Showcase Series

How to Implement Lean Step-by-Step: The Real Answer

Here’s a question I got from a podcast listener that I want to answer publicly because I think a lot of you are asking the same thing. “Have you thought of adding a few books to your series about how folks like me can implement these things on our jobs, like a step-by-step process, chapters of real-life examples to begin this path?”

And here’s my answer: yes. But the real answer is bigger than a book. The real answer is we need to videotape it on a real project with a real team. And I’m looking for takers. If you’re serious, let’s go.

The Pain of Waiting for Step-by-Step Implementation Guides

Here’s what this wonderful individual sent me. “I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about your books and overall messaging. I find them outstanding to say the least. Some hit me hard and forced me to see that there are better ways of doing things. Some I already align with, but your clarity helps me to refine my thoughts and processes. I was visiting with a friend and this topic came up. He had no idea what Lean is. So, our conversation was really cool. As I explained what I’m doing and with your added insights, where I’m trying to go, he then asked, ‘How can I do this?’ This made me think about your series again. My question is, have you thought of adding a few books to your series about how folks like he and I, and I’m sure others, can implement these things on our jobs, like a step-by-step process, chapters of real-life examples to begin this path.”

Okay. So, I’m going to cover this right now and hopefully make some connections out there that will be beneficial.

Here’s my answer to that. Well, first of all, I’m doing a new book series called Elevating Construction the Lean Way, and it will be separated into six books. And this is the pattern that I’ve changed and researched and adopted from other experts around the industry. So, it’s not something I came up with. It’s something I collected rather.

Here are the six books in the series:

• Lean Core 1: Respect for People, Nature, and Resources
• Lean Core 2: Stability and Standardization
• Lean Core 3: Working in One Piece Process or Progress Flow
• Lean Core 4: Flowing Together on Takt Time With Pull
• Lean Core 5: Total Participation and Visual Systems
• Lean Core 6: Quality and Continuous Improvement

And one of the things probably that people might freak out about is that I didn’t put the answer as customer need. Now you do want to have the voice of the customer, but sometimes the voice of the customer, what the customer is asking for, is evil. So, I’m going to go ahead and just leave that open-ended right there. But that is the best definition of Lean in my estimation.

And another good one that I picked up in Japan, I don’t know if I’ll get this right, I don’t have this memorized yet, but Lean is a commitment to learning and improving for the benefit of people and humanity.

And so how can somebody do this? Just start learning and implementing as fast as they can. But let’s get into this even deeper.

The Dream: Videotape Everything on a Real Lean Project

Have I thought about a series? So yes. Now here’s my dream. And everybody knows that Lean Build, our first project, got put on pause because the capital stack, meaning how much cash the developer would have to put on top of their current investment, would have exceeded what the company was able to provide because of lending restrictions here in the United States.

That’s almost figured out. I think I’ll have to joint venture with another existing contractor for the first project or first couple. But our goal was, is to, is to intentionally, and this isn’t arrogant. This isn’t like, “Oh, we build projects better than everybody else.” That’s not what I’m saying.

What I’m saying is the purpose of building the jobs will be to build the jobs and make money. But for me, the first purpose, and for Kevin and Kate, our first purpose will be to build it the Lean way and make sure that we’re recording it and using it for training.

So step-by-step, I’ve already, I would have a camera out there every day. And I know it sounds stupid, but it would be like: This is how you do primary control. This is how you check your benchmarks. This is how you set up your fence. This is why the fence has to be level on the top with really good screen. This is why you need all the posts cut at the top. This is how you do your concrete washout pad. This is how you set up the trailers. This is how you set up your signage. This is how you do everything step-by-step.

And it would be a complete series that somebody could just watch. Now I’m probably misguidedly waiting on that to happen to make that video series.

Here’s why this matters. Books are great. Podcasts are great. YouTube videos are great. But nothing beats seeing it done on a real project. Seeing the primary control set up. Seeing the fence installed. Seeing the trailers organized. Seeing the gang boxes three-S’d. Seeing the morning huddle run. Seeing the pull plan executed. Seeing the Takt plan flow. That’s what people need. And that’s what we’re going to create.

The Opportunity: Partner With Me and Let’s Videotape It

If there was somebody here in Phoenix that wanted to partner with me and be like, “Hey, we’ve got a high-performing team. They want to be Lean.” I would donate my time to help them build that project in exchange for them listening to me and letting me videotape it.

The other thing that I was thinking about, like if there’s a crew, I thought about this today. If there’s a crew that was like, “Hey, Jason, we want to go and implement Lean.” And I could go spend a week with them and we could go do it. We’d go get their trucks all dialed in, get their gang boxes all dialed in, get their processes, create standard work, start using crew boards, begin the plan, build, finish cycle, do some reading with the foreman book. And we videotaped that stuff and then they’ve got it. I would do that with somebody.

So, I’m not trying to be crazy here. I want you to feel, I don’t want to be controlling and toxic and feel like I’m being a nice guy. The problem isn’t me. The problem is a lack of an opportunity. We even started a cleaning company, a trade partner here in Phoenix. We got our first clients coming up here pretty quick. We’re going to start detailing out the vans and the work. We actually have a lot of that done and use that as a Paul Akers-style showcase for how to implement Lean at a trade partner level.

