April 2025 - Page 2 of 3 - Elevate Constructionist

How To Manage A Construction Project In The Final Stretch

Posted on April 17, 2025April 17, 2025 by Danny Jiménez⁩

Read 7 min

How to Manage a Construction Project in the Final Stretch

In this blog, we’re diving into the most exciting and often overlooked phase of a construction project—the final stretch. This is where things can either fall apart or come together beautifully. If you’re aiming to finish strong, this blog will walk you through the key milestones, risks, and tactics to ensure success.

Key Milestones to Watch:

As you close in on the end of your project, it’s crucial to stay focused. We’ve talked in earlier blogs about managing the 0%, 33%, and 66% phases—now it’s time for the final third. This is all about glide paths, not crash landings. You want smooth, predictable progress.

I used to map out a detailed calendar—what we called the “Yellow Brick Road”—with month-by-month visuals laminated and distributed to everyone on the team. It kept the mission clear and front of mind. The goal? No surprises at the end.

Use Tools That Fit Your Flow:

Whether you’re using V Planner, CPM tools, Smartsheet, or Touchplan, make sure you’re pull-planning from the end milestone (like substantial completion) backward. Work back from final sign-offs, punch lists, and testing to build out a sequence you can rely on—and make sure to include a buffer. Because trust me, something always goes sideways.

Testing and Commissioning: Your Two Critical Paths:

This is the meat of the final phase. You have two parallel paths to track meticulously:

Testing & Inspections: This includes life safety, fire alarm and sprinklers, elevators, ADA, and egress routes. These systems must be signed off, and you need to begin early—because you’re already six weeks behind whether you know it or not.
Commissioning: Watch how all the systems—mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and controls—converge at the air handlers. Permanent power, controls, equipment, and communications must all come together to enable a successful test and balance, pre-functional checklists, and full functional performance testing.

Do a Full Material Audit:

Don’t wait until you’re out of mullion caps or metal panels. Project engineers should conduct a full material audit before the final rush. Missing one component can hold up the whole show.

Start Closeout Early:

Yes, even before you think you’re ready. Transmit attic stock, collect submittals, reconcile change orders—start the process now, or you’ll pay for it later with your weekends and family time.

Design Your Exit Strategy:

The site itself needs to be planned just as thoroughly as the building. Design zones for access, hoist removal, and site release. This isn’t just logistics—it’s choreography. Treat it like an art form.

Final Clean: Your Psychological Cue:

The most underrated tip? Start final cleaning early. Not just to tidy up, but to mentally cue everyone that this is the home stretch. It shifts the energy on site. I’ll pay for two or three cleans if that’s what it takes to get people in “wrap it up” mode.

Wrap-Up:

If you’ve been building quality throughout and finishing as you go, this final stretch should feel rewarding, not stressful. Finish strong. Build right. And enjoy the best part of the project lifecycle.

Key Takeaway:

Finishing a construction project strong isn’t about sprinting at the end—it’s about planning your testing, commissioning, material audits, and closeout from day one of the final phase. The smartest superintendents track every detail and start six weeks earlier than they think they need to.

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

How Do You Figure Out Coordinates?

Posted on April 15, 2025April 15, 2025 by Danny Jiménez⁩

Read 6 min

How to Figure Out Coordinates on a Construction Site

Why do we so often find ourselves begging for coordinates at the start of a project—when we all know we need them? It’s frustrating, inefficient, and unnecessary. This blog is here to help you cut through the chaos and get your site layout process locked in from the very beginning.

Whether you’re a field engineer, surveyor, or builder, the concept is the same: you need a solid basis of bearings and accurate building coordinates to do your job right. In this blog, I’ll walk you through the exact process our team followed on a multifamily project and show you a clear method for obtaining and confirming coordinates using verified data.

Step 1: Understand the Basis of Bearings:

Your basis of bearings is the starting point. The civil engineering team typically includes this in the drawings using northing, easting, and elevation references. However, it’s critical not to rely solely on CAD files. Instead, back up this data with an RFI or confirmation from city records. In our case, we combined the CAD data with aerial maps and the topographic survey to cross-verify coordinates before submitting our RFI.

