for Project Success

In this blog, we’ll explore the essential elements of look-ahead planning to ensure your project stays on track. By the end of this, you’ll have a clear understanding of how to optimize your planning, eliminate roadblocks, and set your team up for success. Let’s dive into concepts you may not have encountered before that will transform how you approach your look-ahead plan.

Start with a Macro-Level Takt Plan

Develop a Macro-Level Takt plan based on a five-day Takt time.
Use this plan as the foundation for your production schedule and contractual promises.
Pull conservative milestones, validated using reference class information and fresh eyes.
Break milestones into zones to create a Norm-Level Takt plan, optimizing sequences and buffers to absorb risks.

Derive Your Look-Ahead Plan

Filter out the next six weeks of work from your Norm-Level Takt plan.
Focus on two main goals:
- Make work ready.
- Identify and resolve roadblocks.

Use the 17-Point Checklist

The 17-point checklist is essential for ensuring activities are ready. Key components include:

Conditions of satisfaction.
Primary and secondary planning.
Spatial planning.

Conduct Effective Look-Ahead Meetings

To make the most of your look-ahead meetings:

Post the look-ahead plan visibly in a clear, visual format.
Set a timer (e.g., 10 minutes) and ask trade partners to:
- Analyze their scope for the next six weeks.
- Identify potential roadblocks for their tasks.
Focus on weeks 2–5.
- Address all roadblocks in this window before they impact the weekly work plan.
- Ensure weekly work plans are roadblock-free to enable smooth execution.

Track and Improve Your Roadblock Removal Average

The roadblock removal average measures how far in advance roadblocks are resolved:

Positive averages (e.g., +10 or +15 days): Indicate effective planning.
Negative averages: Show that roadblocks are identified too late, disrupting project flow.

Aim for a roadblock removal average of +5 or better to ensure proactive planning.

Indicators of Success in Look-Ahead Planning

If you’re doing it right, you’ll see:

A clear and visible format for your look-ahead plan.
The 17-point checklist prominently displayed and referenced during meetings.
Active participation from trade partners in identifying and resolving roadblocks.
Meetings focused 80% on roadblock removal.
A consistent roadblock removal average of +5 or better.

Final Thoughts

Look-ahead planning is essential for project success. By focusing on roadblock removal, adhering to the 17-point checklist, and engaging trade partners in the process, you’ll set your team up for success.

If you want to learn more we have:

Discover Jason’s Expertise:

On we go

Integrated Project Delivery (IPD): Why You Should Be Using It

Posted on November 20, 2024November 20, 2024 by Danny Jiménez⁩

Read 7 min

Integrated Project Delivery (IPD): Why You Should Be Using It

In this blog, I’ll explore what Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) is, share my experiences with it, and outline its key benefits. If you’re interested in learning advanced techniques to optimize construction projects, this blog is for you.

My Experience Learning About IPD

I was introduced to IPD while working at DPR Construction. Two major resources that helped me were the book Integrating Project Delivery and a course I took to earn my DBIA (Design-Build Institute of America) certification. The DBIA focuses on collaborative project delivery methods, including design-build, CM at Risk, and IPD.

During my time at DPR, I had the opportunity to work on several “IPD light” projects. While these didn’t involve a formal Integrated Form of Agreement (IFOA) or shared risk/reward structures, they embraced IPD behaviors, such as:

Collaborative kickoffs.
Team-building exercises.
Collocation (integrating teams physically and digitally).
Designing with the end in mind using advanced technology.

The result? Beautifully orchestrated, integrated project environments.

5 Key Concepts of IPD

Here are the foundational pillars of IPD:

Collaboration:
Teamwork is emphasized across all stakeholders, fostering an integrated approach to problem-solving and execution.
Shared Risk and Reward:
While often formalized through an IFOA, the principle focuses on optimizing the project as a whole rather than individual components.
Early Stakeholder Involvement:
Engaging key participants—contractors, end users, facilities managers, and trade partners—early ensures alignment and smooth execution.
Lean Principles:
Incorporating lean methodologies, such as Takt, Last Planner, and Scrum, drives efficiency and value delivery.
Technology and Data Sharing:
Leveraging integrated communication systems and advanced technology supports a unified approach to design and construction.

The Best Way to Implement IPD

IPD typically starts with project inception and extends to the beginning of execution. However, it doesn’t always provide detailed guidance on production planning. That’s where integrating IPD with the Integrated Production Control System (IPCS) becomes invaluable. Combining IPD with tools like Takt planning, Last Planner, and the First Planner System helps create robust preconstruction and execution strategies.

IPD can be implemented effectively through two primary methods:

IPD Light using CM at Risk contracts.
Full IPD with an IFOA.

Both approaches enable teams to optimize collaboration and outcomes.

What an IPD Project Looks Like

If you’re working on an IPD project, here’s what you can expect:

Collaborative team structures.
Shared risk and reward environments.
Lean construction principles.
Building Information Modeling (BIM) integration.
Regular communication in “big room” settings.
Unified scheduling for design, fabrication, and construction.
Focus on lifecycle cost optimization.
Sustainability practices embedded in the design.
Advanced technology integration.

To illustrate, think of non-IPD environments as playing nine soccer games simultaneously from individual tents, communicating only via email. In contrast, IPD is like playing one soccer game on a shared field, with open communication and a unified strategy.

Benefits of Implementing IPD

Enhanced Collaboration:
Teams work better together, from owners and designers to trade partners and vendors.
Increased Efficiency:
Phased designs and proximity-driven teamwork lead to streamlined operations.
Improved Project Outcomes:
Studies from the Lean Construction Institute (LCI) show significant gains when IPD is implemented.
Enhanced Innovation:
Collaborative environments foster creative problem-solving.
Risk Mitigation:
Teams collectively identify and address potential issues early.
Faster Project Delivery:
Proven by numerous case studies and data.
More Sustainable Projects:
IPD facilitates integrated design, fabrication, and installation for eco-friendly outcomes.
Happier Teams:
Stakeholders enjoy the process and build strong, long-term relationships.

If you want to learn more we have:

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© 2024 elevate construction ist LLC All Rights Reserved. |

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