Can You Implement Halfway through?

Changing Halfway Through

I want to share something today that I feel very strongly about because it comes up a lot in our industry. There is a dangerous idea floating around on social media that you cannot implement lean practices halfway through a project. Some people claim that if you do not start lean from day one, there is no point in trying. That thinking is flat-out wrong, and I want to explain why.

My Experience with Mid-Project Changes

Over the years, I have personally stepped into projects that were already struggling and used lean practices to turn them around. I have seen the Last Planner System implemented halfway through and watched teams go from chaos to clarity. I have seen huddles introduced midstream that completely changed the level of communication and accountability. I have seen takt planning added halfway through a job and watched crews finish early with better flow and results than anyone expected.

One project in particular stands out. We implemented the takt production system when the project was already underway. The result? They finished a week early, they hit their performance target at 98 percent, they earned the next project, and nearly a third of the team was promoted because of the leadership and discipline they displayed. None of that would have happened if we had believed the myth that you cannot make changes once you are halfway through.

Why This Belief is So Dangerous

Here is the real danger of buying into the false idea that lean cannot work once a project is underway. If you believe it, you will wait. You will keep telling yourself, “We’ll do it on the next job.” But then you will get busy, the next job will start, and you will repeat the same cycle. You will always be waiting, always pushing improvement off to some future date that never comes.

The truth is, it is always the right time to start your lean journey. Could it be easier if you begin from the start? Of course. But does that mean you should ignore opportunities to improve when you are already halfway through? Absolutely not.

A Call to Action

If you are halfway through a project right now, do not let this kind of thinking hold you back. Start with huddles. Start with weekly work planning. Start with clean and safe jobsite practices. Start with zero tolerance for unsafe conditions. Start with takt. Whatever step makes sense, take it. Progress begins when you act, not when you wait for the perfect start.

Key Takeaway

It is never too late to implement lean. Even halfway through a project, small changes can create major improvements, save time, and build momentum for future success.