If Your’e Working Weekends, Something Is Broken

If You’re Working Saturdays, Your System Is Broken (Why Lean Construction Eliminates Weekend Work)

Today I was observing a text chat. With our clients we set up WhatsApp chats with the job site so we can see how things are going.

And again, I just have to reiterate, things start to go well at every company, every job site where you have an operating manual, you provide training to the project delivery team members, and monthly field walks in the form of support. That’s just how it is. That’s just how life works in construction with Lean Systems.

The Text on Saturday: They’re Working Weekends

And I was looking at a text and I was on the weekend and the text on a Saturday, actually I think they even did a Sunday, they were talking about working. They’re working weekends.

And the company I’m talking about is a phenomenal company with phenomenal leadership. And this one job happens to be a one-off, but the company they used to work weekends all the time. And once they implemented theirs in our system, so I’m going to give them a lot of credit here, but specifically the Takt production system, they stopped working Saturdays, like wholesale. And they get their projects done early and it’s phenomenal.

One Superintendent Won’t Adapt: In a Sea of Success, Still Working Saturdays

And there’s this one job where the superintendent, and I’m not blaming people here, he’ll get it, but will not adapt to the systems and just will not do it. Like complains about meetings, complains about flowing on a rhythm, holds to old-timey thoughts of like, “Oh, just move here and do that and get ahead on that floor and blah, blah, blah.”

And it’s just not working. And it’s funny that the person, it’s so funny how human beings act, that he’s in a sea of successful projects with successful supers finishing early, and they’re following the system and he’s not. And he’s not on schedule and they’re working Saturdays.

My First Toxic Thought: Then the Loving Truth

And I just had the thought, just so you know, I’ll be super transparent and tell you my toxicity here. I first thought, “If you work Saturdays, you just don’t know what you’re doing.” And I’m like, “Whoa, whoa, whoa.”

I was out here thinking about this blog. I’m like, “Jason, how can you preach about respect for people and then come at it like that?”

Here’s the deal. If you’re having to work Saturdays, you don’t have a Lean system installed on your project site. That’s probably as loving and kind as I can get about it because there is a root cause to it. And every single time that you implement the system properly, you can get the work done unless there’s a like stupid milestone, but you can get the work done.

The Good News: We Can Fix It

But here’s the deal. If you don’t have a stupid milestone, you can get the work done in time and never have to work a Saturday. So instead of shaming people, I’m going to go at it like this: If you’re working Saturdays, that means a massive part of your system is broken. And that’s good news because we can go fix it.

And so like a lot of these things, it’s not just construction to have a dirty job site. It’s not just construction to have chaos. It’s not just construction to have like massive impacts. And it’s not just construction to have to work Saturdays and weekends.

It’s Not “Just Construction” It’s Poor Construction

And it’s not just construction to be stressed out all the time and be away from your families. That’s just poor construction. That means it’s not Lean. That means it’s classical business management. That means it’s ineffective. That means the person has room to grow.

And that’s great. So, if you’re working weekends, a massive part of your system is broken because you shouldn’t have to if you’re using Lean systems.

Here’s why working Saturdays means your system is broken:

• Operating manual, training, monthly field walks: things go well at every job site – Things start to go well at every company, every job site where you have operating manual, you provide training to project delivery team members, and monthly field walks in form of support. That’s just how it is. That’s just how life works in construction with Lean Systems. Company used to work weekends all time. Once they implemented theirs in our system, specifically Takt production system, they stopped working Saturdays, like wholesale. And they get their projects done early and phenomenal.
• Won’t adapt to systems: complains about meetings, flowing on rhythm, old-timey thoughts – One job where superintendent won’t adapt to systems and just will not do it. Complains about meetings, complains about flowing on rhythm, holds to old-timey thoughts of like, “Oh, just move here and do that and get ahead on that floor.” It’s just not working. Funny how human beings act: he’s in sea of successful projects with successful supers finishing early, and they’re following system and he’s not. He’s not on schedule and they’re working Saturdays.
• Working Saturdays means massive part of system broken: root cause, can get work done – If you’re having to work Saturdays, you don’t have Lean system installed on your project site. That’s probably as loving and kind as I can get about it because there is root cause to it. Every single time that you implement system properly, you can get work done unless there’s stupid milestone, but you can get work done. If don’t have stupid milestone, can get work done in time and never have to work Saturday. If working Saturdays, means massive part of your system is broken. That’s good news because we can go fix it.
• Not “just construction” it’s poor construction, classical business management, ineffective – It’s not just construction to have dirty job site. Not just construction to have chaos. Not just construction to have massive impacts. Not just construction to have to work Saturdays and weekends. Not just construction to be stressed out all time and be away from your families. That’s just poor construction. That means it’s not Lean. That means it’s classical business management. That means it’s ineffective. That means person has room to grow. And that’s great.
• Lean systems eliminate weekend work: shouldn’t have to if using Lean systems – Company phenomenal company with phenomenal leadership. Used to work weekends all time. Once they implemented Takt production system, they stopped working Saturdays, like wholesale. Get their projects done early and phenomenal. If you’re working weekends, massive part of your system is broken because you shouldn’t have to if you’re using Lean systems.

If your project needs superintendent coaching, project support, or leadership development, Elevate Construction can help your field teams stabilize, schedule, and flow.

A Challenge for Construction Leaders

Here’s what I want you to do this week. Stop accepting that it’s “just construction” to work Saturdays and weekends. Stop accepting that it’s “just construction” to be stressed out all the time and be away from your families. That’s just poor construction. That means it’s not Lean. That means it’s classical business management. That means it’s ineffective.

If you’re having to work Saturdays, you don’t have Lean system installed on your project site. There is root cause to it. Every single time you implement system properly, you can get work done. If don’t have stupid milestone, can get work done in time and never have to work Saturday.

Instead of shaming people, understand this: If you’re working Saturdays, massive part of your system is broken. That’s good news because we can go fix it.

Get operating manual. Provide training to project delivery team members. Monthly field walks in form of support. That’s just how it is. That’s just how life works in construction with Lean Systems.

Stop complaining about meetings. Stop complaining about flowing on rhythm. Stop holding to old-timey thoughts of “just move here and do that and get ahead on that floor.” Look around. You’re in sea of successful projects with successful supers finishing early. They’re following system. Follow the system.

Company used to work weekends all time. Once they implemented Takt production system, they stopped working Saturdays, like wholesale. Get their projects done early and phenomenal. You can too. As we say at Elevate, working Saturdays means massive part of system is broken. Lean systems eliminate weekend work. Not just construction it’s poor construction. Fix the system.

On we go.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does working Saturdays mean the system is broken?

If you’re having to work Saturdays, you don’t have Lean system installed on your project site. There is root cause to it. Every single time you implement system properly, you can get work done. If don’t have stupid milestone, can get work done in time and never have to work Saturday. Massive part of system is broken because shouldn’t have to if using Lean systems.

How did this company stop working weekends?

Company used to work weekends all time. Once they implemented Takt production system, they stopped working Saturdays, like wholesale. Get their projects done early and phenomenal. Things start to go well at every job site where have operating manual, provide training to project delivery team members, and monthly field walks in form of support.

What happens when superintendent won’t adapt to systems?

One job where superintendent won’t adapt to systems and just will not do it. Complains about meetings, complains about flowing on rhythm, holds to old-timey thoughts. It’s just not working. He’s in sea of successful projects with successful supers finishing early, and they’re following system and he’s not. He’s not on schedule and they’re working Saturdays.

Is working weekends “just construction”?

No. It’s not just construction to have dirty job site. Not just construction to have chaos. Not just construction to have to work Saturdays and weekends. Not just construction to be stressed out all time and be away from your families. That’s just poor construction. Means it’s not Lean. Means it’s classical business management. Means it’s ineffective.

What’s the good news about working Saturdays?

If you’re working Saturdays, means massive part of your system is broken. That’s good news because we can go fix it. Get operating manual, provide training, monthly field walks. Every single time implement system properly, can get work done in time and never have to work Saturday.