What Is The Last Planner System Day Plan?

What Is the Last Planner System Day Plan?

In this blog, I walk you through what a Day Plan is within the Last Planner System. You’ll see how it’s created, where it fits in your overall planning flow, and—most importantly—how to communicate it effectively to everyone on the project site.

Where is the Day Plan Created?

The Afternoon Foreman Huddle. That’s where the magic happens.

If you’re familiar with the Team Weekly Tactical and the Trade Partner Weekly Tactical, you know the importance of consistent flow. After those meetings set the long- and short-term context, the Foreman Huddle focuses on the next day. Planning for the next day must happen the day before, not in the morning when it’s too late to make adjustments.

Morning huddles often devolve into status updates (“I’m on Level 3, Area A with five guys…”), which aren’t useful. Everyone should already know where they’re working. The afternoon Foreman Huddle, on the other hand, is where you manage handoffs, remove remaining roadblocks, and finalize the plan.

What’s the Purpose of the Day Plan?

To fully plan the next day so foremen can run the site efficiently. You’re setting them up with clarity, resources, and coordination.

Here’s what happens:

1. Collect Daily Reports – This keeps your data fresh. A field engineer can even review them in real-time during the meeting.
2. Celebrate Wins – Always start with shout-outs to keep energy high.
3. Review Progress – Use green check marks and red Xs to see what got done. Missed items need root-cause analysis: was it a constraint or a roadblock?

Constraints vs. Roadblocks:

• Constraints are issues within the system (e.g., missing resources, poor zoning).
• Roadblocks are things in the way (e.g., weather, inspections, equipment).

Foremen focus on removing roadblocks, while the project team should solve constraints.

Planning the Next Day:

This is where it gets exciting. You’ll create a visual Day Plan using tools like Canva that includes:

• Overall plan.
• Zone maps.
• Production goals.
• Logistics.
• 3D models.
• Permits.
• Safety messages.
• Staging & delivery info.
• Weather forecast.

This graphic should be shared via a QR code on-site. That way, any foreman or crew member can access the plan digitally and stay aligned. Imagine how seamless your jobsite becomes when everyone can “see as a group, know as a group, and act as a group.”

Final Steps in the Huddle:

• Review Remaining Roadblocks.
• Coordinate Handoffs – Ensure each trade treats the next like a customer.
• Finalize the Plan – Including permits and final logistics.

Many teams go a step further and link not just the Day Plan via QR code, but also the Weekly Work Plan, Look-Ahead Plan, Macro-Level Takt Plan, Safety Info, and more. This prepares you to communicate with clarity during the Morning Worker Huddle.

How the Last Planner System Connects:

Here’s the big picture:

1. Macro-Level Takt Plan → Strategy.
2. Norm-Level Production Plan → Buffers, zones, Takt time.
3. Six-Week Look-Ahead Plan → Remove roadblocks.
4. Weekly Work Plan → Basis for daily execution.
5. Day Plan → Shared visually for action.

Final Thoughts:

If your team in the field can’t see the plan, they can’t act on it. Clear, shared visuals help them:

• Understand where materials are going.
• Track key info by zone.
• Coordinate handoffs smoothly.

The Day Plan, created in the Afternoon Foreman Huddle and shared in the Morning Worker Huddle, is one of the most powerful tools I’ve ever used. And it works—everywhere we implement it.