Step 2: Confirm Building Locations:

Once we had the basis of bearings, we needed to locate the buildings. Again, relying only on CAD files is a no-go. Instead, we created an exhibit with two gridline intersections per building, verified those against the basis of bearings, and submitted an official RFI to confirm accuracy. The surveyor responded with a formal deliverable—a coordinate system with labeled gridline intersections. That documentation can now be inserted into the drawing set.

Step 3: Establish Primary and Secondary Control:

With verified coordinates, we could then establish primary control points around the site. Think of these as your permanent external reference. Using the compass rule and traverse methods, we connected these control points to the basis of bearings and property corners, creating a full primary control network.

Then, inside the site, we set up secondary control: baselines and gridlines for each building. This internal control allows us to precisely lay out walls, columns, and other structural elements using working control lines.

The Key Principle:

At the end of the day, here’s what matters:

Your basis of bearings must match your building coordinates.
That alignment allows you to build a reliable primary control network.
From there, establish secondary control to manage layout within each building.
Finally, use working control to install components precisely where they belong.

Final Thoughts:

As a builder, I always want:

Confirmed basis of bearings—verified through the city or official channels.
An official deliverable—either a drawing sheet or an RFI with exact building coordinates.

Don’t wait until layout to figure this out. Start early in pre-construction. Engage your surveyor. Equip your field engineers. And be prepared with the tools and training to do it right.

If you want to learn more we have:

Discover Jason’s Expertise:

On we go

What Is The Last Planner System Day Plan?

Posted on April 14, 2025April 14, 2025 by Danny Jiménez⁩

Read 7 min

What Is the Last Planner System Day Plan?

In this blog, I walk you through what a Day Plan is within the Last Planner System. You’ll see how it’s created, where it fits in your overall planning flow, and—most importantly—how to communicate it effectively to everyone on the project site.

Where is the Day Plan Created?

The Afternoon Foreman Huddle. That’s where the magic happens.

If you’re familiar with the Team Weekly Tactical and the Trade Partner Weekly Tactical, you know the importance of consistent flow. After those meetings set the long- and short-term context, the Foreman Huddle focuses on the next day. Planning for the next day must happen the day before, not in the morning when it’s too late to make adjustments.

Morning huddles often devolve into status updates (“I’m on Level 3, Area A with five guys…”), which aren’t useful. Everyone should already know where they’re working. The afternoon Foreman Huddle, on the other hand, is where you manage handoffs, remove remaining roadblocks, and finalize the plan.

What’s the Purpose of the Day Plan?

To fully plan the next day so foremen can run the site efficiently. You’re setting them up with clarity, resources, and coordination.

Here’s what happens:

Collect Daily Reports – This keeps your data fresh. A field engineer can even review them in real-time during the meeting.
Celebrate Wins – Always start with shout-outs to keep energy high.
Review Progress – Use green check marks and red Xs to see what got done. Missed items need root-cause analysis: was it a constraint or a roadblock?

Constraints vs. Roadblocks:

Constraints are issues within the system (e.g., missing resources, poor zoning).
Roadblocks are things in the way (e.g., weather, inspections, equipment).

Foremen focus on removing roadblocks, while the project team should solve constraints.

Planning the Next Day:

This is where it gets exciting. You’ll create a visual Day Plan using tools like Canva that includes:

Overall plan.
Zone maps.
Production goals.
Logistics.
3D models.
Permits.
Safety messages.
Staging & delivery info.
Weather forecast.

This graphic should be shared via a QR code on-site. That way, any foreman or crew member can access the plan digitally and stay aligned. Imagine how seamless your jobsite becomes when everyone can “see as a group, know as a group, and act as a group.”

Final Steps in the Huddle:

Review Remaining Roadblocks.
Coordinate Handoffs – Ensure each trade treats the next like a customer.
Finalize the Plan – Including permits and final logistics.

Many teams go a step further and link not just the Day Plan via QR code, but also the Weekly Work Plan, Look-Ahead Plan, Macro-Level Takt Plan, Safety Info, and more. This prepares you to communicate with clarity during the Morning Worker Huddle.

