Elevate Construction

Do you want a better way to manage your exterior? In this episode, Jason unpacks how to plan and execute building exteriors like a pro. You'll learn the Bluebeam exterior tracking system from DPR's Banner Good Samaritan Tower (polygons with status and colors matching the Takt plan showing daily updates and roadblocks), why exteriors are like site work (spatial/interface/rhythm management), how to do an exterior flow analysis (break into Takt zones, schedule Takt trains, plug in constraints, identify flow, it's all about interfaces not production), the critical steps from design development through testing, and the one rule that will save your project: never fail an exterior water test with your owner.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Exterior flow analysis is everything: Break exterior into production areas/Takt zones by types/scopes/interfaces, schedule Takt train, plug in constraints, pick bottleneck trades, do flow analysis, then align procurement with that sequence or you're in trouble

• Start in design development: Bring trade partners on early, start procurement ASAP, plan 8-9 months for curtain wall, do mock-ups at Field Verified location early (performance/design mockups not just assembly, 10% of cost), start bi-weekly coordination meetings

• Points of release management: Schedule every point of release as Outlook meeting (dye release, glass release, shop fabrication start, field measurements), show up Monday and call to confirm it happened

• Get drawings from trade partners: Field measurements vs standard dimensions, unitized vs stick-built, lead times written on drawings (8 weeks, 6 weeks, 20 weeks), transitions/constraints, staging/logistics—all the data to plan/schedule/manage

• Never fail owner testing: Pre-test yourself first with Field Verified or similar, pay extra money to test before owner sees it (unlean but necessary)—buildings leak at intersection of contracts AND at fluctuation of crews, need flow and consistent crews

"Do not ever fail an exterior water test with your owner. Ever. As soon as you fail a test, they're like 'The whole thing is wrong.' I once failed some tests and they made me test every stinking window on the building. Do not lose their trust. Pre-test yourself first, pay extra money if you have to. That waste is a million times more tolerable than losing the owner's trust."

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

Are you absolutely crazy, weird, over-the-top, fanatical, and creepy about roadblock removal? In this flow series episode, Jason unpacks why roadblock removal is the #1 priority, not PPC, not production tracking, not CPM. You'll learn the General Patton donkey story (shoots donkeys blocking the bridge to clear the path), the cow catcher and boat wake analogies, why PPC is a lagging indicator and roadblock removal is a leading indicator, the Duck Hunt game principle (bring roadblocks to the surface so you can shoot them), why "whiny" trade partners are actually angels giving you the key to success, and the systems to implement fanatical roadblock removal.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Flow is everything: Everything in lean leads to flow, "Plan it first, build it right, finish as you go"—precon, coordination, cleanliness, organization all create flow

• Roadblock removal > PPC: Stop tracking percent plan complete (lagging indicator), track roadblocks removed, time to resolve, how far out you're seeing them (leading indicators)

• Commitment brings problems to surface: Like proposing marriage vs dating, once you commit people with Takt planning, they raise their hand with roadblocks (this is GOOD)

• Whiny trades are angels: That electrician constantly complaining? Thank God for them, they're giving you the key to success, telling you exactly what to remove

• Systems and behaviors: Afternoon foreman huddle → morning worker huddle → team huddle with PM for fanatical roadblock removal; make it your #1 priority (RR underwear, bumper stickers, name your son Roadblock)

"Your whiny electrician foreman that constantly tells you what's wrong? That's your angel. He just gave you the key to the universe. Get rid of their problems. Once you commit them, they will tell you what their problems are, then it's just like Duck Hunt."

