January 2025 - Elevate Constructionist

Foreman Series: Making A Day Plan

Posted on January 31, 2025January 31, 2025 by Danny Jiménez⁩

Read 5 min

The Foreman Series: How to Create an Effective Day Plan

In this blog, we’ll dive into the responsibilities of creating a solid day plan, how it fits into the overall system, and some key tips and tricks to improve efficiency on the job site.

What Is a Day Plan?

A day plan is filtered from a weekly work plan, which itself is derived from a structured planning process:

Master schedule → Guides the overall project timeline.
Pull planning to milestones → Defines major project goals.
Norm-level Takt plan → Breaks down work into manageable sequences.
Six-week look-ahead plan → Outlines upcoming work in more detail.
Weekly work plan → Specifies what needs to be completed each week.

From this structured approach, the day plan is created one day in advance. It ensures that everyone on site knows what they need to do and has the necessary tools, materials, and information.

How to Create a Day Plan:

The afternoon foreman huddle is where day planning takes place. This meeting typically happens around 1:30 pm – 2:00 pm, allowing enough time to:

Review the day’s completed work and turn in daily reports.
Coordinate with other trades for the next day’s tasks.
Identify and resolve any roadblocks.
Ensure all resources are ready before work begins.

A successful day plan aligns directly with the weekly work plan and ensures work is executed smoothly the following day.

The Key to Productive Day Plans:

To maximize productivity, foremen need to secure essential items before the next workday begins. These include:

Tools & Equipment: Generators, ladders, power tools, etc.
Materials: Pre-stage materials and inspect them in advance.
Information: Printed RFIs, drawings, and clarifications.
Permits: Confined space, dig, or hot work permits.
Labor & Layout: Ensure workers and layout plans are prepared.

This preparation prevents delays and ensures crews can start working immediately in the morning when productivity is at its highest.

Creating a Job-Wide Day Plan:

A well-managed project site benefits from a job-wide day plan, which consolidates coordination efforts across multiple trades. This plan can be distributed via:

QR codes.
Emails.
WhatsApp messages.

This ensures that everyone on-site is aligned and ready for the next day’s work.

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.

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Are You Starting Your Construction Project The Right Way?

Posted on January 31, 2025January 31, 2025 by Danny Jiménez⁩

Read 6 min

How to Start Lean on Your Construction Project

Are you starting your construction project the right way? Getting started with lean can feel overwhelming, but in this blog, I’ll walk you through exactly how to approach it—whether you’re managing a massive commercial build or a smaller residential project.

A Holistic Approach to Lean Construction:

I get asked all the time: How should I start implementing lean on my construction project? Should I start small, focus on one area, or go all in? The answer lies in understanding that lean is a system, not just a set of disconnected tools.

In my book Elevating Preconstruction Planning, I outline the minimum lean components needed to run an operationally stable project.

Key Principles of Lean Construction:

At its core, lean thinking is about doing things the right way while eliminating waste. Lean is built on these principles:

Respect for people.
Stability in operations.
One-piece, one-process flow.
Visual systems to keep work transparent.
Continuous improvement at every stage.

To implement lean effectively, you need to ensure that all these elements are working together—just like how the human body needs all its systems to function properly.

How to Start a Lean Construction Project:

If you’re wondering where to begin, start with these key lean components:

Lean Planning in Pre-construction:

Pre-planning is essential. The more iterations you go through on paper, the smoother the project will run.
Always respect trade partners and avoid overburdening your workforce.

Key Lean Practices During Construction:

Flow: Ensure that your production plan follows a steady flow.
Procurement Alignment: Materials should arrive exactly when needed, not too early or too late.
Pre-construction Meetings: Hold meetings three weeks before a trade starts work.
Look-ahead Planning: Use six-week lookahead schedules to clear roadblocks early.
Pull Planning: All phases of work should be collaboratively pull-planned.

Ensuring Lean Success on Your Project:

To keep your project on the right track, ask yourself:

Are you using Takt planning for production?
Do you know your bottlenecks and are you actively addressing them?
Are you hosting pull planning sessions for every phase?
Is your procurement system designed for on-time material delivery?
Are you conducting handoff meetings with trades before they begin work?
Are you proactively clearing roadblocks before they impact progress?

If the answer to any of these is no, that’s a sign your project might struggle.