How the Last Planner System Connects:

Here’s the big picture:

Macro-Level Takt Plan → Strategy.
Norm-Level Production Plan → Buffers, zones, Takt time.
Six-Week Look-Ahead Plan → Remove roadblocks.
Weekly Work Plan → Basis for daily execution.
Day Plan → Shared visually for action.

Final Thoughts:

If your team in the field can’t see the plan, they can’t act on it. Clear, shared visuals help them:

Understand where materials are going.
Track key info by zone.
Coordinate handoffs smoothly.

The Day Plan, created in the Afternoon Foreman Huddle and shared in the Morning Worker Huddle, is one of the most powerful tools I’ve ever used. And it works—everywhere we implement it.

If you want to learn more we have:

Discover Jason’s Expertise:

On we go

How To Manage A Construction Project During The Exterior And Interior Phase

Posted on April 12, 2025April 12, 2025 by Danny Jiménez⁩

Read 8 min

Mastering Construction Phasing: How to Align Exterior and Interior Work

Managing the exterior and interior phases of a construction project is like orchestrating a dance. If done right, the movements are smooth, coordinated, and efficient. In this blog, we’ll walk through the key considerations and planning strategies that ensure both exterior and interior scopes align seamlessly throughout the life of your project.

Exterior and Interior: A Coordinated Dance

Think of exterior and interior phasing like two dancers moving in sync. You need the exterior sealed to protect sensitive interior work, and the interior must support commissioning efforts like temporary heating and cooling. Getting these two to “dance” together takes clear coordination.

Critical Intersections to Monitor:

There are three intersections that should always be on your radar:

Perimeter Framing & Demising Walls: You can’t finish walls to the edge without perimeter framing in place.
Weather-Sensitive Materials: Don’t start drywall or any other sensitive finishes until your building is sealed — substrate, air/vapor barrier, waterproofing, and windows must be substantially complete.
Commissioning Requirements: Your commissioning team can’t proceed without a sealed building.

The Common Disconnect: Vertical vs. Horizontal Progress

Interior trades usually move floor by floor, while exterior crews often work in vertical segments. This can create a mismatch if not properly planned. For example, one side of your building might be completely open while interiors are moving forward. You must actively manage this phasing.

Comeback Areas:

On high-rises especially, you’ll find “comeback areas” where exterior work lags behind. These should never be a surprise. Trade partners need to know about them during bidding. These areas should be clearly identified in your plan.

Exterior Logistics Planning:

Not every section of your building will be built the same way. You might use scaffolding on one section, swing stages on another, and boom lifts somewhere else. Your logistics plan must answer: How are we going to build this? And more importantly: Is there enough space outside the building to support it?

Whether it’s curtain wall, masonry, or brick veneer—each has unique space and access requirements. Plan your scaffolding, swing stages, and boom lifts with intention.

Interior Logistics Must Fit Too:

Now layer in your interior logistics. How are materials moving up the building? Through a hoist? Great—but remember that hoist will eventually come down and leave infill work behind. Coordinate logistics so the hoist doesn’t interfere with exterior progress and vice versa.

Sealing the Building Should Be a Top Priority:

The primary goal of exterior work should be to seal the building. This enables temporary conditioning and protects finishes. Don’t delay sealing just to get cladding done at the ground level. Instead, seal all the way up to windows and barrier, then come back to do cladding later.

Advancing to HVAC and Commissioning:

Once sealed, move quickly to:

Electrical and communication rooms.
Vertical chases for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems.
Fire riser rooms and service entry points.

Why? Because you need to get HVAC online as soon as possible—not just for worker comfort, but for commissioning: testing, balancing, and verifying functionality.

Break It Down by Functional Areas:

One major mistake on billion-dollar projects? Running everything with one big team. Don’t do it.

Break your job into functional areas with dedicated teams. Assign assistant PMs, PEs, and assistant supers to run the interior and exterior separately. This keeps meetings focused, reduces batching, and helps people go home to their families without burnout.

If you get the sequencing and intersections right, coordinate both interior and exterior logistics, and break the project down into functional teams—you’ll be in a much better position to succeed.

