What if the smartest thing your team could do was stop?

In this special episode of the Elevate Construction Podcast , Jason Schroeder and Kevin unpack one of the most misunderstood yet powerful principles of Lean: Jidoka “automation with a human touch.”

Fresh from their reflections in Japan, they trace this concept all the way back to Sakichi Toyota’s original loom where a single broken thread would automatically stop the machine to prevent defects. That simple idea became one of the two foundational pillars of the Toyota Production System, right alongside Just in Time.

But this episode isn’t just history, it’s transformation. Jason and Kevin reveal how Jidoka’s Stop. Call. Wait. mindset can revolutionize construction culture. Instead of “go, go, go,” imagine a jobsite where anyone at any level can stop work the moment they see variation or risk. No fear. No blame. Just precision, safety, and respect for people.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• How Toyota designed “intelligent stopping” into its systems over a century ago.

• Why Stop. Call. Wait. creates psychological safety and eliminates rework.

• The shocking truth: Toyota averages 2,000 Andon pulls per day and celebrates every one.

• How construction can apply the same principle without slowing down production.

• Why leadership’s reaction to an Andon call defines your culture more than any mission statement.

Jason and Kevin break down real examples from Toyota’s factory floors, powerful analogies from the field, and practical steps to bring Jidoka to your own teams, so quality isn’t inspected in at the end, it’s protected from the start.

 

 

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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