Key Takeaway:

Lean construction is not about isolated tools—it’s a system that requires flow, planning, and continuous improvement. To successfully implement lean, focus on pre-construction planning, align procurement with production, and use pull planning to keep work moving efficiently. If any of these elements are missing, your project may struggle. Start small, but ensure all key components are working together for a truly lean and high-performing project.

If you want to learn more we have:

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Which Certifications Should A PM Get?

Posted on January 29, 2025January 29, 2025 by Danny Jiménez⁩

Read 7 min

Which Certifications Should a Project Manager Get?

Choosing the right project management certification can be overwhelming. With so many options available, it’s important to focus on the ones that provide real value and practical benefits. In this blog, we’ll break down the most recognized certifications, highlight which ones are worth pursuing, and discuss which ones may not be as useful.

Top Certifications for Project Managers:

DBIA Certification (Design-Build Institute of America):

The DBIA certification is one of the best for project managers working in design-build, CM at risk, and IPD. It provides valuable training on alternative project delivery methods, making it an excellent choice for leaders in construction.

CM-Lean (Associated General Contractors – AGC):

For those committed to lean construction, the CM-Lean certification is a must. It focuses on improving efficiency, reducing waste, and implementing lean principles on projects.

CM-BIM (AGC – Construction Management Building Information Modeling):

With BIM (Building Information Modeling) becoming essential in construction, this certification is highly recommended. It helps project managers understand how to integrate BIM into workflows, improving coordination and reducing errors.

Certified Construction Manager (CMAA – Construction Management Association of America):

The Certified Construction Manager (CCM) credential is ideal for professionals overseeing planning, execution, and project closeout. Many successful construction managers have benefited from this certification.

Certifications That May Not Be Worth It:

PMP (Project Management Professional) & APM (Associate in Project Management):

The PMP certification, provided by the Project Management Institute (PMI), is one of the most well-known in the industry. However, in the construction sector, its heavy focus on paperwork, meetings, and administrative processes can be counterproductive. Many professionals find that PMP-certified managers spend more time managing documents than actually leading projects.

Similarly, the APM certification falls into the same category. While both may be useful in industries with structured workflows, they don’t always align with the fast-paced, hands-on nature of construction project management.

Other Notable Certifications:

LEED-Accredited Professional (LEED AP):

For those specializing in sustainable construction, the LEED AP certification is beneficial. However, its popularity has declined, and the coursework has become more complex. It’s best suited for professionals dedicated to sustainability.

Certified Scrum Master (CSM – Scrum.org):

Every project manager should understand lean principles and agile methodologies. The Certified Scrum Master (CSM) certification is one of the best for improving scheduling and workflow efficiency. It provides a deep understanding of how to manage teams and streamline processes.

Construction Health & Safety Technician (CHST):

This certification is valuable for those in safety-specific roles. It’s not necessary for all project managers, but for those overseeing safety compliance, it’s highly recommended.

OSHA 30-Hour Certification:

An essential certification for anyone working in construction. Completing an OSHA 30-hour course ensures compliance with workplace safety regulations and enhances leadership in safety management.

Six Sigma (Green Belt & Black Belt):

Six Sigma certifications focus on process improvement and efficiency. While they offer valuable insights, they cover a narrow scope within the broader lean framework. Some professionals find Six Sigma useful, but it’s not as impactful as other lean construction certifications.

Final Thoughts:

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to project management certifications. The best choice depends on your role, industry focus, and career goals.

If you’re in construction, prioritize DBIA, CM-Lean, CM-BIM, and CCM certifications for maximum value. Avoid certifications that emphasize excessive paperwork and administrative tasks instead of actual project leadership.

If you want to learn more we have:

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Foreman Series: Making A Weekly Work Plan

Posted on January 28, 2025January 28, 2025 by Danny Jiménez⁩

Read 6 min

Foreman Series: Making a Weekly Work Plan

In this blog, we’ll dive into how foremen can successfully create a weekly work plan, along with some essential tips to make the process as seamless as possible. If you’re involved in fieldwork, project planning, or construction management, this post will guide you in creating effective weekly work plans.

The Key to Weekly Work Plans:

A weekly work plan is a crucial tool that bridges the gap between the master schedule and daily tasks. It ensures that the current and upcoming weeks are well-organized, filtered from the master schedule, and collaboratively developed by all trade partners. The goal is to create a committed, actionable plan that can be efficiently followed in the field.