If you want to learn more we have:

Discover Jason’s Expertise:

On we go

How To Manage A Construction Project During The Superstructure

Posted on April 10, 2025April 10, 2025 by Danny Jiménez⁩

Read 7 min

How to Manage a Construction Project During the Superstructure Phase

Managing the superstructure phase of a construction project requires sharp focus, careful planning, and an experienced team. In this blog, I’m going to walk you through six key considerations that should be top of mind as your project begins to go vertical—whether you’re working with steel or concrete.

This phase is about more than just building upward—it’s about doing it efficiently, safely, and in a way that sets the rest of the project up for success. Let’s break it down:

Hoisting:
You can’t go vertical without a solid plan for hoisting. This includes your crane, buck hoist, material and labor hoists, and even the setup for your concrete pump—whether that’s direct access or a slick line system. If you can’t get your people and materials up the building efficiently, your productivity is at risk. Start with early design planning. You can never be too early in designing the foundation for the crane and hoist. Ensure you’ve mapped out the crane reach, foundation capacities, and pump locations.
Fall Protection:
Fall protection is non-negotiable. Your hoists, cranes, and pump access routes must be safely guarded. Every floor needs complete fall protection systems, and exterior work zones must include perimeter netting. Safety for both workers and the public is critical.
Plumb, Level & Elevation Control:
It’s shockingly easy for a building to grow narrower or wider as it rises floor by floor. To avoid misalignment, you must always reference level one when checking plumb and elevation. Don’t just go level-to-level with a laser; that’ll create cumulative errors. Use an automatic level, check every corner, and transfer elevations properly—ideally chained to a fixed point like a column or tower crane.
Logistics: People & Materials:
Getting workers and materials to the right location—at the right time—is essential. In high-rises, transporting workers can take time. Consider holding multiple huddles on different levels and provide upper-floor restrooms and break areas. Coordinate crane and hoist schedules daily to avoid delays and ensure smooth material delivery.
Embeds & Anchor Bolts:
You can’t afford to mess up here. Whether it’s a steel or concrete structure, embeds and anchor bolts must be in the correct locations. If they aren’t, you’ll delay curtain walls, canopies, rooftop structures, and more—and rack up costs. Maintain tight quality control and check every embed and bolt as you go.
Tracking Releases & Finishing as You Go:
Track when areas are ready for interiors or façade work. You typically need to release reshores before starting work on lower levels. But that doesn’t help if your site is still a mess. That’s why “finish as you go” is crucial. Clean floors. Patch columns. Scrape ceilings. Remove leftover materials. Don’t let your concrete or steel contractors leave a trail of chaos. A clean, finished structure enables seamless transitions into the next phases.

Final Thoughts:
Superstructure is the phase of hoisting. It’s also the phase where precision, logistics, and finishing habits make or break the project. If you manage these six areas well, you’ll not only stay on track—you’ll excel.

If you want to learn more we have:

Discover Jason’s Expertise:

On we go

What Is The Last Planner System Weekly Work Plan?

Posted on April 9, 2025April 9, 2025 by Danny Jiménez⁩

Read 8 min

What Is the Last Planner System Weekly Work Plan?

Welcome! In this blog, I’ll walk you through what a Weekly Work Plan really looks like when formatted correctly. I’ll also explain how to develop one, how to use it effectively, and why it’s such a powerful tool for making commitments, focusing on handoffs, and tracking Percent Plan Complete (PPC).

You’re going to see actual examples that bring this concept to life—let’s dive in!

The Weekly Work Plan in the Last Planner System:

In this blog, I’ll be sharing insights directly from our book Takt Steering and Control. We’ll break down exactly what a Weekly Work Plan is, how it works, and how to use it to improve your projects. If that’s something you’re into, keep reading.

I’ve got pages 140 and 141 from the book right in front of me, and we’ll use them to guide this walkthrough.

So, What Is a Weekly Work Plan?

At its core, the Weekly Work Plan is a commitment-based planning tool. It takes the next week’s activities—pulled from the Look-Ahead Plan—and puts them into a visual, actionable format. Thanks to High Street Ventures, we’re using their format here as a great example.

The main purpose? To identify handoffs, enable commitment planning, and track daily production in every zone by every person.

