The Power of Kitting: Unlocking Flow in Construction

In construction, we talk a lot about flow, efficiency, and removing waste. Eli Goldratt’s work has influenced much of this thinking, and his daughter Efrat Goldratt has expanded on it in her book The Rules of Flow. One concept that stood out to me while reflecting on her work is kitting. While kitting may seem simple or even familiar, it has profound implications for how we prepare, plan, and execute in construction.

Most people already understand kitting in some form. We know the IKEA experience of opening a box that contains all the pieces and instructions needed to assemble a piece of furniture. We also see it in prefabrication or room kitting, where materials and tools are bundled together so a crew can complete a task without stopping to search for missing items. But Goldratt’s insight took it further: kitting is not just for materials. It can apply to almost anything.

A personal story helped me connect this idea more deeply. Recently, I started playing Minecraft with my kids. At first, I did not understand the game. It looked like blocks and random buildings. But my son wrote out an entire eight-page guide detailing how he wanted us to play together, and my heart melted. That is when I jumped in with him. Soon I found myself becoming a parent not only in real life but also in Minecraft. I gathered resources, built houses, farms, and even storage chests. I set up everything they needed so that when they logged on, they could focus on the fun part of the game rather than running around hunting for supplies.

Then it hit me. I realized I was creating kits for them. I labeled steps with signs, put the necessary items in chests, and laid everything out so they could jump right into their mission. If they wanted to build a skeleton farm or explore an underwater monument, all the tools, resources, and instructions were waiting for them. My preparation unlocked their ability to play and have fun without frustration. That is exactly what kitting does in construction.

When Kate and I talked about this in the context of The Rules of Flow, we connected it back to our work with project teams. In lean planning, we often meet weekly with superintendents, project managers, and trade partners to align on short interval planning, pull plans, and weekly work plans. Sometimes teams struggle because the preparation feels overwhelming. Kate suggested a different approach: what if we kitted the planning sessions? What if, before coming back for the next session, we had gathered everything needed—updated pull plans, RFIs answered, material statuses confirmed, and constraints identified?

Think about what that would mean. Instead of wasting half the meeting chasing missing information, the team would walk into a fully prepared environment. Everything they need would be in place, like the chest of items in Minecraft or the IKEA box of parts. The kit itself would serve as the gatekeeper. Until the kit is complete, you do not move forward. That discipline ensures flow and eliminates the wasted time and frustration of showing up unprepared.

This principle applies far beyond planning meetings. It applies to field work, leadership meetings, training sessions, and even personal tasks. A crew should never start work until their kit is complete, meaning materials, tools, and information are all ready. A leadership team should not hold a meeting until they have the data, decisions, and updates they need. Trainers should not begin until participants have all the materials in hand. And on a personal level, none of us should start a task until we have prepared the environment for success.

The consequences of skipping this step are real. Without a complete kit, we end up searching, improvising, or waiting. Waste multiplies, flow breaks down, and unevenness spreads through the system. People feel rushed and overburdened. Kitting prevents all of this by ensuring that every step begins with clarity, preparation, and readiness.

What makes this even more powerful is how it ties into one piece flow. When we complete a step fully, we can prepare the kit for the next step. The process becomes smooth and predictable because each gate only opens when the kit is ready. This mindset changes the way we view preparation. It is not an afterthought or extra work. It is work.

Kitting may seem like a simple idea, but it is transformational when applied consistently. It allows teams to start strong, stay in flow, and reduce wasted effort. It prevents the scramble of missing items, unanswered questions, and chaotic meetings. Most importantly, it respects people’s time and energy by setting them up for success before they even begin.

When I look at my kids diving into their Minecraft missions with everything prepared for them, I see joy, focus, and momentum. That same feeling is possible in construction if we embrace the discipline of kitting. Before you start the next task, meeting, or project, ask yourself: do we have our kit? If not, wait until you do. The kit is the key that unlocks the gate to flow.

Key Takeaway
Kitting is more than gathering materials. It is the discipline of preparing everything needed before starting any step. When teams adopt kitting, they eliminate waste, unlock flow, and set themselves up for success from the start.