To make this work, activities must be:

Well-coordinated: Avoiding trade stacking and trade burdening.
Vertically aligned: Matching milestones in the master schedule.
Handoff-ready: Ensuring smooth transitions between trades with clean, safe, and inspected zones.

How to Create a Weekly Work Plan:

When developing a weekly work plan, here are some quick steps to follow:

Start with the Norm-Level Takt plan, which filters into:
- Six-week look-ahead plans.
- Weekly work plans, derived from the pull plan.
Adjust the plan based on your trade’s needs:
- Confirm start and finish dates.
- Ensure the scope and milestones are accurate.
- Commit to handoffs that meet quality and readiness standards.
Finalize the plan with commitments you can deliver and use it to track daily progress.

The Wrong Way to Create a Weekly Work Plan:

Avoid wasting time with inefficient methods. If you’re asked to create a weekly work plan independently without collaboration and then consolidate it during a meeting, know that this approach will lead to inefficiencies. Instead, a well-organized process starts with a collaborative pull plan and flows into Takt planning.

Tips for Adjusting the Weekly Work Plan:

As a foreman, you should ensure that your weekly work plan is practical and aligns with the broader project goals. Adjustments include:

Verifying that start and finish dates are feasible.
Double-checking handoffs to ensure readiness for subsequent trades.
Confirming alignment with the master schedule’s milestones.

By keeping these adjustments in check, you’ll ensure that your plan is effective and contributes to the project’s overall success.

Responsibilities of a Foreman:

Foremen play a critical role in weekly work planning by:

Ensuring the plan aligns vertically with the project’s milestones.
Keeping promises to other trades regarding handoffs.
Tracking percent plan completion (PPC) to measure success.

By following these guidelines, you’ll save time and improve efficiency while contributing to a smooth workflow for the entire team.

If you want to learn more we have:

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What Is A Daily Report In Construction?

Posted on January 27, 2025January 27, 2025 by Danny Jiménez⁩

Read 6 min

What is a Daily Report in Construction?

Daily reports play a critical role in construction projects. They serve as a communication tool for the team and a historical legal document that tracks the project’s activities and progress. Whether verifying progress payments, documenting production plans, or serving as evidence in a court case, daily reports are indispensable. This blog explores the essentials of creating effective daily reports and offers tips to streamline the process.

Importance of Accurate Daily Reports:

Daily reports must be accurate and complete. Both trade partner reports and general contractor reports are vital. Any issues raised in a report should also be addressed during the foreman huddle to resolve them effectively. Without accuracy and thoroughness, reports lose their value as reliable records.

Overcoming the Challenges of Daily Reporting:

Filling out daily reports can feel tedious, and many people tend to put it off. The key is to make the process as seamless as possible. Tools like Note Vault can help simplify the task by automating inputs like weather conditions and allowing voice-to-text functionality. Making daily reporting frictionless encourages consistency and ensures the data collected is accurate and actionable.

Key Elements of a Daily Report:

To create a useful and complete daily report, ensure it includes the following:

General Information: Basic project details should already be prefilled through integrated software.
Personnel and Equipment On-Site: A record of who and what resources were present.
Work Completed: Align this with your weekly work plan, tracking progress daily.
Issues for the Day: Document delays, weather impacts, or any other obstacles.
Materials and Deliveries: Keep a record of what was delivered and when.
Inspections and Approvals: Note all inspections or approvals that occurred.
Relevant Drawings: Include any new drawings or plans pertinent to the day’s activities.
Photos: Visual documentation is invaluable and can often convey more than words.

Purpose of Daily Reports:

Daily reports serve several essential functions:

Document Progress: Track project advancement and verify completed tasks.
Provide Historical Data: Create a reliable record for future reference or dispute resolution.
Facilitate Communication: Act as a bridge between trade partners, general contractors, and owners.
Support Issue Resolution: Ensure challenges highlighted in reports are addressed promptly.

With effective daily reporting, you can enhance communication, improve project tracking, and mitigate potential risks. Start incorporating these practices today to elevate your project management game.

Key Takeaway:

Daily reports in construction are essential tools for tracking progress, ensuring accountability, and resolving issues effectively. By making the process seamless and including accurate information, such as personnel, work completed, and photos, you can create a reliable historical record that supports communication and decision-making throughout the project lifecycle.