Key Features of a Weekly Work Plan:

Visual Layout: Time is listed across the top, zones down the side.
Daily Production Visibility: You can walk the field with the plan in hand.
Handoff Management: Track when trades move from one zone to another.
Roadblock Identification: Mark and solve them collaboratively.
Legend and Zone Maps: Provide clarity and orientation for all team members.
Activity-Based Line Items: Each activity is listed on its own line for tracking and accountability.

Why Commitments Matter:

A Weekly Work Plan is about more than just tasks—it’s about promises and flow. Every trade partner knows:

What they’re doing.
Where they’re doing it.
When it needs to happen.
Who’s depending on them next.

If handoffs are happening on time—say, 80% or higher—you’ve got solid flow. And if there are more handoffs than assistant superintendents can check, you can delegate tracking to trusted trade partners with coordination during the Foreman huddle.

Takt Planning Integration:

We tie this into our macro-level Takt Plan, such as the one we used for the Honor Health Neuroscience Institute. Unlike a traditional critical path (just logic ties and durations), a path of critical flow includes:

Pull-planned sequences.
Trade flow.
Buffers.

From the macro plan, we slice into norm-level Takt Plans, which reflect real production targets. These plans feed directly into the Weekly Work Plan and the six-week Look-Ahead Plan.

Clearing Roadblocks Before They Happen:

When reviewing your Look-Ahead, ask the 17 “make-ready” questions. Any activities that don’t pass? They’re potential roadblocks. Solve those in the middle four weeks of the six-week window so that your Weekly Work Plan is clear and focused.

Remember, the Weekly Work Plan is not the place to clear roadblocks. It’s about confirming work is ready and tracking handoffs.

From Weekly Work Plan to Day Plan:

Once your Weekly Work Plan is locked in, you can break it down into Daily Plans, which include:

Day-specific agendas.
Notes on logistics.
Zone-specific updates.

These are shared with field crews to ensure everyone sees the same thing, understands the plan, and acts in unison.

Key Takeaway:

A well-executed Weekly Work Plan is the heartbeat of the Last Planner System—it turns look-ahead schedules into actionable commitments, ensures smooth trade handoffs, and keeps production flowing by making work ready and visible to the entire team.

If you want to learn more we have:

Discover Jason’s Expertise:

On we go

A Day In The Life Of A Project Director

Posted on April 8, 2025April 8, 2025 by Danny Jiménez⁩

Read 7 min

A Day in the Life of a Project Director

I absolutely love the concept of a project director’s daily routine. Having served as a project director on multiple projects, I’ve distilled the experience into some key insights that I believe you’ll find both helpful and inspiring.

Let’s dive into what a project director really does, and how they can create a remarkable impact on a construction project—from preconstruction to closeout.

The Role of a Project Director:

At its core, the project director (or project executive) enables and prepares the project manager to lead effectively. While I often draw a line between brokers and builders, a project director will, in some ways, act as a broker—allocating resources and connecting people.

Think of it like this: you’ve got a project team out on-site, tasked with executing the project. As the project director, your job is to ensure that team has everything it needs: the plan, the timeline, the mentorship, and the resources to succeed. Whether that’s support with submittals, pay apps, or system design—you’re the enabler behind the scenes.

You’re not just delivering a project. You’re delivering a remarkable experience to the owner—and that only happens if your team feels supported. The way your team feels directly impacts how they treat others, including the client. So, shower your team with support, love, and the tools they need.

The Project Director as a People Builder:

A successful project director is not only a builder of projects but a builder of people and teams. You should understand and live by the principles outlined in Patrick Lencioni’s books—because culture and leadership matter.

Your goal? Ensure that both your internal team and the client are aligned on the plan and timeline, while being fully supported throughout the project lifecycle: preconstruction, construction, and warranty.

A Typical Day in the Life:

Every day should start with a morning routine. I recommend box breathing (inhale 5, hold 5, exhale 5, hold 5), followed by gratitude, setting intentions, and letting go of negativity. This prepares you to show up strong, centered, and ready to support others.

After that, map out your weekly calendar. Time block your visits to various projects or pursuits. Then, focus on visibility.

Ask yourself:

Can I see the macro-level Takt plans?
The zone maps?
The logistics plans?
The risk and opportunity registers?
The procurement logs?
The roadblocks and hot items?