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

Do you know the best way to make your numbers? In this episode, Jason unpacks the biggest secret in construction: we don't lose money when crews are working—we lose it in the transitions. You'll learn why the bottom 25% of workers are more productive than average bid units when actually working, why focusing on production units is the wrong game, the whiteboard circles-and-lines visual (circles = productive work, lines = transitions where we lose money), and the four solutions to create flow: plan with Takt (not CPM), limit work in progress, fanatically prevent roadblocks, and finish as you go.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• The secret: We lose money in the transitions/in-betweens, not when crews are in flow, focus on interruptions, roadblocks, sequence changes, not production units

• The wrong focus: Telling crews "make production" focuses their minds on the circles (when working), but we win in the timeouts and transitions, not when playing

• Unskilled workers myth: Bottom 25% still beat production rates when environment is ready, you make money by removing roadblocks, not complaining about skills

• Four flow solutions: (1) Plan with Takt not CPM to stack sequences with consistent crew sizes, (2) limit work in progress (overproduction is mother of all wastes), (3) prevent roadblocks fanatically, (4) finish as you go

• The comparison: Flow project = 20 weeks, 248 people, $1.6M saved vs non-flow = 24-36 weeks, 380 people, inflated costs, you gain 11% fee and 40% schedule by focusing on transitions

"You will not make money by focusing on when the crew is working. You will make it by focusing on transitions, did you change sequence? Were areas ready? Did roadblocks hold up work? That's where we lose money."

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

Do you want a secret to scaling excellence? In this episode, Jason unpacks the concept of anchor projects, putting your best people on your best projects with the best circumstances to create a visible standard of excellence that scales throughout your company. You'll learn the difference between craft production and production control systems, the getting started syndrome (waste from starting projects too early), why continuous learning beats the "tenure" mentality, and how anchor projects allow people to actually see what excellence looks like instead of just hearing about it in concept.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Continuous learning: The last day on earth you should still be learning, no such thing as "tenure" superintendent, you earn your paycheck every day

• Craft production vs production control system: With fewer skilled craftsmen, we need systems, prefabrication, and consistent results like car manufacturers

• Getting started syndrome: Starting projects before materials arrive creates waste, erosion control, supervision, security costs $5K-$30K/month for nothing

• Anchor projects: Take your best people, best owner, best contract, best trade partners, best budget, put them together and take it to the next level

• Challenge: Create visible examples people can tour weekly/monthly so they see what lean/IPD/Takt looks like, not just hear concepts

The current condition is we're attempting to scale in environments where people can't see what we're talking about. "Let me go see what you're talking about." "Well, we don't have it up and running yet." That's very difficult to scale.

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

Jason addresses setting realistic deadlines using content from Jim Collins' Beyond Entrepreneurship 2.0. Humans are horrible at estimating time and can be four times off in early design phases. Contractors often undercut budgets and durations by 15 to 20 percent forcing crash landing management style. Main focus is estimating effort not time, using Takt planning for accurate predictions, and building culture where missing deadlines is not an option.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Humans horrible at time estimation: Traditional project estimation error shows four times wrong in feasibility phase
• Estimate effort not time: Planning poker shows 25 percent error estimating effort vs much worse with time
• Takt plan better than CPM: Schematic design Takt estimating effort and flow beats CPM after finished design
• Jim Collins deadline story: Contractor moved from October 31 to March 31 at 5pm, hit deadline with 15 minutes to spare
• Culture of discipline on deadlines: Zero tolerance for missing, only two acceptable ways to miss
• Realistic deadlines required: Can't hold people accountable to unrealistic dates, they sacrifice families to meet them

Deadlines stimulate progress but only if they are commitments, if everyone knows deadlines will slip then you have no deadlines.

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

Jason discusses asking for what you need based on Chris Voss's Never Split the Difference and Brendan Burchard's High Performance Habits. Most people say yes more than you think, with 80 percent success rate when asking for legitimate needs the first time. Main focus is understanding three types of yeses and avoiding the second yes problem when contractors lack proper planning and ask owners repeatedly for schedule and budget changes.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• First and second yes principle: 80 percent get yes first time, second yes angers people when asking again
• Three types of yeses: Counterfeit yes plans to say no, confirmation yes is simple affirmation, commitment yes leads to action
• Get to no first: Start with nos to clarify what won't work, then commitment yes is more likely real
• Takt planning prevents second yes: Have clarity on budget and schedule first time, not schematic 11 months then CD 13 months
• Know what the is is: Make everything visual, show data and schedule, be factual not guessing
• Ask for what's needed: Stop leaving good decisions on the table, ask for right team budget schedule change orders

Studies show people say yes to things actually needed, stop being afraid to ask for what protects workers and preserves families.