If you want to learn more we have:

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Rules Of Flow In Construction: Time Buffer

Posted on January 24, 2025January 24, 2025 by Danny Jiménez⁩

Read 8 min

The Power of Buffers in Construction: A Guide to Ensuring Project Flow

In the world of construction, delays, impacts, and variability are inevitable. Yet, the way we plan and react to these challenges can make all the difference in ensuring the success of a project. In this blog, we delve into an essential yet often overlooked aspect of construction planning: buffers. By understanding and implementing the right types of buffers, we can achieve better flow, maintain productivity, and mitigate risks effectively.

Why Buffers Matter in Construction:

Buffers act as safeguards against unforeseen disruptions. Whether it’s weather delays, supply chain issues, or design changes, buffers absorb the impact of these variables without derailing the entire project. In essence, buffers provide the flexibility needed to keep the project moving, much like extra space between cars ensures smooth traffic flow.

Without buffers, even minor setbacks can spiral into major issues, creating a “domino effect” that impacts the entire schedule. Think of a highway with no extra lanes—when an accident occurs, everything comes to a halt. Similarly, in construction, a lack of buffers can lead to cascading delays and reduced efficiency.

Types of Buffers in Construction:

To effectively manage uncertainty, there are three key types of buffers you should include in your construction plans:

Resource Buffers:
These buffers are added at the end of the supply chain to ensure materials or resources are available when needed. By accounting for delays in procurement or delivery, resource buffers help maintain the flow of construction activities.
Feeding Buffers:
Feeding buffers are placed at the end of critical timelines feeding into the main schedule. These buffers ensure that delays in secondary activities don’t disrupt the primary project timeline.
Project Buffers (Calculated End Buffers):
These are placed at the end of the overall project schedule to protect against unforeseen risks and ensure that the project is completed on time.

The Philosophy Behind Buffers:

The use of buffers isn’t about creating unnecessary slack. Instead, it’s about placing the right amount of contingency at critical points. This strategic approach avoids “sandbagging” individual tasks and focuses on maintaining overall flow.

Buffers allow us to address variability proactively, rather than relying on last-minute improvisation. As construction professionals, we must acknowledge that some impacts are unforeseeable—whether it’s an act of nature, a sudden design change, or unexpected government regulations. Buffers act as a safety net, enabling us to maintain control and keep the project moving forward.

Best Practices for Buffer Implementation:

To maximize the effectiveness of buffers, follow these key practices:

Plan for Foreseeable and Unforeseeable Risks: Use risk analysis to identify potential delays and allocate appropriate buffers.
Adopt a Flow-Centric Approach: Organize your schedules using tools like Takt planning, which emphasizes sequence, balance, and interdependence ties.
Maintain Flexibility in Reaction: It’s not the delay itself but your reaction to it that determines the outcome. Avoid stacking or overburdening tasks when disruptions occur.
Apply Lean Construction Principles: Buffers align with lean construction philosophies by ensuring continuous flow while challenging teams to meet performance targets.

Real-Life Analogies of Buffers:

To better understand the importance of buffers, let’s look at two simple analogies:

Traffic Flow: Just like maintaining space between cars on a freeway prevents traffic jams, buffers in construction schedules prevent delays from cascading into larger problems.
Blood Flow: High blood pressure, caused by a lack of space in your blood vessels, disrupts flow and creates health issues. Similarly, a lack of buffers in construction disrupts project flow and leads to inefficiencies.

Conclusion:

In construction, flow is not lost due to impacts or delays but through poor reactions to them. By incorporating resource, feeding, and project buffers into your plans, you can effectively manage variability and maintain productivity. Buffers are an essential component of successful construction projects, allowing teams to adapt to uncertainty while staying on track.

If you want to learn more we have:

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Recovery Plan For Construction Project

Posted on January 23, 2025January 23, 2025 by Danny Jiménez⁩

Read 10 min

Recovery Plan for a Construction Project: A Lean Approach

If you’re tasked with recovering a construction project that’s spiraling downward, it can be overwhelming. But don’t worry, you’re not alone in this, and it doesn’t have to be harder than it already is. I’ve successfully turned around numerous troubled projects, and the principles I’ll share with you are tried-and-true. Follow these steps to stabilize your project, improve efficiency, and get back on track.

Respect for People:

The first principle to follow when recovering a project is respect for people. When the project starts going wrong, it’s easy to forget the human side of things, but it’s essential to keep morale high. Start by implementing morning worker huddles to bring everyone together and celebrate milestones. Ensure the job site has clean bathrooms, well-maintained lunch areas, and effective communication channels. By showing workers respect and giving them an outlet to voice issues, you’ll maintain their motivation to help recover the project.