As a project director, your primary focus should be on risk, procurement, finances, roadblock removal, and hot item escalation. Once you have visual access to these for each project, you can build a responsive daily plan that supports your teams where they need it most.

What Really Matters:

This blog isn’t about giving you a rigid schedule—it’s about mindset and structure. You plan your week, gain full visibility, then move into action. You’re constantly checking in, coordinating resources, mentoring where needed, and ensuring clients are engaged and informed.

Being a project director is about consistency, care, and foresight. You don’t need to teach your PMs and PEs everything—but you do need to broker the right resources and mentor them when necessary.

Final Thoughts:

A great project director looks beyond the project finish line. They plan across the entire lifecycle, they love their teams, and they make things happen.

If you want to learn more we have:

Discover Jason’s Expertise:

On we go

What Is A Design Phase Pull Plan?

Posted on April 7, 2025April 7, 2025 by Danny Jiménez⁩

Read 7 min

What Is a Design Phase Pull Plan? Here’s How We’re Making It Work in Real Projects

At our construction company, we’ve been experimenting with Design Phase Pull Planning, and the results have been impressive. We’ve achieved over 80% plan complete and have built stronger collaboration across our design teams.

This blog walks you through what a design phase pull plan is, how we’re applying it using both the Last Planner System® and Scrum, and what we’ve learned from real-world implementation. If you’re working on improving preconstruction planning, this approach might be a game changer for your team.

A design phase pull plan flips traditional planning on its head. Instead of pushing tasks forward with fixed deadlines, we start by identifying key milestones, then work backward to define the steps required to meet them. That includes things like review cycles, regulatory durations, procurement approvals, and coordination across disciplines. By planning this way, we give the design team visibility, flexibility, and ownership—without losing control of progress.

In Elevating Preconstruction Planning (pages 241–249), there’s a step-by-step process for applying Last Planner in preconstruction. Here’s how we’ve adapted it:

Set clear milestones.
Pull backward to identify required actions.
Tag durations and confirm timelines.
Collaboratively review the plan.
Finalize and detail each milestone zone.

Once that’s in place, we move into traditional Last Planner phases: six-week look-ahead, weekly work planning, daily huddles (when using cluster teams or IPD setups), and roadblock tracking and removal. This method makes bottlenecks visible and actionable—something design teams often struggle with due to distractions and poor communication.

We’re also big fans of Scrum, especially for design teams working collaboratively in sprint formats. Inspired by Filipe Engineer’s Construction Scrum, we organize work by creating a backlog of tasks, assigning story points to estimate effort, conducting sprint planning, holding daily huddles, and using burn-down charts to track progress. The visual nature of Scrum—moving tasks left to right on a board—makes it easier to coordinate, track progress, and adapt quickly. It also encourages better communication and commitment within teams.

Whether you’re using Last Planner or Scrum, these principles have helped us get results: use a decision matrix to clarify priorities, minimize distractions like emails and batching, limit work in progress to avoid overwhelm, encourage a “Done-Done-Freaking-Done” mindset, and focus on flow and quick recovery when delays hit.

In one of our projects, we compared two snapshots of a pull plan—one from January 3rd and one from January 10th. What you’ll see is a high-level pull plan by discipline, a weekly work plan that advances each week, a three-week look-ahead that keeps everyone aligned, and clear visuals showing what’s done, what’s next, and what’s at risk.

After each planning session, we send a recap email with updated work plans, roadblock trackers, look-ahead schedules, and progress snapshots. This keeps the entire team on the same page and has directly contributed to increased productivity and alignment.

We’re continuously improving this system. On our next project, we plan to create more detailed pull plans, enhance roadblock visibility, improve email formatting and visual dashboards, and track smarter metrics for greater insights.

We’re not claiming perfection—but we’re committed to mastering the art of Lean Construction, and that means constantly learning, sharing, and refining.

Key Takeaway:

Design Phase Pull Planning, when implemented using systems like Last Planner and Scrum, helps construction teams align around milestones, identify roadblocks early, and maintain consistent progress—ultimately leading to better collaboration, higher plan completion rates, and more predictable design outcomes.

If you want to learn more we have:

Discover Jason’s Expertise:

On we go

What Is The Last Planner System Look-Ahead Plan?