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

Jason shares mind-blowing lean concepts from Nicholas Modig's YouTube video "This is Lean Management" that changed his perspective on continuous improvement and quality. He uses airport toilets as proof construction does not continuously improve, highlighting how primitive our standards remain after 100 years. Main focus is quality must be built in at source and treating every day like day one with fanatical continuous improvement culture.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Are we lean? Hard to say because I wasn't here yesterday, lean is continuous improvement today vs yesterday
• Treat every day like day one: Quality and continuous improvement must be core rock solid belief system
• Stop, call, wait: Lexus plant workers trained for month on what to do when problem occurs
• Start with one crew experiment: Create anchor project to train and brainwash quality culture at source
• Check work before moving on: Crews notice defects, fix before moving, know what bugs them and eliminate waste
• Construction doesn't know quality yet: Need to experiment with companies ready for total participation and visual systems

Joy is in the journey not just destination, if you have a crew ready to partner on quality and continuous improvement reach out.

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

Jason uses the metaphor of keeping a horse's head up on steep mountain trails to explain how to recover troubled projects and keep teams focused. Three key components are required: cohesive multiplier leadership, teams embracing five crucial behaviors, and strenuous but achievable performance goals. He shares three project recovery examples including removing leaders who prevented accountability and teams that became regional tour destinations after implementing Patrick Lencioni systems.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Three components for recovery: Cohesive multiplier leaders, five behaviors, strenuous performance goals
• PM and super must be united: Go to lunch twice weekly, get proximity, become friends or nothing else works
• Five crucial behaviors: Trust, healthy conflict, goal setting, accountability, performance in that order
• Focus on what teams can control: Keep eyes on contract work not uncontrollable change order volumes
• Sometimes leaders must be removed: Even on 200 million dollar projects if they prevent accountability
• Patrick Lencioni books turn teams around: Motive, Five Dysfunctions, Death by Meeting, Advantage provide vocabulary and systems

If project team senses PM and superintendent are not cohesive nothing else will work, that relationship is foundation.

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

Jason interviews Dean Reed, DPR's former lean and IPD leader for 24 years and LCI 2020 Pioneer Award recipient. Dean introduced Jason to Takt planning and advanced last planner techniques. Main focus is creating lean culture rather than implementing lean systems, with emphasis on problem solving and understanding that lean is not about efficiency or working faster but about respect for people and making workers' lives better.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Create lean don't implement it: Don't go implement quality, go train and select people who create quality culture
• Spend 9/10 time understanding problem: Most people solve wrong problem by jumping to solutions too quickly
• Lean is not about efficiency or speed: Toyota doesn't focus on working faster, that is big misunderstanding
• Listen to frontline workers: They are closest to problem, most education makes you think you have solution
• Start with real meaningful problems: Pick problems carefully that make lives of people doing work better
• Respect for people comes naturally: Eastern thinkers have holistic view, Toyota doesn't even question it

Executives want lean thinking it's about efficiency doing things faster, that is wrong, lean is about solving right problems.

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

Jason shares two game-changing observations: a cohesive group of senior superintendents operating as a wolf pack instead of lone wolves, and the concept of constraining time to drive effectiveness. He reads from Peter Kiewit's 1981 document on maintaining good health as essential for leadership. Main focus is reducing wasted hours and using freed time for continuous improvement and career advancement.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Wolf pack vs lone wolves: Supers who text, call, share solutions, have healthy conflict dominate
• Good health essential: Peter Kiewit says excess weight and lack of self-discipline limit effectiveness
• Constrain time to 55 hours: Use saved time for continuous improvement not more mundane work
• One-piece flow stops context switching: Do report immediately after visit, saves 30 to 60 minutes
• Stop unnecessary work: Eliminate reports nobody reads, 17 entry field forms, duplicate data transfers
• Leader standard work non-negotiable: Time block weekly, protect 20 percent that brings 80 percent return

Working excessive hours masks ineffectiveness with wasted time, constraint forces hard questions about what advances you and company.

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