In this episode, Jason explains why risk management must begin before construction starts. Without a Risk & Opportunity Register, fresh-eyes reviews, and reference class forecasting, teams can easily build schedules and budgets around wishful thinking. Jason explains how fresh-eyes meetings help teams expose problems early, assign mitigation strategies, and document risks and opportunities in days and dollars.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• How fresh-eyes meetings help teams identify and address risks before construction begins.
• Why every risk and opportunity should have an owner, mitigation strategy, and measurable impact.
• How reference class forecasting uses historical project data to create more realistic schedules and budgets.
• Why relying on aggressive targets and wishful thinking can lead to bad milestones, inadequate contingency, and project overruns.

Are your project milestones and budgets based on real risk data and historical performance, or are they still being built around wishful thinking?

If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free and you'll never miss an episode. And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I'd appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊).

Also, here are links to our YouTube Channels:

· Jason Schroeder YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xpRYvrW5Op5Ckxs4vDGDg

· LeanTakt YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/leanTakt

· LeanSuper YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzQDevqQP19L4LePuqma3Fg/featured

· LeanSurvey YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Ztn3okFhyB_3p5nmMKnsw

In this episode, Jason explains why Lean expectations must be clearly included in contracts before work begins. If behaviors, meetings, planning systems, and field expectations are not bought out upfront, teams create unnecessary conflict later. Jason explains why requirements such as foreman participation, worker huddles, Takt planning, tablets, safety standards, cleanliness, and other Lean behaviors should be clearly defined in subcontract agreements and work authorizations.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Why Lean behaviors and expectations should be included in contracts from the beginning.
• How clear contractual requirements help teams select trade partners with the right mindset.
• Why introducing Lean expectations afterwards can create conflict and change orders.
• How upfront clarity supports better planning, pricing, preparation, and trade partner relationships.

Are your Lean expectations clearly bought out in the contract, or are your trade partners discovering them after the project has already started?

If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free and you'll never miss an episode. And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I'd appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊).

Also, here are links to our YouTube Channels:

· Jason Schroeder YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xpRYvrW5Op5Ckxs4vDGDg

· LeanTakt YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/leanTakt

· LeanSuper YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzQDevqQP19L4LePuqma3Fg/featured

· LeanSurvey YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Ztn3okFhyB_3p5nmMKnsw

In this episode, Jason explains why a complete production plan is essential for reliable construction flow. Without the right milestones, pull planning, buffers, look-ahead planning, and day planning, projects quickly become reactive. Jason breaks down how the Macro Level Takt Plan, collaborative pull planning, six-week make-ready planning, weekly work planning, and daily planning work together as one production system.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Why the Macro Level Takt Plan is critical for setting accurate milestones and project duration.
• How pull planning creates the right sequence, line of balance, buffers, and optimized system.
• Why six-week make-ready planning removes roadblocks before they impact committed work.
• How weekly work plans and daily plans keep trade partners aligned around reliable handoffs and execution.

Does your project have a complete production plan from the Macro Level Takt Plan all the way down to the daily plan?

If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free and you'll never miss an episode. And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I'd appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊).

Also, here are links to our YouTube Channels:

· Jason Schroeder YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xpRYvrW5Op5Ckxs4vDGDg

· LeanTakt YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/leanTakt

· LeanSuper YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzQDevqQP19L4LePuqma3Fg/featured

· LeanSurvey YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Ztn3okFhyB_3p5nmMKnsw

In this episode, Jason explains why individual balance is critical to making Lean and production systems work. Without personal organization, even a strong team can quickly become overwhelmed, reactive, and ineffective. He breaks down the personal systems every project team member should have, including a to-do list, Leader Standard Work, time blocking, clarity documents, meeting buffers, and intentional PTO.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Why every project team member needs a reliable personal organization system.
• How Leader Standard Work, time blocking, and clarity documents improve daily effectiveness.
• Why back-to-back meetings, excessive email, and poor planning reduce individual capacity.
• How project managers can help their teams maintain balance, take PTO, and avoid overload.

Does every person on your project have the personal organization system needed to perform well without sacrificing their time, health, or family?

If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free and you'll never miss an episode. And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I'd appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊).

Also, here are links to our YouTube Channels:

· Jason Schroeder YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xpRYvrW5Op5Ckxs4vDGDg

· LeanTakt YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/leanTakt

· LeanSuper YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzQDevqQP19L4LePuqma3Fg/featured

· LeanSurvey YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Ztn3okFhyB_3p5nmMKnsw

In this episode, Jason explains why team balance is essential to the Integrated Production Control System. The right people must be in the right seats, with enough capacity to perform without becoming overburdened.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Why having the right people in the right seats is critical to project performance.
• How balanced team composition helps every key responsibility stay covered.
• Why project managers should protect teams from unnecessary chaos, not necessary change.
• How overburden, rework, and insufficient capacity can create a downward productivity spiral.

Does your project team actually have the right people, capacity, and balance needed to handle what the project is demanding?

If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free and you'll never miss an episode. And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I'd appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊).

Also, here are links to our YouTube Channels:

· Jason Schroeder YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xpRYvrW5Op5Ckxs4vDGDg

· LeanTakt YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/leanTakt

· LeanSuper YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzQDevqQP19L4LePuqma3Fg/featured

· LeanSurvey YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Ztn3okFhyB_3p5nmMKnsw

In this episode, Jason explains why the team component is essential to the Integrated Production Control System. Without the right leadership, team behaviors, and a shared performance goal, even the best Lean systems will struggle to work.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Why every successful project team needs a multiplier leader.
• How trust, healthy conflict, shared standards, and accountability create a cohesive team.
• Why a strenuous performance goal creates urgency and exposes problems within the team.
• How strong leadership and team alignment support every other part of Lean and production control.