Stability:

A stable work environment is crucial to recovering a project. Clean, safe, and organized sites lead to productive work. Spend a day or two cleaning up the job site, follow the 5S or 6S system (sort, straighten, shine, standardize, sustain), and ensure that everything is in its place. This might seem like a delay, but it’s necessary to create a foundation for the next steps. If the site is chaotic, productivity will continue to suffer.

One Process Flow:

Focus on one process flow. This principle ensures that everyone is aligned on the tasks at hand and can complete them without unnecessary interruptions or distractions. Make sure your team is focused on finishing one task before starting another. Start by planning each task, building according to the plan, and completing it before moving to the next. This reduces rework and inefficiencies that extend the project lifecycle.

Flow:

To truly optimize project recovery, establish flow. Ensure that each task flows into the next, without bottlenecks or unnecessary wait times. This is often done using Takt time, but even if you can’t implement Takt time immediately, ensure that work progresses in a sequence that makes sense. One key practice is to pull contractors into areas as soon as the previous task is finished, avoiding delays caused by overlapping work.

Visual Systems:

You can’t recover a project effectively without visual systems in place. Use huddle boards to track progress and visual production plans to give everyone a clear view of the project timeline. Add wayfinding signage so that workers can easily navigate the site. When everyone can see the same information and understand the project’s goals, they’ll be more likely to contribute effectively and stay aligned.

Continuous Improvement:

The final principle for project recovery is continuous improvement. Once the recovery plan is in place, implement it and begin identifying areas for improvement. Whether it’s refining processes, addressing delays, or enhancing communication, continuous improvement ensures that your project doesn’t just recover—it thrives.

Key to a Successful Recovery: Stability First

The most important thing to remember when recovering a construction project is stability first. It may feel like you’re behind schedule, but rushing and pushing the work will only lead to a productivity spiral. Instead, hold steady, avoid increasing the work in progress, and stay focused on the principles above.

How to Manage Change Orders:

When managing change orders, don’t let your trades get distracted. Treat change orders as separate tasks, with a separate crew and management. Stay focused on the main contract work to avoid derailing your recovery plan.

Inventory Materials:

Ensure that all materials are accounted for and that nothing is missing. Go through all plans and specs and make sure that your inventory is complete. If something’s missing, get it on-site quickly.

Importance of Having a Path to Finish:

A clear path to finish is essential. Ensure that the project timeline is complete with all details, including commissioning and final testing. Knowing exactly what needs to be done to reach the end is vital for staying on track.

Focus on Pre-Planning:

One common mistake in project recovery is abandoning the pre-con meeting or pull planning. Don’t fall into this trap. Maintain your pre-con meetings, look-ahead planning, and weekly work planning. Addressing roadblocks before they occur is much more effective than trying to fix them after they’ve delayed progress.

Conclusion:

To recover a construction project successfully, focus on respect for people, stability, flow, visual systems, and continuous improvement. Hold steady and avoid the temptation to rush through the process. By sticking to these principles, you can turn a troubled project around and get it back on track for completion.

Stay focused on the fundamentals, and you’ll achieve the results you need. If you’re ever tasked with recovering a project, keep these principles in mind—they’re your blueprint for success.

If you want to learn more we have:

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Foreman Series: Participating In The Look-Ahead

Posted on January 22, 2025January 22, 2025 by Danny Jiménez⁩

Read 6 min

Foreman Series: Participating in Look-Ahead Planning

In this blog, we’ll dive into the critical role foremen play in look-ahead planning as part of the Last Planner® System. The goal? To ensure that the planning process isn’t just another routine task but a meaningful tool for achieving flow and readiness on your construction site.

Why Look-Ahead Planning Matters:

Look-ahead planning is much more than a printout or a routine meeting—it’s an opportunity to create alignment, remove roadblocks, and ensure work is ready when the time comes. Done right, this process improves flow and helps avoid surprises. Ideally, the experience should also be engaging. Imagine a planning session that includes coffee, snacks, and a collaborative atmosphere where issues are solved proactively.

The Planning Framework:

Effective construction planning involves a phased approach:

Three Months Before: Conduct a pull plan to set the overall strategy.
Three Weeks Before: Hold a Pre-construction meeting to refine details.
Six Weeks Before: Focus on look-ahead planning to identify and resolve obstacles.
One Week Before: Finalize weekly work planning.