Posted on April 5, 2025April 5, 2025 by Danny Jiménez⁩

Read 8 min

Mastering the Look-Ahead Plan: How to Remove Roadblocks and Make Work Ready in Construction

One of the most underutilized yet powerful tools in construction planning is the Look-Ahead Plan—a key component of the Last Planner® System. In this blog, we’ll explore how a well-executed Look-Ahead Plan helps trade partners prepare for upcoming work, find and eliminate roadblocks, and drive reliable production.

We’ll walk through core concepts from the book Takt, Steering, and Control (starting on page 142) and show how to bring them to life on your projects.

What Is a Look-Ahead Plan?

A Look-Ahead Plan is a short-interval planning tool that allows you to see and manage work scheduled to happen over the next 4 to 6 weeks.

I recommend a six-week window. Why? Because it gives teams enough time to:

Spot roadblocks early (by week 6).
Resolve them proactively (within 4 weeks).
Ensure the work is ready by the time it enters the Weekly Work Plan.

This approach creates a buffer zone between identifying problems and executing work—exactly what’s needed in high-variability construction environments.

The Purpose Behind Look-Ahead Planning:

According to Takt, Steering, and Control, the Look-Ahead Plan serves three primary purposes:

Make Work Ready by verifying all prerequisites are in place.
Align procurement and logistics with the work plan.
Identify and remove roadblocks before they impact field productivity.

This isn’t just about pushing a schedule. It’s about enabling the team to do their best work by setting them up for success—intentionally and consistently.

A Practical Workflow:

Here’s how to put the Look-Ahead Plan into action:

Print the plan and distribute it to trade partners.
Set a timer for 5–10 minutes.
Ask each trade to confirm that they have everything they need to execute their work in the next 6 weeks.

17-item checklist that covers essentials like:

Permits and approvals.
Field layout.
Safety and quality planning.
Access and staging.
Material availability.

If even one item is missing, it’s a roadblock—and it needs to be logged and resolved before it threatens execution.

Use IDS to Solve Problems Proactively:

Borrowing from Gino Wickman’s book Traction, I emphasize the IDS method:

Identify the issue.
Discuss it with the team.
Solve it collaboratively.

The Look-Ahead Plan gives structure to this approach, ensuring that problems are surfaced early and tackled before they snowball.

Why Time-by-Location Format Matters:

The Look-Ahead Plan should be structured in a time-by-location format—a visual way to map work across zones and time periods. This format:

Clarifies trade flow.
Shows handoffs between crews.
Aligns buffers and milestones.
Makes planning intuitive for field teams.

Each plan should clearly highlight the Weekly Work Plan area (usually outlined in red) and the Look-Ahead zone (often purple), along with zone maps, QR codes, and activity status indicators.

Look-Ahead vs. Weekly Work Plan:

It’s important to note: the Look-Ahead Plan and the Weekly Work Plan are not the same.

The Look-Ahead Plan is focused on preparation—ensuring all work is “made ready”.
The Weekly Work Plan is focused on handoffs and execution—managing who does what, when, and where.

A successful Weekly Work Plan is only possible if the Look-Ahead Plan has done its job.

How It Fits into the Last Planner® System:

Here’s how the Look-Ahead Plan integrates into the broader Last Planner® System:

Macro-Level Takt Plan: Your high-level, contractual roadmap.
Pull Planning: To define reliable workflows and trade coordination.
Look-Ahead Plan: To identify constraints and prepare work packages.
Weekly Work Plan: To manage trade handoffs and ensure reliable commitments.

The Look-Ahead Plan is the bridge between long-term strategy and short-term execution. Without it, the system breaks down.

Key Takeaway:

The Look-Ahead Plan is not just a scheduling tool—it’s a proactive system for identifying and removing roadblocks before they impact production. When used correctly, it empowers teams to make work ready, align logistics, and deliver consistent, reliable results on-site.

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A Day In The Life Of A General Superintendent

Posted on April 5, 2025April 5, 2025 by Danny Jiménez⁩

Read 10 min

A Day in the Life of a General Superintendent

This blog is going to be remarkable because I’m going to talk to you about what truly makes the role of a general superintendent successful—and steer you away from the watered-down expectations often pushed by the industry. If you’ve ever wondered what this role should look like, stay with us. You’re about to find out.