Does your project have the leadership, team behaviors, and shared goal needed to make Lean actually work?

If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free and you'll never miss an episode. And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I'd appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊).

Also, here are links to our YouTube Channels:

· Jason Schroeder YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xpRYvrW5Op5Ckxs4vDGDg

· LeanTakt YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/leanTakt

· LeanSuper YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzQDevqQP19L4LePuqma3Fg/featured

· LeanSurvey YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Ztn3okFhyB_3p5nmMKnsw

In this episode, Jason continues the IPCS series by explaining how teams can prepare to start a construction project strong. He covers the critical work that must happen before and after the notice to proceed, including mobilization, permits, temporary utilities, trade partner preparation, staffing, safety, and spatial planning. Without this preparation, teams can lose weeks immediately and spend the rest of the project trying to recover time that may never be regained.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Why teams must prepare during the 90 days before and after the notice to proceed.
• How temporary utilities, permits, trailers, and mobilization affect the project start.
• Why trade partners need pre-mobilization meetings and clear installation work packages.
• How day-by-day spatial planning improves foundations, basements, and early concrete work.
• Why losing time at the beginning creates delays that are difficult to recover later.

Are you preparing your project to start with stability, or allowing the first weeks to become a series of preventable surprises?

If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free and you'll never miss an episode. And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I'd appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊).

Also, here are links to our YouTube Channels:

· Jason Schroeder YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xpRYvrW5Op5Ckxs4vDGDg

· LeanTakt YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/leanTakt

· LeanSuper YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzQDevqQP19L4LePuqma3Fg/featured

· LeanSurvey YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Ztn3okFhyB_3p5nmMKnsw

In this episode, Jason continues the IPCS series by explaining why superintendents and project managers must be actively involved during design development. Builders need time to update the production plan, logistics, zone maps, procurement log, risk register, mobilization strategy, and temporary utility plans before construction begins. Without their early involvement, the project is likely to start without a stable team, an achievable plan, or the preparation needed to execute smoothly.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Why builders should be engaged by the middle of design development.
• How early planning improves logistics, procurement, mobilization, and system selection.
• Why underground utilities, temporary services, permits, and site preparation must be addressed early.
• How builder involvement supports constructability, prefabrication, and an achievable budget and schedule.
• Why delaying the project team's involvement can cost weeks or months during mobilization and foundations.

Are your builders shaping the project before construction begins, or inheriting an incomplete plan when it is already too late?

If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free and you'll never miss an episode. And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I'd appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊).

Also, here are links to our YouTube Channels:

· Jason Schroeder YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xpRYvrW5Op5Ckxs4vDGDg

· LeanTakt YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/leanTakt

· LeanSuper YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzQDevqQP19L4LePuqma3Fg/featured

· LeanSurvey YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Ztn3okFhyB_3p5nmMKnsw

In this episode, Jason continues the IPCS series by explaining why project teams must actively support and enable designers throughout pre-construction. He covers real-time budgeting and scheduling, integrated models, design-assist trade partners, constructability reviews, and coordinated communication systems. When designers are left to work in isolation, projects are more likely to miss milestones, exceed the budget, create installation problems, and disappoint both the owner and the facilities team.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Why designers need active support from builders during pre-construction.
• How real-time budgeting and Takt planning improve design decisions.
• Why constructability reviews must examine real building systems and installation needs.
• How integrated models, meetings, communication, and stakeholders improve coordination.
• Why treating designers as partners helps projects finish on time and on budget.

Are you giving designers the information and support they need, or leaving them to solve the project alone?

If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free and you'll never miss an episode. And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I'd appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊).

Also, here are links to our YouTube Channels:

· Jason Schroeder YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xpRYvrW5Op5Ckxs4vDGDg

· LeanTakt YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/leanTakt

· LeanSuper YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzQDevqQP19L4LePuqma3Fg/featured

· LeanSurvey YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Ztn3okFhyB_3p5nmMKnsw

In this episode, Jason continues the IPCS series by explaining why construction teams must build the design team and set clear targets early in pre-construction. He covers the importance of defining success, organizing communication, integrating designers and builders, creating a macro-level Takt plan, and working backward from construction milestones. Without this phase, design teams are more likely to miss deadlines, exceed the budget, ignore builder input, and deliver incomplete or unbuildable designs.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Why design teams need clear communication, meeting, and planning systems.
• How a macro-level Takt plan connects design milestones to construction needs.
• Why teams must design what they intend to build instead of simply building what is designed.
• How setting the project duration early supports a realistic budget.
• Why skipping target setting leads to late design, budget surprises, and false value engineering.

Are you setting clear targets before design begins, or waiting until the project is over budget to make difficult cuts?

If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free and you'll never miss an episode. And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I'd appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊).

Also, here are links to our YouTube Channels:

· Jason Schroeder YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xpRYvrW5Op5Ckxs4vDGDg

· LeanTakt YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/leanTakt

· LeanSuper YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzQDevqQP19L4LePuqma3Fg/featured

· LeanSurvey YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Ztn3okFhyB_3p5nmMKnsw