As a foreman, your role becomes crucial when it comes to the six-week look-ahead plan.

Understanding the Look-Ahead Plan:

The look-ahead plan typically includes:

Time on the Top: The timeline for upcoming tasks.
Locations on the Left: Key areas of focus for work.
Zone Maps or 3D Views: Visual aids that clarify work zones and task details.

For example, if your work area is marked in blue, your task is to locate your color and ensure your scope of work is clearly outlined. The aim is to mentally “live” six weeks ahead, ensuring that everything is ready for execution.

How to Participate Effectively:

Identify Issues: Pinpoint potential roadblocks such as delayed equipment deliveries, incomplete designs, or congested areas.
Discuss and Solve: Use meetings to discuss identified issues and collaboratively develop solutions.
Utilize All Senses: Go beyond visualizing; sense the space, anticipate needs, and mentally prepare for execution.

Key Questions to Ask:

Use the 17 readiness factors to evaluate whether the task is fully prepared:

Do I have the labor, materials, equipment, and tools needed?
Are permissions, layout, and information available?
Have preceding tasks been completed?

If you identify any gaps, mark them clearly and escalate for resolution.

Best Practices for Success:

Collaborative Problem Solving: Allocate 10–15 minutes for trade partners to review their tasks, identify roadblocks, and discuss solutions as a group.
Proactive Planning: Ensure that roadblocks are resolved at least 3–4 weeks in advance to avoid disruptions.

Conclusion:

Participating in look-ahead planning isn’t just about checking boxes; it’s about creating flow and ensuring work is ready to proceed smoothly. By living six weeks ahead, identifying, discussing, and solving problems proactively, you can make a significant impact on your project’s success.

If you want to learn more we have:

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Rules Of Flow In Construction: Synchronization

Posted on January 21, 2025January 21, 2025 by Danny Jiménez⁩

Read 7 min

Rules of Flow in Construction: Synchronization Is Key

Synchronization is a fascinating topic that lies at the heart of efficient construction projects. While achieving one-piece or one-process flow is commendable, the reality of construction involves managing multiple trade partners. Success depends on all these trades working together, with the same timing, intersections, and proper overlaps. That’s the essence of synchronization.

A little-known secret: a project will only go as well as its trades perform together. When trades succeed, the project succeeds. It’s easy to be good individually, but being good collectively—that’s the challenge. This blog dives deep into what synchronization means in construction and how it can transform projects.

What Is Synchronization in Construction?

Synchronization in construction means aligning tasks so they flow seamlessly together. Imagine using a Time-by-Location Takt Plan:

Trade Rhythm: A trade moves from Zone 1 to Zone 2 to Zone 3, and so on. The question is, can subsequent trades maintain the same speed and flow?
Consistent Line of Balance: Synchronization ensures trades progress at relatively close speeds, avoiding gaps or inefficiencies.

Even with multiple lines of balance, intersections must be managed. Synchronization is not just about flow but also about timing, rhythm, and interconnections—ensuring trades meet at the right points without disruption.

How Synchronization Works: A Real-World Example

Let’s consider erecting air handlers on a building’s roof. Synchronization here involves aligning several components:

Start Date for the Crane.
Delivery of Air Handlers.
Installation Crew.
Manufacturers’ Representatives for Assembly.
Chilled Water, Heating Hot Water, and Permanent Power Availability.

All these activities must converge at a specific milestone. Any delays—like late air handler delivery—can ripple across the project, delaying the crane, crew, and more. That’s why buffer planning is essential to account for uncertainties and maintain synchronization.

The Turkey Dinner Analogy for Synchronization:

The Goldratt family explains synchronization beautifully using the analogy of preparing a turkey dinner. Imagine the family plans to eat at 7 PM:

The turkey, gravy, stuffing, drinks, and more all need to be ready at the same time.
Tasks in the kitchen must flow in rhythm, without overburdening anyone.

Similarly, in construction, rhythm, interconnections, and task convergence are crucial for synchronization.

How Synchronization Aligns with Lean Construction:

Lean construction emphasizes:

Respect for People.
Stability.
One-Piece Flow.
Flowing Together.

Synchronization ties directly to the fourth principle: flowing together. Multiple value-adding and value-receiving units in a system must work in harmony. This requires precise planning, visual systems, and continuous improvement. Without synchronization, inefficiencies arise, resulting in extended project timelines and wasted resources.