The Common Trap: Neutralizing the Builder

Let’s start with one of the biggest problems I see in construction companies today: taking great builders and completely neutralizing them.

What often happens is that a superintendent moves from assistant superintendent to project superintendent to general superintendent—only to get pulled into corporate tasks like proposal writing or overseeing way too many projects. The company takes someone who knows how to build and says, “Let’s cut their feet out from under them.”

Why would we do this?

If I’ve got a general superintendent who knows how to build, I’m going to let them keep building—maybe with one team or two or three max. I’m going to pay them well, and I’m not going to bury them in corporate. These are master builders, and we need to keep them doing what they do best.

Effective Visits Start with Visuals:

When a general superintendent visits a project site, it’s often reduced to a pat on the back and a “good job” if they can’t actually see what’s going on.

That’s why we need visuals. I want to walk onto a jobsite and see:

A macro-level Takt plan on one page.
Zone maps.
The current logistics plan.
The site’s organizational chart.
A risk and opportunity register.
A procurement log.

If we can’t see the plan, we can’t coach it. That’s what makes Takt planning so powerful—you get the full story visually on one page.

If a GS goes on a walk without a 6-week lookahead or a weekly work plan in hand, it’s just lip service. But with real visuals, you can dig into the schedule, review handoffs, talk about procurement, and really understand the project.

We’ve got to move away from this “paperless” nonsense that hides everything behind a screen. Let’s print the plans, put them up on the wall, and bring back real field walks.

Morning Routine: Start with the Right Energy

The general superintendent helps shape company culture—along with the CEO, COO, and leadership team. That’s why your morning routine matters.

You’re not just anyone. You’re a cultural leader.

Wake up, take care of your health and hygiene, get your coffee, say a prayer, read a business or spiritual thought, and most importantly—do box breathing. This calms your nervous system and sets your mindset. Then, say what you’re grateful for and decide what you’ll give to others today.

You can’t show up to the job angry, frustrated, or empty. Your energy transfers to the team.

Weekly Planning: Adapt and Focus

Unlike a project superintendent who can have the same time-blocked schedule every week, a general superintendent’s calendar looks different every week—especially when overseeing multiple projects.

You need a weekly work plan. Each Friday, look ahead and map out your week:

Monday: Morning prep, afternoon on-site.
Tuesday: Corporate tasks in the morning, job visit in the afternoon.
Wednesday: All day at a high-priority project.
… and so on.

Then each morning, before diving into your day, plan your schedule using that weekly template. Don’t start your day until it’s finished on paper.

Continuous Learning: Fill Your Mind

You can’t pour into your team from an empty cup.

Always be learning—listen to audiobooks or podcasts during your commute. Here are some must-reads:

Elevating Construction Superintendents.
Elevating Construction Senior Superintendents.
Elevating Pre-construction Planning.
Takt Planning, Takt Steering, and Control.
Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss.
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.
Books by Patrick Lencioni.

You need to stay sharp so you can lead well and bring valuable insights to your teams.

Field Walks & Site Engagements: Be Intentional

When you engage with a project team, it’s not just about checking in or saying “great job.”

Show up knowing what you’re looking for. Follow a system. Dig into at least three areas. Leave with clear assignments and a challenge for the team to do better.

And here’s the truth: if the site isn’t clean, safe, or under control—shut it down. Don’t tolerate poor performance. The worst behavior you allow sets the ceiling for that job’s success.

On every walk, look for progress. Keep track of what you’ve asked them to improve, and hold the team accountable.

Enable the Team: Plan, Mentor, Equip

Always ask:

Do they have a clear plan?
Is it tied to a timeline?
Do they have the right training or mentorship (maybe that’s you)?
Do they have the resources they need?

That’s your job—remove roadblocks and enable your team to succeed.

Wrap Up and Reflect:

At the end of the day, close out your assignments, do your box breathing again, and head home ready to recharge for another day.

This job can be chaotic if you don’t have a personal organization system—but if you follow these principles, it can also be one of the most rewarding roles in construction.

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