August 29, 2024

August 29, 2024

As we approach National Suicide Prevention Month in September, it’s crucial to raise awareness within our industry. Additionally, Construction Suicide Prevention Week runs from September 9-13, this provides the industry an opportunity to focus on mental health and support those in need. LCI is committed to empowering organizations in the design and construction industry to find ways to create a safe environment for everyone.

Together we can save lives.

Read our latest blog post on how we can all play a role in preventing suicide.

Explore the interactive agenda and join your Lean partners at the 2024 LCI Congress, October 22-25, in San Diego! Reminder: Early registration rates end midnight EST on September 12th—register today for the lowest available rates!

Congress Golf Tournament Sponsorship Spotlight—Deadline Is Next Friday, September 6!

Raise your organization’s profile during a fun-filled day at the green! This year we’re teeing off at Steele Canyon, one of San Diego’s most beautiful golf courses. Boost your brand and connections with unique sponsorship options, from individual golf hole contests to the beverage cart.

All sponsorships close on Friday, September 6! Contact Ilene Goldberg with questions and to book any of the Congress sponsor or exhibitor packages (only four 10’x10’ standard exhibit booths left).

Contact Joan Piccariello with questions on the Congress program.

The winners were announced at the Fourth Annual Lean Golf Outing on August 19 and presented by Nick Loughrin, The Boldt Company, LCI Wisconsin Community of Practice Leader, Shauna Boyer, The Boldt Company, Outreach and Scholarships Leader, and Steve Adkins, CornerStone One.

The winners of the 2024 Erickson Strong Scholarship are Angie Waechter of Blair Fire Protection, and Brad DeLaurier of CornerStone One. The scholarships cover the costs for the recipients to attend the 2024 LCI Congress taking place October 22-25, 2024 in San Diego, California.

“My Lean journey has only just begun, and there’s much I have yet to discover. Winning the Erickson Strong Scholarship serves not only as a tribute to the memory of Mark Erickson, but also as an opportunity to further my career in my current position,” said Angie Waechter.

“Mark Erickson was an inspiration to me here at CornerStone One. I’m interested in learning about and bringing Lean construction methods to our company in order to improve our workforce, find efficiencies in our processes, improve quality, and increase our value to our customers,” shared Brad DeLaurier.

Congratulations Angie and Brad! LCI staff and planning team, along with the LCI Wisconsin CoP and Erickson Strong scholarship team wish you an amazing Congress experience in San Diego!

What tips/advice/recommendations do you have for other Lean practitioners thinking about getting certified?

“The LCI-CPC certification is an exceptional opportunity for those in the Lean community to showcase their knowledge and capability to practice Lean in construction projects. By investing time in refining your current knowledge and refreshing your learnings, you can prepare your mind for this certification. Through real-life applied Lean Construction experience, you can demonstrate your proficiency in core Lean competencies and capability and be recognized as a leader in Lean Construction.”

How do you think this certification will benefit your career?

“Achieving formal recognition for my knowledge and capability in Lean Construction is a significant milestone. This credential distinguishes me as the go-to resource for training and implementing Lean practices in construction projects. I am confident that clients and organizations will place their trust in me to lead their projects towards success through the implementation of Lean tools.”

Join Tony in Leading the Way:

Tony’s achievement serves as a motivating example for all Lean practitioners. Consider LCI’s certification to enhance your career and contribute to the advancement of Lean design & construction.

To learn more about LCI’s certifications, visit our certification homepage.

1. What hurdles did you encounter when implementing Lean on a project (in your company), and how did you tackle them?

The biggest hurdle I encountered was the resistance to change embedded in the culture. In the industrial project construction environment, Lean best practices often represent a new way of doing things. For example, on a recent Pipeline Compression project, we had a Chief Inspector with over 40 years of experience. He was highly successful in the industry and was the equivalent of a senior construction manager. We were retrofitting 12 older gas-driven compressors with 2 new turbines for an Emissions Reduction Project. He referred to our 6-week look-ahead board and constraint boards in the Big Room as “a monstrosity.” Despite our efforts, we couldn’t change his mindset. However, we focused on educating the rest of the team and implemented Lean systems in our processes. Ultimately, the project turned out well, with better delivery outcomes thanks to the Lean methods we employed.

2. What stories can you share about a successful Lean project (Lean implementation effort) you were involved in, and what do you think made it work?

I was working for a large international energy company in Alaska when I heard about a pilot project using Big Room and pull planning in Houston for offshore deep-water projects. I traveled to Houston to see it in action and was thrilled to see an integrated team using pull planning and working cross-functionally in a well-designed Big Room. Typically, engineers, designers, procurement specialists, and operations professionals stay within their silos, but this team was managing constraints and bottlenecks in real-time. The project improved even further when a new manager with a background at Toyota joined the team and made significant improvements, such as redesigning the tickets to provide more constraint and conditions of satisfaction information.

3. In your opinion, what are the biggest benefits of applying Lean, and how have they impacted your projects, your teams, or your organization?

The biggest benefit of applying Lean is engaging the field in a dynamic way. Having worked as an apprentice and journeyman, I know how frustrating it is to be on a job that’s short on information or materials. This leads to inefficiency and dissatisfaction among trade professionals. We want to use our time effectively with the proper tools, materials, and layout to achieve high-quality craftsmanship.

PTAG embraces Lean holistically, using the following LCI practices on our customer sites:

• IPD
• Big Room
• AWP
• Pull Planning/Last Planner System®
• Target Value Delivery
• Continuous Process Improvement
• Respect for People
• Kaizen

We have also improved and extended these methods in PTAG’s consulting practices, focusing on the six tenets of Lean:

• Respect for People
• Optimize the Whole
• Eliminate Waste
• Focus on Flow
• Generate Value
• Continuous Improvement

These LCI practices are used in conjunction with other industry practices from CII, PMI, AACE, and others.

4. How do you assess if your Lean game is strong; are there metrics or techniques you rely on and can share?

There are three significant indicators for me:

1. The team is integrated and engaged in the weekly and daily huddles.
2. Project handoffs are transparent, constraints are managed, and project flow is established, keeping the schedule on track.
3. The project team is having fun!

5. If someone’s just dipping their toes into Lean, what advice would you offer from lessons you’ve learned?

First, dealing with the cultural impact is as important as the correct project strategy. This is obvious to change management professionals but remains crucial. I recently watched a video by Patrick Lencioni, who wrote “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team.” In the video, his team took six months to remove a dysfunctional team member who was disrupting the culture. This was eye-opening since some construction projects last only six months, and it showed how challenging it can be to align the culture within that timeframe.

Next, trust the process. We are standing on the shoulders of giants. Lean and the Last Planner System are proven tools that are reliable and productive.

Finally, seek help to get started. The LCI educational tools, mentors, and coaches provide the guidance needed to begin on the right path. Or reach out to me and our team at PTAG; we’d be happy to discuss how we can help you.