Project success 101- IPCS – The culture

In this blog, we’re diving deep into how the environment and culture on a project site play a critical role in enabling the overall integrated production control system, which is a lean approach to running your project. Whether you’re curious about how onboarding and orienting team members can make a difference, or why keeping things clean, safe, and organized matters, you’re in the right place.

Key Elements of the Integrated Production Control System

Let’s kick this off with some foundational concepts. When we look at integrated production control, we’re talking about something more than just assigning tasks. It’s about aligning teams, ensuring a collaborative plan, and streamlining supply chains so everything flows efficiently. Beyond logistics, a critical component is culture. 

Yes, culture is at the heart of creating a seamless and efficient project site. Your workforce needs more than just tools and materials—they need respect and a well-maintained environment that reflects this respect. From clean bathrooms to well-organized workspaces, culture defines how smoothly the project will run.

The Importance of Winning Over the Workforce

Winning over the workforce is essential. Disrespectful environments breed problems like vandalism, poor attitudes, and a lack of engagement. On the other hand, a respectful and dignified environment leads to a dedicated and happy workforce.

Here’s how to create that culture:

1. Restrooms: Provide clean restrooms and hand-washing stations. Porta potties should be cleaned at least three times a week.
2. Lunch Areas: Make sure there’s a clean, sheltered area for workers to eat, store their lunches, and relax during breaks.
3. Worker Huddles: Host morning huddles to connect with the workers, address their needs, and create a positive environment. Shoutouts, mini-training sessions, and open conversations foster a sense of community and respect.
4. Celebrate Wins: Mark project milestones and celebrate holidays like Halloween, Christmas, and the Fourth of July. A team that celebrates together is more united.

Onboarding and Orientations for Workers

Onboarding is about more than just handing out hard hats. It’s about welcoming new workers into a system that may be different from what they’re used to. If they’ve been mistreated on past job sites, they’ll need time to adjust to a well-organized and respectful project environment.

Make sure that new workers know where the parking lot is, how to navigate the site, where the clean restrooms are, and how to access a safe lunchroom. During orientation, emphasize the culture of respect and cleanliness. This sets the tone for the entire project.

Key Elements for a Beautiful Project Environment

A beautiful project environment is more than just aesthetics—it’s about safety and organization. A clean site leads to a safer site. Here’s how to maintain that environment:

1. Cleanliness: Keep the job site clean. If there’s trash on the floor, stop the crew and clean it up. Workers will soon adopt the habit of cleaning as they go.
2. Safety: Enforce zero-tolerance safety policies. If a worker isn’t adhering to safety protocols, send them home to reevaluate. They can return the next day after they’ve corrected their behavior.
3. Organization: Ensure that everything has its place, whether in the office, the staging yard, or on the floors. Clear organization prevents workers from wasting time searching for tools and materials, keeping productivity high and morale positive.

Conclusion

When you win over your crew, onboard them into a respectful system, and maintain a clean, safe, and organized site, you’ve laid the foundation for a productive and happy workforce. Culture isn’t an afterthought; it’s the key to ensuring that everything else works smoothly within your integrated production control system.