So, we’re doing everything we can. The problem is if you’re going to own a construction company, banks want you to go from ten thousand a month to twenty to thirty to forty, fifty. And then after fifteen years, you become a big contractor. To do what we need to do, we need to make the jump faster. So that’s where that joint venture comes in.

Here’s the offer. If you’re in Phoenix or if you’re willing to fly me out for a week, and you’ve got a high-performing team that’s serious about Lean, let’s do it. I’ll donate my time. I’ll help you get your trucks dialed in, your gang boxes three-S’d, your standard work created, your crew boards running, your plan-build-finish cycle started. And we’ll videotape everything. And then you’ve got it. And the industry’s got it. And we’re all better for it.

The One Requirement: You Have to Be All In

So with whether it’s waiting for our companies to get on board or get up to speed, or if it’s, there’s a team here in Phoenix that wants to jam out or a crew that I could fly to for a week or something. And we videotape it and they actually take me. See, I don’t want to be, I’m not like that. I’m not like, “Just listen to me.” I’m not like, “Just do what I say.” But I don’t want people to waste my time.

Dissension and going in different directions doesn’t make for Lean. That’s why only the leader of a company can implement Lean. You can’t, if the leader of the company is not in it, nothing’s going to happen because you have to have people going in the same direction.

I remember there were people at a former company that I used to work for. They were like, “You don’t need any authority to get stuff done.” I’ve never heard more BS in my entire life. Anybody who says that either is just copping out or giving up or doesn’t know what they’re talking about or has never tried that before. You need a little bit of authority in the United States to get people going in the same direction.

Somebody’s willing to do that. And they’re like, “I’m not going to waste Jason’s time. Let’s go. I’m all in.” I’ll create step-by-step all the stuff.

Here’s the requirement. You have to be all in. You can’t half-butt this. You have to whole-butt this. I need a team that’s serious. That’s put their shoulders back and said, “Jason’s coming. We’re going to go. We’re up to the challenge.” If you’re willing to do that, I’m willing to partner with you and create the step-by-step series the industry needs. If your project needs superintendent coaching, project support, or leadership development, Elevate Construction can help your field teams stabilize, schedule, and flow.

What We’re Already Working On

The other thing is specifically for crews, I’m going to record how to run the meeting system after our next boot camp and publish that. So I’m trying my best. So, if there’s any takers out there, let me know. I’m serious about it. All I need is a team that’s serious. It’s like, “Hey, I’m going to put my shoulders back. We’re going to go. Jason’s coming. We’re going to go. We’re up to the challenge, right? We’re not going to half-butt this. We’re going to whole-butt this.”

So that’s where we’re going. I’m looking for opportunities. I tell you this, unless there’s something I’m missing. If the universe helps us with our trade partner company, GC company, and we’re able to do this, watch out because we’ll have videos on everything. There won’t be any questions.

And it’s not because I’ll know anything just myself. It’s because we’re collectors. We take the wisdom of the group and learn from people and pull it all together. So there ain’t anything I can’t answer because there’s not any question or favor I won’t ask for.

Here’s what we’re working on right now. We’re starting a cleaning company, a trade partner in Phoenix. We’re going to showcase how to implement Lean at a trade partner level. We’re recording the meeting system after the next boot camp. We’re writing the six-book Elevating Construction the Lean Way series. And we’re looking for the right project to videotape everything step-by-step so the industry has a complete implementation guide.

A Challenge for Builders

Here’s what I want you to do this week. If you’re serious about implementing Lean and you want help, reach out. If you’ve got a high-performing team in Phoenix or if you’re willing to fly me out for a week, let’s talk. If you’re willing to let me videotape everything and share it with the industry, I’ll donate my time. I’ll help you get dialed in. And we’ll create the step-by-step series together.

But you have to be all in. You can’t waste my time. You can’t half-butt it. You have to put your shoulders back and say, “Let’s go.” If you’re willing to do that, I’m ready. Let’s create the implementation guide the industry needs. As we say at Elevate, Lean is a commitment to learning and improving for the benefit of people and humanity. Start learning. Start implementing. And if you want help, let’s go.

On we go.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are you writing a step-by-step implementation guide for Lean?

Yes. The six-book Elevating Construction the Lean Way series covers Lean Core 1 through 6. But the real implementation guide will be videotaped on a real project with a real team. That’s the step-by-step series the industry needs.

What are the six Lean cores in the new book series?

Lean Core 1: Respect for People, Nature, and Resources. Lean Core 2: Stability and Standardization. Lean Core 3: One Piece Process or Progress Flow. Lean Core 4: Flowing Together on Takt Time With Pull. Lean Core 5: Total Participation and Visual Systems. Lean Core 6: Quality and Continuous Improvement.

How can someone implement Lean step-by-step right now?

Start learning and implementing as fast as you can. Read the books. Watch the videos. Attend boot camp. And if you want hands-on help, reach out. If you’re serious, I’ll partner with you and videotape everything so the industry has a complete guide.

What’s the requirement to partner with you on creating the implementation videos?

You have to be all in. High-performing team. Leader committed. Willing to let me videotape everything. No half-butting it. Put your shoulders back and say, “Let’s go.” If you’re willing to do that, I’m ready.

Why do you need authority to implement Lean?

Because you need people going in the same direction. Dissension and chaos don’t create Lean. The leader of the company has to drive it. You need a little bit of authority to get people aligned. Anyone who says you don’t need authority has never tried to implement anything.