What Happens If You Don’t Synchronize?

When tasks are out of sync:

Gaps and inefficiencies appear between activities.
Milestones are delayed, extending project durations.
Delayed components affect others downstream, compounding issues.

Proper synchronization avoids these pitfalls, ensuring every trade flows in harmony and meets milestones effectively.

Real-Life Synchronization Success:

In one project—a cancer center—we had to coordinate chilled water, permanent power, air handlers, the crane, and traffic control. By adding strategic buffers (e.g., a 5-week buffer for chilled water), releasing tasks at the right time, and aligning everything with full kits, we achieved seamless synchronization. The result? Air handlers were operational on time, cooling the building as planned.

Key Takeaways for GCs and Superintendents:

Being good individually is easy; being good together is hard. For general contractors and superintendents, synchronization is their primary job. Think of the superintendent as a choir conductor, coordinating musicians (trades) to play in rhythm. Without synchronization, the project will falter.

If you want to learn more we have:

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Planning Phase Of A Construction Project

Posted on January 20, 2025January 20, 2025 by Danny Jiménez⁩

Read 8 min

What to Focus on During the Planning Phase of a Construction Project

Planning is the foundation of any successful construction project. It’s where the groundwork is laid, both figuratively and literally, to ensure a project doesn’t just start well but stays on track. As builders, our ultimate goal is to set our projects up for success. After all, projects don’t go wrong—they start wrong.

In this blog, we’ll explore what you, as a builder, should focus on during the preconstruction phase. While other blogs may dive into the detailed steps of preconstruction, this one emphasizes the mindset and priorities that can make or break a project.

Key Focus Areas During Preconstruction:

Concept and Schematic Design Phases:

At the beginning of a project, your focus should be on:

Macro-Level Takt Plan: Develop an overarching plan to ensure your project’s general conditions (GCs) and general requirements (GRs) are estimated correctly. Underestimating these can lead to problems later when you lack the budget to cover essential management resources.
Supporting the Design Team: Collaborate closely with the design team to guide the process effectively.
Long-Lead Procurement: Identify and address major procurement items, such as utilities and Shoring requirements, during this phase.

Design Development Phase:

This phase is about bringing in builders and trade partners to:

Perform thorough risk analysis.
Develop a solid plan based on reference classes, as discussed in the book “How Big Things Get Done”.
Gather trade input and refine designs to ensure constructability.

Construction Documents Phase:

Before finalizing the plan and submitting for GMP approval, conduct a fresh eyes meeting to:

Review and revise the plan comprehensively.
Ensure all deliverables are included in the prime agreement.

The Importance of Visual Systems:

One critical element throughout the planning phase is using visual systems. As builders, we must get everything out of our heads and onto visual platforms. This includes:

Macro and Norm-level Takt plans.
Zone maps, logistics plans, and trailer drawings.
Risk and opportunity registers, procurement logs, and accountability charts.

Visual representation enables teams to identify risks, improve understanding, and align strategies. Whether using foam core models, 3D applications, or detailed maps, make your planning process as visual as possible to ensure clarity and alignment among all stakeholders.

The Power of Pixar Planning:

Did you know Pixar creates its movies multiple times before you see the final version? This iterative process involves creating, reviewing, and revising to perfection. In construction, adopting this approach—what we call Pixar planning—can significantly enhance project outcomes.

Strive to review and refine your project at least three times before execution. By tearing apart the plan and rebuilding it during preconstruction, you’ll mitigate risks and set the stage for a smoother construction process.

Experience and Experimentation:

While experience is invaluable, experimentation is equally important. Whether its building logistics plans with foam core and popsicle sticks or using 3D models to analyze crane placements, testing and refining your strategies before implementation can lead to better outcomes.

Teams that embrace experimentation alongside experience tend to outperform those that rely solely on historical knowledge.

Aligning with Risks and Reference Classes:

Your planning process should visually compare the current plan to a reference class, incorporating lessons from historical projects. This effort helps identify risks early, which can then be addressed through:

Risk and opportunity registers.
Financial or schedule buffers.

Final Thoughts:

Preconstruction is about more than just steps; it’s about mindset. By focusing on visual systems, iterative planning, experimentation, and risk alignment, you’ll set up your project for long-term success. Remember, the effort you invest during this phase determines the trajectory of your entire project.

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